1
L’occasion parfaite pour le Pays de Galles de lancer une nouvelle génération
L’ancien capitaine du Pays de Galles, Dan Biggar, estime que ce Tournoi des Six Nations est « l’occasion parfaite » pour le sélectionneur Warren Gatland de tester des joueurs inexpérimentés en vue de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby de 2027 en Australie.
ADVERTISEMENT
Au cours de l’année écoulée, aucune équipe n’a connu un exode aussi spectaculaire de ses joueurs les plus expérimentés que le Pays de Galles. Le joueur le plus capé de l’histoire internationale, Alun Wyn Jones, a pris sa retraite avant la Coupe du monde, ainsi que Justin Tipuric, tandis que Biggar et Leigh Halfpenny, comptant tous deux plus de 100 sélections chacun, ont également raccroché les crampons après l’élimination du Pays de Galles en quart de finale de la Coupe du monde.
En dehors du contingent des retraités, un autre centurion, Taulupe Faletau, n’est toujours pas revenu après une fracture du bras. Par conséquent, Gatland s’est vu privé d’une grande partie de son expérience au cours des derniers mois.
Beaucoup de talents prêts à éclore
Alors que le capitaine Jac Morgan va manquer le Tournoi après avoir subi une opération du genou, Gatland n’aura peut-être pas d’autre choix que de suivre les conseils de son ancien demi d’ouverture Dan Biggar.
Lors de l’émission The 2024 Guest List de BBC 5 Live Sport, celui-ci a déclaré qu’il y a « beaucoup de jeunes Gallois talentueux qui jouent dans les régions » et que Gatland devrait les essayer au début de ce cycle de la Coupe du monde.
« Nous sommes à un stade où nous devons découvrir un peu plus les joueurs », a poursuivi l’ouvreur de Toulon. « Nous avons beaucoup de joueurs qui sont au début de leur carrière, avec peut-être une poignée de sélections, et nous avons beaucoup de joueurs qui sont vers la fin de leur carrière avec un grand nombre de sélections. C’est difficile de savoir qui sera sur le terrain, car il y a beaucoup de combinaisons inconnues, beaucoup de joueurs qui vont intégrer leur toute première équipe.
« Je ne peux pas vous dire comment le Tournoi des Six Nations va se passer. Si vous voulez donner une chance aux jeunes et à l’inexpérience, c’est l’occasion idéale au début d’un cycle de quatre ans avant la Coupe du monde, mettre en place ce que vous voulez construire au cours des trois ans et demi à venir. »
Donner une chance à l’inexpérience
Le Pays de Galles n’est pas la seule équipe à avoir perdu une pléiade de joueurs expérimentés depuis la Coupe du monde, puisque les adversaires de toujours de Biggar au poste de numéro 10 – Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell et Romain Ntamack – seront tous absents pour des raisons diverses. C’est pour cette raison que l’international gallois, qui compte 112 sélections, estime qu’il sera très difficile de se prononcer sur ce Tournoi.
« Je ne pourrais vraiment pas vous dire comment va se passer le Tournoi des Six Nations », répète-t-il. « La France sera privée d’Antoine Dupont et de Romain Ntamack pour la première fois depuis quatre ou cinq ans. L’Angleterre sera également privée d’Owen Farrell et de Courtney Lawes. Comment l’Irlande va-t-elle s’en sortir pour la première fois depuis ce qui semble être une éternité dans l’ère sans Johnny Sexton ? Du point de vue gallois, beaucoup de joueurs ont pris leur retraite ou ne sont pas disponibles pour le Tournoi des Six Nations.
ADVERTISEMENT
« Je ne sais pas comment les équipes vont réagir. Si vous regardez bien, l’Écosse est probablement l’équipe la plus stable et celle qui a connu la Coupe du monde la plus décevante. Ce n’est donc pas une mince affaire. »
Le Pays de Galles entame son Tournoi des Six Nations contre l’Écosse au Principality Stadium le 3 février.
Comments on RugbyPass
That is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
5 Go to commentsSophie De Goede is one of the best players we’ve ever produced. Kicked all the points, 2 try assists, line out takes, carries, tackles, charge downs… what a player
1 Go to commentsThe guy had just beasted himself in a scrum and the blood hadn't yet returned to his head when he was pushed into a team mate. He took his weight off his left foot precisely at the moment he was shoved and dropped to the floor when seemingly trying to avoid stepping on Hyron Andrews’ foot. I don't think he was trying to milk a penalty, I think he was knackered but still switched on enough to avoid planting 120kgs on the dorsum of his second row’s foot. To effectively “police” such incidents with a (noble) view to eradicating play acting in rugby, yet more video would need to be reviewed in real time, which is not in the interest of the game as a sporting spectacle. I would far rather see Farrell penalised for interfering with the refereeing of the game. Perhaps he was right to be frustrated, he was much closer to the action than the only camera angle I've seen, however his vocal objection to Rodd’s falling over doesn't legitimately fall into the captain's role as the mouthpiece of his team - he should have kept his frustration to himself, that's one of the pillars of rugby union. I appreciate that he was within his rights to communicate with the referee as captain but he didn't do this, he moaned and attempted to sway the decision by directing his complaint to the player rather than the ref. Rugby needs to look closely at the message it wants to send to young players and amateur grassroots rugby. The best way to do this would be to apply the laws as they are written and edit them where the written laws no longer apply. If this means deleting laws such as ‘the put in to the scrum must be straight”, so be it. Likewise, if it is no longer necessary to respect the referee’s decision without questioning it or pre-emptively attempting to sway it (including by diving or by shouting and gesticulating) then this behaviour should be embraced (and commercialised). Otherwise any reference to respecting the referee should be deleted from the laws. You have to start somewhere to maintain the values of rugby and the best place to start would be giving a penalty and a warning against the offending player, followed by a yellow card the next time. People like Farrell would rapidly learn to keep quiet and let their skills do the talking.
