1
Ce qu'il faut savoir sur le match Tonga - Roumanie
Ne faites pas l’erreur de croire que l’avant-dernier match de la phase de poule ne présente aucun enjeu.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bien au contraire ! Les Tonga et la Roumanie, adversaires de la poule B, n’ont pas gagné un seul match à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023, malgré des performances acharnées face à l’Irlande, à l’Écosse et à l’Afrique du Sud. Mais aucune des deux équipes ne voudra rentrer chez elle sans aucun point au compteur pour récompenser ses efforts en France.
Le sélectionneur de la Roumanie, Eugen Apjok, a choisi le talonneur Ovidiu Cojocaru comme capitaine pour la première fois – pour son 34e match international – dans une équipe qui comprend neuf changements par rapport à celle qui s’est inclinée face à l’Écosse. Le numéro huit Cristi Chirica, qui a mené la Roumanie tout au long de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023, ne fait pas partie de la liste des 23, Andre Gorin le remplaçant à l’arrière du pack.
Par ailleurs, l’ancien joueur des All Blacks George Moala devrait faire ses débuts à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby, à l’âge de 32 ans – mieux vaut tard que jamais – dans un XV tongien de départ qui présente six changements de joueurs et un changement de position. Outre Moala, l’ex-Wallaby Adam Coleman fera sa première apparition dans la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023, au lendemain de son 32e anniversaire, après deux apparitions sur le banc, dans le seul changement apporté au cinq de devant.
Le passé indique que les deux équipes seront très proches l’une de l’autre à Lille – tandis que l’attrait de terminer leur campagne par une victoire sera important.
HISTORIQUE
Depuis leur première rencontre en 2013, les deux équipes se sont affrontées à quatre reprises, avec deux victoires chacune. La Roumanie a remporté le dernier de ces matchs, 32-20 à Bucarest il y a deux ans. Mais les trois autres rencontres se sont toutes terminées sur un score serré.
MATCH MARQUANT
Quatre pénalités sans réponse de Daniel Plai entre les 55e et 78e minutes à Bucarest en novembre 2021 ont fait la différence pour que la Roumanie remporte son dernier match contre les Tonga, au cours d’une tournée difficile affectée par le Covid-19 pour ‘Ikale Tahi. Jusqu’alors, les deux équipes affichaient le même score au tableau d’affichage.
POINT-CLE
La Roumanie risque d’établir un nouveau record du plus faible nombre de points marqués lors d’une Coupe du Monde de Rugby, puisqu’elle n’en a inscrit que huit en trois matchs. Les Chênes et le Canada se partagent cette distinction pour l’instant, n’ayant marqué que 14 points en 1995 et 2019 respectivement.
FACE A FACE
Sonatane Takulua v Florin Surugiu. Takulua, le joueur le plus capé des Tonga, a été titularisé pour la première fois à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 et a reçu le brassard de capitaine. Face à lui, et également pour sa première titularisation du tournoi, l’expérimenté demi de mêlée roumain. Surugiu égalera Mihai Macovei en tant que troisième joueur roumain le plus capé (104 capes) – derrière Catalin Fercu (109) et son ancien partenaire à la charnière, Florin Vlaicu (129).
L’INCROYABLE STAT
Voilà 237 minutes que la Roumanie a marqué son seul et unique essai en France, par Gabriel Rupanu à la troisième minute de son match d’ouverture contre l’Irlande.
L’ARBITRE
Angus Gardner (Australie). En deux matchs à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 jusqu’à présent, Gardner a sifflé 35 pénalités : 21 en faveur de l’équipe attaquante, et 14 en faveur de la défense.
LES EQUIPES
TONGA Salesi Piutau; Solomone Kata, George Moala, Pita Ahki, Afusipa Taumoepeau; William Havili, Sonatane Takulua (captain); Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Paula Ngauamo, Ben Tameifuna; Halaleva Fifita, Adam Coleman; Semisi Paea, Sione Talitui, Sione Vailanu
ADVERTISEMENT
Remplaçants : Sione Anga’aelangi, Paula Latu, Siate Tokolahi, Sitiveni Mafi, Penitoa Finau, Manusiu Paea, Patrick Pellegrini, Kyren Taumoefolau
ROUMANIE : Marius Simionescu; Nicholas Onutu, Tevita Manumua, Fonovai Tangimana, Taliauli Sikuea; Alin Conache, Florin Surugiu; Alexandru Savin, Ovidiu Cojocaru (capitaine), Alexandru Gordas; Adrian Motoc, Marius Iftimiciuc; Vlad Neculau, Cristi Boboc, Andre Gorin
Replacements: 16 Robert Irimescu, Iulian Hartig, Costel Burtila, Florian Rosu, Damian Stratila, Gabriel Rupanu, Alexandru Bucur, Mihai Graure
Comments on RugbyPass
Wouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
51 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
51 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
51 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
51 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
51 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
51 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
51 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
51 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
51 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
51 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
51 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to comments