One Percenters: Gordon signs short-term deal with French powerhouse as Cane apologises for streaker trip

Fri, Jul 14, 2023, 4:51 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

With all the different teams playing across the world doing media each day, it can be hard to keep on top of a lot of the stories coming out.

Rugby is filled with them across all levels of the game and whilst most are covered through some form of media, there are others that might have slipped off the radar with four national sides playing within 36 hours of each other.

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One Percenters returns and looks at everything you might have missed from the past fortnight of Rugby.

Gordon signs with Toulon

Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon has taken up a short-term deal with French powerhouse Toulon.

Gordon is one of several International players set to take up the 'joker' deals in Europe, with the competitions set to run through the World Cup.

The scrumhalf missed Eddie Jones' TRC squad and comes in for Baptiste Serin, who will likely serve as Antoine Dupont's understudy.

  "Jake is an experienced international scrum-half," Toulon head coach Pierre Mignoni said in a club statement.

"He will bring his leadership, his vision and his physical qualities," he added.

Stats to stun

In the modern game, there has never been a time when stats have been more prosperous and more available to clubs, coaches and fans.

As data continues to develop, look at some of the more exciting and unique stats heading into the second round of the Rugby Championship, courtesy of Opta.

  • Argentina are looking for back to back wins over Australia for the first time in history after last year's 48-17 win, their biggest ever over the Wallabies.
  • However, the Wallabies have an impressive record at home, only losing once in their last 19 against the Pumas (17 wins, two draws)
  • The Wallabies enjoy a decent weight advantage over their Argentinian coounterparts, with an average of four kgs more in the forward pack
  • Eddie Jones has gone for a monster lock pairing in Will Skelton and Rory Arnold, standing at a combined 4.11m, 11 cm taller than their Pumas rivals Tomas Lavanini and Matias Alemanno
  • South Africa have won two of their last Tests against the All Blacks after only winning two of their 17 previous encounters
  • The Springboks have the best winning record against the Kiwis with 37%, comfortably ahead of the second-place Wallabies (26%)
  • New Zealand had an average attacking ruck speed of 2.5 seconds in the opening round of The Rugby Championship, the quickest o fany team and nearly a full second per ruck quicker than South Africa (3.4seconds)

Cane apologises for tripping pitch invader

New Zealand captain Sam Cane has apologised for tripping a pitch invader after their 41-12 Rugby Championship win over Argentina.

In bizarre scenes, Cane stuck his leg out as a young fan ran by the team while being pursued by a security guard.

"I acknowledge that this is not my role and it is out of character of me to act in such a way," Cane said on social media.

"I am really sorry. I feel awful and am deeply disappointed in myself. I am trying really hard to make contact with the person involved to apologise for my actions and make things right.

"Had a good catch-up with him and his friends and I'm glad that we could leave things in a good place."

Legend Ioane suits up for Victorian club

Digby Ioane has gone back to his roots, lining up for boyhood club Endeavour Hills.

Ioane described as a 'healing process' as he returned from the bench in a 42-10 win over Moorabbin.

I feel the love from you guys at Endeavour Hills," he said on social media.

"I am really grateful and so happy to be back and heal the wounds as it all started at this club with dad, and although dad has passed, it feels like he’s still here with me, so being part of the club fulfils me and I’m fired up for this weeks game."

Social post of the week

There's nothing like receiving your debut cap for the Wallabies.

Although for prop Zane Nonggorr, he had to work a little harder for it to fit on his afro.

A case study that one size doesn't really fit but a wonderful moment for all four debutants

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