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La der d'Alun Wyn Jones à Toulon
Alun Wyn Jones, l’ancien capitaine du Pays de Galles, s’apprête à conclure son contrat avec Toulon ce week-end, marquant ainsi le terme de sa collaboration avec le club français.
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Cependant, un certain nombre d’informations suggèrent que son départ serait principalement lié à l’arrivée de Melvyn Jaminet en provenance de Toulouse, ainsi qu’à des considérations financières qui inciteraient le club à se séparer de Jones rapidement.
Le club a officiellement confirmé jeudi que le prochain match contre Clermont ce samedi 18 novembre sera la dernière apparition du joueur de 38 ans sous le maillot rouge et noir, alors que l’équipe pour le match à l’extérieur a été dévoilée.
Ce qu’il pense de Toulon
Au côté de Jones, le demi d’ouverture australien Noah Lolesio, également recruté comme « joker » de la Coupe du monde, fera lui aussi ses adieux à l’issue de la rencontre.
Jones, qui a annoncé sa retraite du rugby international en mai, avait exprimé son désir de participer à deux derniers matchs avec le club.
Après avoir été le capitaine des Barbarians contre le Pays de Galles à Cardiff au début du mois, il a exprimé sa gratitude pour l’opportunité qui lui a été donnée de rejoindre Toulon, en évoquant les circonstances fortuites qui l’ont conduit au club.
« Je suis énormément reconnaissant d’avoir eu cette opportunité », a-t-il déclaré à nos confrères de Var Matin. « Je pense que rester au même endroit pendant trop longtemps donne l’impression que c’est un travail, mais ici, les joueurs, les gens du club, les supporters et la ville ont ravivé ma flamme, mon amour pour ce sport.
« Je pense que c’était important pour moi et ma famille. Cela m’a donné une perspective différente sur la vie et le jeu. J’ai vécu à Bandol, j’allais au bistro, tout ça m’est devenu familier. Je retiens l’hospitalité et la passion des gens pour le rugby. »
Il va se recycler dans le rhum
En dehors du terrain, Jones s’est lancé dans l’industrie de la boisson en créant un rhum infusé au café appelé Mimosa.
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La marque évoque l’esprit pionnier du peuple gallois qui s’est embarqué pour un voyage qui a changé sa vie en Patagonie, en Argentine, au XIXe siècle.
Ce voyage a commencé en 1865, lorsqu’un navire du nom de Mimosa est parti de Liverpool avec 153 passagers à bord, qui rêvaient d’établir des communautés de langue galloise en Patagonie.
Le clin d’œil est fort. Alun Wyn Jones avait remporté la première de ses 158 sélections avec le Pays de Galles (il en aura 13 de plus avec les British & Irish Lions) en Argentine, le 11 juin 2006, à l’Estadio Raul Conti, Puerto Madryn, Patagonie. Los Pumas avaient gagné 27-25 devant 15 000 personnes.
Comments on RugbyPass
Fabulous player. Don’t know if people outside of Ireland appreciate his vision and genius. I wish he got more time with the National team. We will never know how high he could have soared. Super season to end with!
1 Go to commentsIf he's playing well enough to be in the top 2 or 3 open sides, then pick him. Essentially nothing else should come into it.
1 Go to commentsBe really surprised if Beale is considered for a WB squad, let alone a match day 23. Feel there are too many younger players in all positions in the backline now who should be developed. These upcoming games this year should be used to develop the players of the future, for building towards next RWC.
1 Go to commentsI think this all came from Fozzie immediately anointing Cane as captain when he became coach, well ahead of when any team was to be named. Then he seemingly felt unable to retract the captaincy as that would have been an admission he was wrong initially. Sam Cane was a good AB and a good captain. Through his injuries and some loss of form he maybe didn't deserve selection but Fozzie couldn't ever make that hard call which led to Cane copping it.
3 Go to commentsThe extra weight that Fraser put on over the off season is really showing. The word is 7/8 kgs heavier than last year. Feel he is now carrying into contact a lot more powerfully, which makes him a bigger threat playing in the sh position at lineout time. I do feel however that he is still too easily moved off the ball at the breakdown unless he is in really early. Comparing him to the top current guys such as Tommy Refell, and past supremos like Pocock and McCaw, I would hope he will develop more in that area. The rest of his game is way out front. His speed around the field as a support player is top notch, and his defence is very sound, apart from the front on tackle on the bigger men sometimes. I also would see him as a future WB captain. He does a lot of quiet encouraging, and for sure can lead from the front. Of the other three NZ lads on the stats. table, would think it may be Papalli’i who gets in. I do like Lakai. Is Blackadder not more a 6/8 player ? Actually really rated Lachlan Boshier, but he was not ever getting anywhere, so now in Japan. Would love to have seen how he went in a AB jersey. Excellent article, Nick…….most thought provoking
44 Go to commentsAhh too many OK 7’s out there at the moment, would have loved to have Harmon (and Boshier from Panasonic) included on that list (although I don’t know what I’m looking at with those stats!). I would love to see another 7 come through like Cane (who VdF has molded off), who was a real attacking machine before his neck injury and inability to turn his head/upper body to pass or catch properly forced his style to change. No sure McReight is it, he looks more like a canny McCaw than the blasters Hooper and Cane were. The real issue is what use can Schmidt mold out of his ability and skills in just two short seasons. I think Cale could do a lot of the more skillful stuff. McReight is probably best to knuckle down and do the core duties a modern day Cane performs for the other two loosies (if he’s the best Schmidt has to play with at 7).
44 Go to commentsI’ve little doubt that England is comfortably the No 1 team and not only beat other teams but beat them easily. Not so sure about France. They should be No 2 after winning 3 of last 4 matches against NZ and only a straightforward missed kick prevented it from being 4 out of 4. However, then they inexplicably lost to Canada and Wallaroos in WXV. I thought the NZ match was their “cup final” and they took the others lightly, but they were not particularly impressive in 6N except in flashes. I think they have stood still whilst Canada and England have moved forward but I don't think Canada has the depth and their team is ageing. I agree NZ not moving forward. What will be interesting is how the Wallaroos fare against NZ and then again in their September match against Ireland and then in WXV2 against other 6N teams. I was surprised they lost to USA.
3 Go to commentsI don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
68 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
3 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
3 Go to commentsThere 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.
68 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?
44 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…
3 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 .
130 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.
68 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.
44 Go to comments