1 Go to commentsThe name “Kwagga” came to mind while I was reading this. And there’s another Sevens convert roaming the wide open kant at the Lions now - JC Pretorius. Keep an eye on him.
5 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
1 Go to commentsI agree about 8 being too many The English premiership has top four only Top 14 has six URC has 8 I think 6 would be fine It gives those other two teams an incentive But rewarding a team in perhaps 8th with three wins is atrocious If they get in they know they only need one big game
7 Go to commentsInteresting article. I think the answer lies in a comment Kwagga Smith made during the World Cup. Asked whether it bothers him that the Bok team doesn’t get more credit he said: “We don’t play for people to respect us: we play for each other and we play for South Africa.” The Springbok team is a brotherhood - an incredibly tight unit, most of whom are good friends off the pitch as well. Not only do they not want to let South Africa down, but they fight like crazy not to let their teammates down. Not saying they don’t care about their club teammates, but I think the bond shared in the Boks is just much, much deeper. Tough to forge the same sort of bond at a club over a handful of years. That must translate into superior performances for country over club.
32 Go to commentsThere is very little creativity in the 9-10 axis for SA. 10 needs to be solid, put the work in and kick the points. the SA counter is almost always via the edge or a kick through for a winger. When was the last offensive backline score from SA against a top team? Perhaps the ultra physical nature of the SA teams means players they get to hit more stats in those games. Maybe the SA pleyers are perfectly suited to the SA system. In other Words they are not club players gathered to play SA Internationals. They are SA International players adapting to play club.
32 Go to commentsJust what you want your prop doing 😂
2 Go to commentsEveryone needs to have a bit of ball player in them Nick and second phase but forwards and backs are still different coz of where you stick your head most of the time. Pocock and tizzano were 12s right up to the edge of seniors. Pocock was 12 to quades 10 then pocock was at the force At 17 year’s old or so. Hamish Stewart was apparently was a junior 7. Don’t know when he switched but apparently he was crons 10 in the Oz 20s. A mistake too often made is playing a guy like taquele nairavuro at wing instead of as a power 8. On rugby tours we often had a spare 7 playing crash 12 coz the regular 12 stayed home. Often had a spare 7 playing on a wing too.
5 Go to commentsyikes - what a load of crap Gallan. Interesting until after your 1st paragraph, but then again not worth anyone’s time responding to such pointless analysis and of course your dumbass opinions.
32 Go to commentsOutside of their national camp, club teams seem to take a tighter stance on doping. Think that explains it really.
32 Go to commentsThanks Nick Ive always thought that there should be a few more innovative attempts at players moving from backs to forwards and vice versa. Samu was one, as was Jim Williams last century. Cole certainly could run like a back, as can Lonergan from the Brumbies. I think that it’s going to become hard again for hookers though as front rowers seem to be getting bigger and bigger, and the guys have to look after their spines as well as (in Australia) their achilles! I always thought that Folau should have been tried in the lineout…. I think the same for Vunavalu…if he lasts any longer. Movement between positions is much more common in League, mainly because the size requirements between backs and forwards are not as pronounced. Hookers and halfbacks interchanging and second rowers and centres as well. The great Cameron Smith was effectively a hybrid hooker/halfback, being able to play both positions…sometimes it seemed simultaneously! For now, it seems like McReith and before him Hooper are the standouts, though Cale could be anything. John Eals did a few “back” type things mind you, including running and kicking. As for Jones, I don't credit him as anything (in an Australian context) other than a speaker of a million throw away lines, with the occasional one being picked up! Sorry
5 Go to commentsHe's Big in Japan
2 Go to comments“England are set to lose some of their best ever players at the end of the season with the mass departure to France”… Really? Best ever? What a joke of an opening line. The england players leaving for France are… Sinckler, Ludlum, Tuilagi… that’s the list of players England are losing at the end of this season to France. All 3 are fringe players at best these days. Manu is the only one you could fathom debating being one of “their best ever players” and even that debate would be shut down pretty quickly. Pathetic excuse for journalism this. Not grounded in reality.
2 Go to commentsYep. The insanity of the decision of trying to outspend RL for outside backs just looks more and more stupid as time goes on and talented players either bully us into paying overs to keep them (Jorgensen) or simply leave as Uncle Nick comes calling (Nawaqanitawase).
20 Go to commentsInteresting that you pick Amatosero, John. I would agree with your choice. He could well be capped this year at some point. At only 21 years of age, he has a lot of experience at a high level from his time at Clermont. I’m surprised he did not remain there for longer, as last year he was really starting to move, with 14 games, six starts, well up from the previous year, 7 games, only 2 starts. Have liked what is doing with the Waratahs this year. Not an easy situation for any player there, with the poor results.
3 Go to commentsNed me old shinwah, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn how to spell the last names of great All Blacks wingers. (Otherwise we will demean our memories of Grant Bitty, Jonah Lima, Joe Rococo and Doug Howler.)
4 Go to commentsNo longer able to except the excuses offered up for Rob. The red jersey has lost it’s mana and become a joke. I do not wish Mr Penny any wrong but it is time to go. Do the right thing Rob and retire, PLEASE.
31 Go to comments