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Bristol sign one of Cheika's 'outstanding' Argentina back-rowers

(Photo by Cesar Heredia/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Having reportedly missed out on signing Argentina back row Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso, who joined Saracens earlier this week, Bristol have instead signed Samo’s Pumas teammate, Santiago Grondona.

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Both players were named on Thursday by Michael Cheika to start in this Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with the Springboks in Johannesburg.

In the meantime, the Bears have confirmed that Grondona, the ex-Exeter forward who finished out last season with Pau in the Top 14, will be lining out for them after the upcoming Rugby World Cup in their 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership campaign.

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A statement read: “Powerhouse Argentinian back row Santiago Grondona has joined Bristol Bears, the club can confirm. The 14-cap Puma, who can operate across the back row and in the second row, made a mid-season switch from Exeter Chiefs to French Top 14 side Pau in February 2023.

“The 24-year-old played a starring role for Argentina in their dramatic last-gasp victory over Australia, making 10 tackles as the Pumas won 31-34.”

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Bristol director of rugby Lam said: “Santiago is a versatile, powerful back row forward and we are pleased to bring in a player of his quality to bolster the depth in our pack ahead of the new season.

“He has been outstanding in international rugby over the past 12 months and continues to go from strength to strength. He will add huge value to us on and off the field and we look forward to him joining up with the squad.”

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Grondona added: “I am very eager to arrive in Bristol to meet my new teammates, and I’m really looking forward to working with Pat.

“Playing at Ashton Gate in front of our fans is going to be amazing too and I will give everything to make sure we achieve our goals this season.”

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JW 27 minutes ago
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Yeah like a classic comedy show, not too different to how he went at the same venue last year? Perhaps there’s something about that latitude that puts his equilibrium off?


The rush on Jo was fine though, you’d catch most players out with Dmacs ex3cution of it. There were actually quite a few instances like that, not too dissimilar to that Bledisloe game actually, were things just didn’t work out for no luck of trying to skill. I laughed when Dmac took himself out of that try and basically gifted it to them by trying to bowl over Kellaway was perhaps the most comical.


Actually now you say that, yes, very reminiscent of Aus v England wasn’t it. The two changes at halves have been instrumental for me. Not that the first two weren’t playing well, but these two seem to pair up better, with everyone. Like you say with those sorts of counter attack plays, they are on instinct and that stuff needs to be shared with everyone. That’s another thing too I was thinking, in that respect guys returning can be a hinderance to a team playing well, but I might have just thought that because I wasn’t sure (hadn’t seen much) which of NSWs midfields were best suited where.


I’m very similar in my TMO preference as well. I had actually said to myself several times already this season (SR here) that they are pretty bullish basically telling the ref what theyve seen as fact. If I remember rightly it even happened a few times in November and some of the refs then said “no, I’m actually happy with that.” etc. But very tough on Maybe (I think) who probably has plss poor vision on the big screen to say anything otherwise, so yes, definitely just make it an offer to look and also communicate ‘why’ precisely to the ref, and (just like he does to the players) he can even say to the TMO “no I was happy how I saw it live, I don’t need a replay thanks” etc. He started like that I think, “I’d like to review a simultaneous grounding” but then yes, he took over after. Of course in the refs minds, it’s the right call, thoughts how it’s always been ref’d, even when theres a good few frames in the slowmo that actually show ball obviously hitting grass first (which they didn’t in this game), they’ve always ruled that (like in cricket) if the ball continues to then be ground on the line after (or in the same frame in this example) they always gone ‘dead ball’. The new SR committee apparently what to making the line the attacking teams so they award the try’s instead of taking them away, but just like I said with them not wanting to look closely at the first forward pass (like they did for the Chiefs try), I don’t want random JRLO level decisions, and giving the line to the attacking team is just going to make clear no trys, a try instead. It’s exactly the same result.

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tonirobinson362 1 hour ago
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