Meet the 'super-sized' 1000kg plus pack Racing could unleash against Leinster
When it comes to forward packs, the Top14 increasingly don't do small.
Toulouse and latterly LaRochelle have taken the concept of bigger is better to an extreme, and Racing 92 have in recent seasons followed suit. With the league largely centred around the mauling game, there is some logic to the approach.
The evolution of professional rugby has of course seen an increase player sizes across the board, with an average international pack generally weighing in at over 900kg or 112.5kg a man. During this year's Natwest Six Nations England, for example, regularly weighed in at 918kg or over and - in fact - Tier 1 international packs under 900kg are becoming more scarce.
The Top14 however is a different kettle of fish.
A theoretical pack constituted from Racing's heavyweight stable of forwards would make your average International pack look more akin to a schoolboy team. With this in mind with a combined pack weight of 1004kg, the average man in our "Frankenstein' Racing pack would tip the scales at 125.5kg (19 stone 11Ibs/276Ibs).
This weekend the Parisians take on the toast of the PRO14 and tournament favourites Leinster, a team that dominated the Scarlets around the breakdown with ruthless, bullying pick and goes. The Leinster pack that played that day weighed 897kg.
Of course this is a paper exercise, and this selection will not be picked by headcoach Laurent Labit, but all the same, an impressive prospect none-the-less.
Continue reading below...
1 Census Johnston
6' 2.5", 135kg
While he more often lines out at tighthead, the Samoan veteran is equally adept at loosehead where he has played for both Samoa and Toulouse. The 37-year-old previously weighed in at 140kg but has spent the latter part of his career in the mid 130s.
2 Wayne Ole Avei
5' 10", 115kg
The Wellington born Ole Avei has 34 caps for Samoa and comes to Racing via UBB.
3 Ben Tameifuna
6', 134kg
'Big Ben' Tameifuna is listed at 134kg, but going on his current physique that might be a little shy of his real weight. In off season the Tongan has been as high as 149kg, and indeed weighed in at 148kg for the 'Fight for Life' charity boxing event in which he fought Willie Mason.
4 Patrico Albacete 122kg
6'7", 122kg
The 37-year-old may be in the Autumn of his career and playing less rugby but the Argentinian still boasts a solid 122kg of mass on his 6'7 frame.
5 Edwin Maka
6'5", 147kg
One of the heaviest professional rugby players on the planet, like Johnson, Maka made his way to Racing from Toulouse, who fielded some massive packs under Guy Noves. Very hard to stop near the line.
6 Bernard Le Roux
6'5", 112kg
The South African born French international is a relative lightweight in this pack at a modest 17 stone 9 pounds.
7 Boris Palu
6'4", 112kg
With an impressive 93% tackle completion rate in 2018, Palu tips the scales at 112kg.
8 So'otala Fa'aso'o
6'5", 127kg
Just 23-year-old, the former Samoa U20s backrow came to Racing via Counties Manukau and is already wreaking havoc in the Top14, barging past four defenders for a magnificant try just this weekend.
Latest Comments
I see some similarities between Fergus Burke and Ben Healy. Both in line for an International career in their countries of birth, but opting to move away. Healy has now been capped by Scotland, and thus can't play for Ireland now. Burke is still "up for grabs", and could still play for NZ until capped by either England or Scotland. He certainly won't go backwards at Saracens, so that is a good move for him. Not sure how the Crusaders will go this year. Another year losing of them games, and Burke is better off up north ?? Not that Saracens are immune from losses this year either.
Go to commentsI'm not very hopeful of a better change to the sport. Putting an Aussie in charge after they failed for two decades is just disgusting. What else will be brought in to weaken the game? What new rule changes will be made? How will the game be grown?
Nothing of value in this letter. There is no definitive drive towards something better. Just more of the same as usual. The most successful WC team is getting snubbed again and again for WC's hosting rights. What will make other competitions any different?
My beloved rugby is already a global sport. Why is there no SH team chosen between the Boks, AB's, Wallabies and Fiji? Like a B&I Lions team to tour Europe and America? A team that could face not only countries but also the B&I Lions? Wouldn't that make for a great spectacle that will also bring lots of eyeballs to the sport?
Instead with an Aussie in charge, rugby will become more like rugby league. Rugby will most likely become less global if we look at what have become of rugby in Australia. He can't save rugby in Australia, how will he improve the global footprint of rugby world wide?
I hope to be proven wrong and that he will raise up the sport to new heights, but I am very much in doubt. It's like hiring a gardener to a CEO position in a global company expecting great results. It just won't happen. Call me negative or call me whatever you'd like, Robinson is the wrong man for the job.
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