Springbok Raymond Rhule and Dillyn Leyds have a “unique bond”

Raymond Rhule claims that his “unique bond” with fellow Springbok Dillyn Leyds has allowed them to flourish at La Rochelle, prior to Saturday’s French Top 14 trip to Bayonne.

The duo joined at Stade Marcel Deflandre in the summer of 2020 and helped the club on the Atlantic coast win the European Champions Cup in the previous campaign.

The 29-year-old Rhule is now out with an ankle injury, but the 30-year-old Leyds has scored 27 points, including 17 from the tee, his first from the boot since 2015, as La Rochelle lie in second place after six rounds.

“We are near. Since under-20s, when we won the World Championship (in 2012), we have played together “Rhule stated last week to AFP.

“It’s always wonderful to have someone you can relate to and who has your sense of humor.

“It’s a wonderful camaraderie that makes rugby a lot simpler when you guys see the same images and view the game in the same manner,” he continued.

Rhule, who, like Leyds, can play centre, wing, and full-back, made his final South Africa appearance in the record-setting loss to New Zealand in 2017 and did not participate in the Rugby World Cup victory two years later.

Rhule stated, “I’ve always wanted to make a comeback, but such decisions are out of my hands.”

“I left South Africa on a sour note, and I will always seek a chance to make amends.

“If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. I’ve learned to control what I can control and to let go of the rest “he continued.

Twelve months after his last international appearance, Rhule moved to France and joined with second-tier Grenoble.

During a game, he was clocked running at 35 km/h by French broadcasters Canal+, the same speed as France World Cup champion Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.

“Pace is an element of my game, but I don’t think it’s my entire game,” said Rhule.

“I always try to take satisfaction in my ability to understand the game and execute,” he continued.

‘Slick’ Cassiem

The flyer, who was born in Accra and knows six languages, moved from the Alps to the west coast of France to work under former Irish fly-half and head coach of La Rochelle, Ronan O’Gara.

This weekend, O’Gara, who replaced Jono Gibbes as director of rugby, leads his squad to a sold-out Stade Jean-Dauger to face the Basques of Bayonne, who have Rhule’s former Cheetahs teammate Uzair Cassiem in their back-row.

“He is an awesome guy. He has a fantastic personality off the field as well. He is very active and contributes much to the squad “Rhule stated of Cassiem, an eight-time Springbok.

He said, “He’ll bring a lot to Bayonne, but we can’t allow him too much room to run because he’s slick.”

Cheslin Kolbe, a teammate of Rhule’s, is expected to return for Toulon against Brive this weekend, three months after being sidelined with a fractured jaw.

Scrum-half Cobus Reinach, who won the 2019 World Cup alongside Kolbe, has returned to training with champions Montpellier after suffering a significant shoulder injury before to Saturday’s rematch of the Top 14 final against Castres in June.

Christian Wade, a former member of the training squad for the Buffalo Bills, might make his debut when Racing 92 hosts Pau after signing a one-year contract with the Parisians.

AFP


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