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Peter O'Mahony minimise le rôle décisif du match d'ouverture
Le nouveau capitaine de l’équipe d’Irlande, Peter O’Mahony, écarte toute idée selon laquelle le match du Tournoi des Six Nations de vendredi contre la France, qu’il anticipe comme étant « colossal », sera déterminant dans la course au titre.
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Les hommes d’Andy Farrell se rendront à Marseille en tant que champions du Grand Chelem en titre, grâce à leur victoire déterminante (32-19) sur les Français lors de la deuxième journée en février dernier à Dublin.
Les Bleus, qui sont les favoris du Tournoi cette année, avaient réalisé un parcours sans faute en 2022 après une victoire cruciale sur l’Irlande à Paris (30-24).
Face à face
5 dernières rencontres
Victoires
3
Nuls
0
Victoires
2
Moyenne de points marqués
23
27
Le premier essai gagne
60%
L'équipe recevante gagne
60%
Le troisième-ligne du Munster O’Mahony, qui a succédé à Johnny Sexton au poste de capitaine, a réfuté toute idée que le match puisse à nouveau décider de l’attribution d’un titre, avant une soirée d’ouverture qui s’annonce passionnante au Stade Vélodrome.
« Je ne sais pas si c’est le cas », a-t-il déclaré lors d’une conférence de presse à la veille de la rencontre.
« C’est la première pour nous, la première pour eux aussi. Dans cette compétition, chaque match est colossal et c’est un euphémisme.
« Nous sommes tous les deux là pour gagner, nous mettre dans une dynamique pour la suite de la campagne.
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« Chaque fois que vous avez l’occasion de jouer pour l’Irlande, c’est énorme, mais celle-ci semble particulièrement spéciale… pour continuer notre chemin.
« Quel endroit pour le faire, quel stade… quel endroit pour jouer au rugby. »
L’Irlande et la France sont toutes deux en train de rebondir après des quarts de finale angoissants lors de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023.
Mais O’Mahony insiste sur le fait que l’équipe est tournée vers l’avant, plutôt que d’essayer de rattraper la déception subie aux mains des All Blacks.
« Nous ne cherchons pas à nous justifier vis-à-vis de ce qui s’est passé », explique-t-il.
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« Notre objectif est plutôt de nous évaluer à travers nos performances, de comprendre où nous en sommes, de définir nos objectifs futurs, et de nous donner un élan positif.
« On ne peut pas changer le passé, mais nous allons nous concentrer sur le test-match à venir. Cette opportunité est cruciale pour nous, et la priorité absolue est de livrer une performance exceptionnelle.
« Chacun est ici pour donner le meilleur de soi-même au service de l’équipe irlandaise, c’est notre ambition principale. »
O’Mahony a déjà été capitaine de l’Irlande à plusieurs reprises, mais il dirigera son pays pour la première fois en tant que capitaine titulaire.
Le joueur de 34 ans pense que lui et ses coéquipiers ont tous appris de son prédécesseur Sexton.
« J’ai eu une bonne discussion avec lui il y a quelques semaines et je peux vous dire qu’il est en bonne forme », a déclaré O’Mahony.
« Je serais étonné si vous demandiez à quiconque dans notre vestiaire, ayant joué avec Johnny, s’il n’a pas tiré une leçon de lui.
« C’est le propre du rugby, c’est d’apprendre, d’être assidu et de s’inspirer des gars qui ont compris et il était certainement l’un d’entre eux. »
Comments on RugbyPass
Blackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
127 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
5 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
36 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
9 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
8 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
36 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to commentsThat 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.
9 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.
9 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
8 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.
36 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.
36 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.
9 Go to comments