1
'I lost my head': French star Sebastian Vahaamahina's tearful apology to teammates following red card
French star Sebastian Vahaamahina has made an emotional confession to his teammates after effectively costing his nation a place in the World Cup semi-finals with a red card during France’s 20-19 defeat to Wales in Oita on Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 27-year-old was sent from the field by referee Jaco Peyper in the 49th minute after the New Caledonian-born lock struck Welsh loose forward and eventual man-of-the-match Aaron Wainwright in the face with his elbow.
At the time of his dismissal, the French were leading the fixture 19-10, but conceded 10 more points in Vahaamahina’s absence, ruling them out of a place in the competition’s final four.
Continue reading below…
In a video posted on French broadcaster TF1’s website, a tearful Vahaamahina spoke to his squad members in the French changing room after the match to apologise for his actions.
“I think I completely lost my head. It’s difficult,” he said.
“Frankly it’s indefensible … you’re one hell of a generation of players,” he added, in reference to France’s emerging crop of young talent, including the likes of scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, flyhalf Romain Ntamack and loose forward Gregory Alldritt, who have yet to play more than 20 tests each but were considered integral members of France’s World Cup campaign.
Aaron Wainwright's reaction to the red card that helped swing momentum Wales' way in their win over Francehttps://t.co/oHJmAcyEIe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2019
After the match, French captain Guilhem Guirado and veteran No. 8 Louis Picamoles both announced their retirements from international rugby, ending their tenures with Les Bleus on a disappointing note.
ADVERTISEMENT
The loss will have particularly stung given how well France had played before conceding a 74th-minute try to Ross Moriarty, with Welsh head coach Warren Gatland admitting that his opponents deserved to be in the semi-finals ahead of his own side.
“The better team lost. That red card was obviously important,” the Kiwi coach said in a post-match television interview.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B32KgXLAN27/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“The great thing about our boys is they don’t give up. We kept working away in a tough, physical game after France came out of the blocks well.
“We stuck in the game and obviously the red card was the big, significant moment. And Tomos Williams came on with a little break and that rip at the end was pretty special.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Wales will now face South Africa in the second of next weekend’s two semi-finals in Yokohama as they eye a maiden berth into the World Cup final, where they would face one of either England or New Zealand.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments