1
Virimi Vakatawa a livré sa réaction après avoir disputé vendredi 18 août son premier match depuis son retour de retraite. C’est en septembre 2022 que le trois-quarts centre français avait annoncé qu’il devait prendre sa retraite avec effet immédiat.
ADVERTISEMENT
Il s’est avéré que l’ancien trois-quarts centre international avait été interdit de jouer par la commission médicale de la Ligue nationale de rugby en raison d’un problème cardiaque, mais après avoir été écarté pendant 11 mois, il a repris le jeu à l’âge de 31 ans dans l’équipe des Barbarians de Pat Lam contre les Samoa à Brive.
Les Baa-Baas se sont inclinés 14-28 face aux Samoans, qui sont à quelques semaines d’entamer leur campagne pour la Coupe du Monde de Rugby en affrontant le Chili le 16 septembre à Bordeaux, mais Vakatawa était satisfait d’avoir joué 55 minutes en tant que titulaire dans son équipe, associé à Curtis Rona, l’ancien centre des Wallabies.
Bien qu’il ait eu l’air un peu en retrait physiquement après son année d’absence, Vakatawa a montré quelques belles choses et a été ovationné par le Stade Amédée-Domenech lorsqu’il a cédé sa place alors que le score était de 0-18 à 25 minutes de la fin du match.
« Oui, tout s’est bien passé, je remercie Dieu, évidemment, nous n’avons eu qu’une semaine de préparation alors que les Samoa s’entraînent depuis longtemps tous ensemble. Alors ce fut un peu dur, particulièrement en défense. Mais dans l’ensemble, je suis content », a-t-il déclaré.
Vakatawa avait déjà joué pour les Barbarians lors de leur victoire à Twickenham contre l’Angleterre en juin 2022, lorsque l’équipe invitée était entraînée par Fabien Galthié, le sélectionneur de l’équipe de France.
Mais cette fois, c’est Pat Lam, le directeur du rugby de Bristol, qui était à la tête des Barbarians. Il s’est dit très satisfait du retour de Vakatawa, ajoutant qu’il n’excluait pas de revoir le joueur un jour.
ADVERTISEMENT
Après avoir terminé l’année dernière avec le Racing et le XV de France, Vakatawa est désormais libre et il sera intéressant de voir s’il cherchera un contrat professionnel sur la base de ce retour avec les Barbarians.
Comments on RugbyPass
Blues 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.
2 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!
15 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
2 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 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.
15 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
15 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 commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
47 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to comments