Jo Yapp, une pionnière à la tête des Wallaroos
Intronisée officiellement lundi 19 février, Joanne Yapp, dite « Jo », est actuellement la seule femme à diriger une équipe nationale australienne senior de football ou rugby, après avoir mené une brillante carrière de joueuse.
L’ancienne demie de mêlée de 44 ans compte 70 sélections pour l’Angleterre, a participé à trois Coupes du Monde de Rugby, et a été capitaine de son pays jusqu’à la finale de l’édition 2006.
Depuis sa retraite en 2009, Yapp s’est forgée une impressionnante carrière d’entraîneure et une expérience dans le sport de haut niveau. Elle a passé cinq ans à la tête de l’équipe féminine U20 d’Angleterre, a été directrice du rugby féminin à l’université d’Exeter pendant huit ans et a été entraîneure des arrières de l’équipe féminine d’Angleterre lors du Tournoi des Six Nations 2015.
Une occasion de montrer ce qu’une femme peut faire
Cette femme de 44 ans estime que la question du genre ne devrait pas se poser, mais elle est consciente de la chance qu’elle a de pouvoir mettre en valeur les skills des entraîneures.
« Pour moi, le meilleur entraîneur est le meilleur entraîneur, qu’il s’agisse d’un homme ou d’une femme », a déclaré Jo Yapp.
« Mais je comprends aussi que j’ai un rôle à jouer en tant que modèle et qu’il existe des opportunités pour d’autres entraîneures de se manifester et d’entraîner au niveau international, mais aussi en Australie même.
« De plus en plus de gens peuvent constater que c’est la même chose que de jouer, en termes de capacité à dire, ‘c’est vrai, cette femme a réussi à percer’ parce que je pense que très souvent, en tant que femmes, nous nous sous-estimons.
« Nous voyons un poste et nous nous disons : “Oh, peut-être que je n’ai pas l’expérience nécessaire”. Mais en réalité, on a le même niveau d’expérience.
« Il est donc très important de reconnaître cela et de donner une chance aux gens. Plus tard, vous verrez probablement plus de coachs femmes internationales parce qu’elles commenceront à avoir ces opportunités. »
Intégrer durablement le Top 4 mondial
L’objectif immédiat de Yapp est de faire en sorte que les Wallaroos obtiennent des résultats qui lui permettent d’intégrer durablement le Top 4 mondial avant la Coupe du monde de l’année prochaine en Angleterre et, à terme, l’édition 2029 en Australie.
Actuellement, le Top 4 est occupé par l’Angleterre, la Nouvelle-Zélande, la France et le Canada. L’Australie arrive derrière, en cinquième position.
La nouvelle entraîneure a identifié la préparation physique et la maîtrise des règles du jeu comme deux domaines dans lesquels les Wallaroos peuvent rapidement s’améliorer, d’autant plus que Rugby Australia (RA) s’apprête à offrir des opportunités et un salaire à temps plein pour les joueuses.
« D’autres nations comme la France, la Nouvelle-Zélande, l’Angleterre ont une histoire très riche en termes de joueuses qui commencent à un très jeune âge à pratiquer le rugby à XV », a indiqué Yapp.
« Dans l’équipe des Wallaroos, certaines joueuses viennent un peu plus tard d’autres régions, il y a donc un bon travail à faire sur ce point. »
La fédération australienne met les moyens
Phil Waugh, le patron de la fédération australienne de rugby, estime que la nomination de Yapp donne aux Wallaroos les meilleures chances de « s’imposer » lors des deux prochaines Coupes du monde.
« Il faut investir maintenant. Sinon, il sera trop tard », a estimé Phil Waugh.
« Même aujourd’hui, nous avons besoin de temps pour continuer à investir.
« C’est pourquoi la nomination de Jo à plein temps, qui dirige le programme et investit dans nos athlètes pour leur donner les ressources appropriées, devrait les aider à aller loin dans 20 mois. »
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments