1
George North de retour avec le Pays de Galles contre l’Angleterre
George North s’est remis de la blessure à l’épaule qui l’avait empêché de participer à la défaite du Pays de Galles contre l’Écosse et sera titulaire au poste de second centre contre l’Angleterre samedi à Twickenham.
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Il sera associé au milieu du terrain à Nick Tompkins après avoir manqué le premier tour du Six Nations en raison d’une blessure à l’épaule contractée lors d’un match avec les Ospreys en janvier.
Le retour de North à la place d’Owen Watkin est l’un des sept changements apportés au XV de départ qui s’est incliné 27-26 face à l’Écosse au Principality Stadium.
Le sélectionneur Warren Gatland a aussi nommé une nouvelle charnière. En l’absence de Gareth Davies et de Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams occupera le poste de numéro 9 et Ioan Lloyd celui de numéro 10.
Un pack modifié
La première ligne a également été complètement modifiée, Gareth Thomas revenant de blessure pour débuter à la place de Corey Domachowski.
Il sera associé à Keiron Assiratti et Elliot Dee qui prendront respectivement la place de Leon Brown et de Ryan Elias au poste de pilier droit et de talonneur. Le pilier Archie Griffin, qui n’a encore jamais été sélectionné, fait également partie des remplaçants.
Le seul changement apporté dans la cage est la première titularisation d’Alex Mann pour le Pays de Galles, en remplacement de James Botham, qui est forfait cette semaine après s’être blessé au genou.
Six Nations
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Ireland
1
1
0
0
5
2
England
1
1
0
0
4
3
Scotland
1
1
0
0
4
4
Wales
1
0
1
0
2
5
Italy
1
0
1
0
1
6
France
1
0
1
0
0
Ne pas recommencer les mêmes erreurs
« Nous avons été critiques et durs avec nous-mêmes cette semaine. La première période était loin d’être à la hauteur de nos attentes. Nous ne pouvons tout simplement pas recommencer comme ça ce samedi », a déclaré le sélectionneur Warren Gatland.
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« Nous avons montré en deuxième mi-temps contre l’Écosse ce dont nous sommes capables. Il faut maintenant s’appuyer sur cette performance et de mettre beaucoup de rythme dès le début.
« Nous avons effectué quelques changements dans le quinze de départ ce week-end, ce qui donne des opportunités aux joueurs qui entrent en jeu. Nous devons être précis et faire preuve de discipline.
« C’est un match très important, non seulement en raison du contexte et de ce qu’il représente pour tous les habitants du Pays de Galles, mais aussi parce que c’est l’occasion d’obtenir un résultat positif. C’est aussi l’occasion de mieux faire avancer les choses. L’Angleterre est en phase de reconstruction. Nous irons là-bas avec beaucoup de confiance et nous pourrons nous appuyer sur cette deuxième mi-temps et cette conviction. »
Composition du Pays de Galles (contre l’Angleterre)
- Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 26 sélections)
- Elliot Dee (Dragons – 47 sélections)
- Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 3 sélections)
- Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – capitaine, 13 sélections)
- Adam Beard (Ospreys – 52 sélections)
- Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 1 sélection)
- Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 14 sélections)
- Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 44 sélections)
- Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 54 sélections)
- Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets – 3 sélections)
- Rio Dyer (Dragons – 15 sélections)
- Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 33 sélections)
- George North (Ospreys – 118 sélections)
- Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 55 sélections)
- Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby– 1 sélection)
Remplaçants
- Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 39 sélections)
- Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby – 7 sélections)
- Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – débutant)
- Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 29 sélections)
- Taine Basham (Dragons – 16 sélections)
- Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 18 sélections)
- Cai Evans (Dragons – 1 sélection)
- Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 7 sélections)
Comments on RugbyPass
There should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
41 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
27 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
2 Go to commentsBlackadder 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 .
129 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 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.
41 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.
27 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.
10 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
41 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.
27 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.
27 Go to comments