GAVIN BAZUNU’S RETURN from a ruptured Achilles tendon injury was discussed on this week’s edition of The Football Family, the podcast for subscribers to The 42.
“It’s good that he’s back, he just needs to play games now,” David Sneyd said.
“We’ve said the same thing about Evan Ferguson, but everything just seemed to be going so well for Bazunu. I know there were a couple of issues for him at Ireland and even at Southampton, but that was his first big bump in the road, so it will be a big test for him to see how he actually deals with that when he gets back and plays again.”
Gavin Cooney said: “He’s back a little bit ahead of schedule too from what I’ve heard. Every time you hear anything about Bazunu, it always comes with praise for his professionalism, commitment and sheer focus, so I’m not surprised that he’s bounced back from this and looks to be in great shape.”
“But Southampton have really moved on in his absence and they’ll be in the Championship next year.
“A January loan move may come too soon for him maybe, I could be wrong. But if he’s not first choice in the Championship next year, I think he’ll probably have to get out of there and I think he’ll want to get out of there, judging by what we have seen of his career so far,” Cooney said.
Former League of Ireland manager Shane Keegan added: “I’d almost certainly say he won’t be first choice in the Championship next year. I can’t see Aaron Ramsdale being dropped for him. He was signed for £18m, for what, for him to play in goal until Bazunu gets back? I wouldn’t have thought so.”
Sneyd said: “In fairness, Southampton spent similar on Bazunu with the add-ons, and some of those add-ons would have kicked in when they got promoted. That’s one thing that’s on Bazunu’s CV that will go a long way for him; he was first choice goalkeeper in a team that got promoted.”
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Wish they would stop tinkering with the rules what seems every year now and just play the game .not sure giving the scrum half “more quality time” to get the ball out of the the rucks and pass or kick without having the apposing team being able to put under pressure/scupper is a good thing..surely we want attack and defense to be exiting to watch and for each play to be intensive…
@Stuart: It’s time they addressed the crooked throw in to scrums! It’s on a par with pushing and shoving in Soccer when corners being taken.
@Stuart: Rugby has Laws not rules!
@Stuart: I don’t think it’s a law change regarding scrum halves, rather more clarity around what a player in a ruck or maul can or can’t do. At the end of the day, a player who is part of a ruck is not offside even though s/he is in front of the hindmost foot. BUT s/he cannot play the ball. Therefore why should they be allowed to play the man/woman without first retreating back into an onside position. Yes, this is going to suit Dupont and gast attacking rugby… but it is the way the laws should have been interpreted in the first place.
@paddy o connor: Once there is a hook from the attacking team, play on as far as I’m concerned. Both teams get the same advantage. And defensive scrums rarely use hooking as a way to attack the ball, they attack the scrum and therefore the art is gone.
@Paul Ennis: thanks Paul, makes sense …
@Stuart: speeding up scrum and lineout set ups is a good move if applied properly. Non contested crooked throw also makes sense. They could do with cleaning up the breakdown generally, not only protecting the scrum half. A lot of ‘clearing out’ of players beyond and beside the rucks is going out which is technically illegal. It’s called tackling a player without the ball but refs are focusing on other infringements, players off feet, tacklers not releasing, etc. It’s very hard for ref to see everything so potentially this can bring a bit more clarity
@Stuart: rule changes are important to keep the game fresh. Look at games back in the 80/90s and try to stay awake.
@Michael Corkery: lots of side entries too which are completely ignored, ironic to have so much around scrum half rules – was DuPont on the committee
@Alan Keyes: I think that is a generational issue. Today, we find it difficult to keep focus for longer than 15 seconds. There are many who would relish the chance to return it to the pure spectacle it once was. Watch the scrums and lineouts – no delay just straight in; no lifting in the lineout; no reset scrums; ball in play time was higher. It wasn’t as technical and it wasn’t dominated by defence coaches. Yes, players were not as fit or as athletic but that created space for some amazing tries were the ball might go through the hands of every one of the backs. But today… I cannot remember what my original point was – It must be the referees fault!!
@Paul Ennis: nail on the head. Great post.
@paddy o connor: but it’s not an issue. The law states the putting in player must have their shoulder at the centre of the tunnel. So they can stand on their side and put in the ball. At professional level, this is enough to make the hook a non contest and 95% the put in is straight/ non material to the contest, so it is a non issue.
What about taking out a player beyond the ball/ruck ???