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L'équipe des Samoa pour finir en beauté contre l'Angleterre
Pour affronter l’Angleterre au Stade Pierre-Mauroy de Lille le samedi 7 octobre, le sélectionneur Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua a procédé à neuf changements dans son XV de départ par rapport à l’équipe qui s’est inclinée 28-22 contre le Japon.
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Seuls Theo McFarland, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua, Jonathan Taumateine, Tumua Manu et Duncan Paia’aua ont conservé leur place.
XV de départ
1 Jordan Lay
2 Sama Malolo
3 Michael Alaalatoa (c)
4 Sam Slade
5 Brian Alainu’u’ese
6 Theo McFarland
7 Fritz Lee
8 Steven Luatua
9 Jonathan Taumateine
10 Lima Sopoaga
11 Neria Fomai
12 Danny Toala
13 Tumua Manu
14 Nigel Ah-Wong
15 Duncan Paia’aua
Remplaçants
16 Seilala Lam
17 James Lay
18 Paul Alo-Emile
19 Sootala Fa’aso’o
20 Alamanda Motuga
21 Melani Matavao
22 Christian Leali’ifano
23 Miracle Faiilagi
Un pack quasi entièrement renouvelé
La première ligne, totalement renouvelée, est composée de Jordan Lay, Sama Malolo et du capitaine Michael Alaalatoa, alors que la deuxième ligne, elle aussi entièrement changée, est composée de Samuel Slade et Brian Alainu’u’ese.
Jonathan Taumateine sera associé à Lima Sopoaga à la charnière pour la deuxième fois seulement ; leur précédente association remonte au match de préparation face à l’Irlande à Bayonne au mois d’août.
Neria Fomai débutera pour la deuxième fois de l’année, après avoir obtenu ses trois dernières sélections en sortie de banc. Il vise toujours le premier essai de sa carrière à l’occasion de sa neuvième cape.
Jordan Lay est titulaire pour la deuxième fois seulement à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby, après avoir disputé cinq de ses six matchs précédents depuis 2019 en tant que remplaçant. Sa dernière titularisation remonte à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2019 contre le Japon.
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Sama Malolo obtient la deuxième titularisation de sa carrière, et sa première sur cette RWC 2023. Cinq de ses six capes ont été obtenue en sortie de banc. Le talonneur n’a été titulaire qu’une seule fois, en août dernier, face aux Tonga.
Les frères Lay sur le terrain
Deux joueurs de l’équipe du jour évoluent en club en Angleterre, Steven Luatua à Bristol et Theo McFarland avec les Saracens.
Steven Luatua disputera un test contre l’Angleterre pour la première fois depuis 2013 et un match sous le maillot des All Blacks à Twickenham.
Il ne reste que trois joueurs parmi ceux retenus pour ce 7 octobre par rapport à la dernière rencontre entre les Samoa et l’Angleterre, en 2017 : Jordan Lay, James Lay et Melani Matavao.
Les frères Jordan et James Lay sont associés dans la même équipe pour la 15e fois, mais pour la première fois depuis la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2019 contre le Japon.
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Lors des trois tests auxquels ont participé les deux frères cette saison, James a débuté au poste de pilier gauche et Jordan est entré en jeu en tant que remplaçant.
Lima Sopoaga est titulaire pour la première fois en Coupe du Monde de Rugby, après avoir fait ses débuts en sortie de banc contre le Chili. Il s’agit seulement de la quatrième titularisation de sa carrière internationale après avoir porté le maillot floqué du numéro 10 deux fois pour les All Blacks, contre l’Afrique du Sud en 2015 et les Wallabies en 2017, et une fois pour les Samoa contre l’Irlande en début d’année.
Sootala Fa’aso’o fera ses débuts en Coupe du Monde de Rugby s’il est utilisé en sortie de banc. Il a fait ses débuts internationaux cette année contre le Japon en juillet, et ce sera seulement sa deuxième sélection.
Fritz Lee, Theo McFarland et Christian Leali’ifano ont joué chaque minute de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 pour les Samoa.
Christian Leali’ifano jouera contre l’Angleterre pour la première fois depuis la défaite des Wallabies en quart de finale de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2019 à Oita. Il avait marqué 11 des 16 points australiens ce jour-là.
Comments on RugbyPass
> 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.
2 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.
1 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 💙
6 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…
2 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.
6 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 commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to comments