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La France remonte sur le podium mondial
Sept des 10 premières équipes se retrouvent à des positions différentes dans le classement masculin de World Rugby présenté par Capgemini après que le dernier tour de chauffe en vue de la Coupe Monde Rugby 2023 a donné lieu à des résultats surprenants.
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Ce week-end a été marqué par des hauts et des bas pour toutes les équipes les mieux classées, à l’exception de l’Irlande, qui reste numéro un, de l’Écosse, qui reste cinquième après une victoire 33-6 sur la Géorgie, et du Pays de Galles, qui reste 10e, sa position la plus basse jamais atteinte à l’approche d’une Coupe du Monde de Rugby, après avoir flanché sur la dernière série de matchs.
Le stade de Twickenham a été le théâtre, à moins de 24 heures d’intervalle, non pas d’un, mais de deux matchs capitaux : les All Blacks ont subi la pire défaite de leur histoire vendredi 25 août, avant que les Fidji n’assomment l’Angleterre le lendemain.
Et ce ne sont pas les seuls matchs qui ont confirmé l’affirmation selon laquelle cette Coupe du Monde de Rugby pourrait être la plus ouverte à ce jour : les Samoa ont poussé l’Irlande dans ses derniers retranchements à Bayonne, l’Italie a battu le Japon, mieux classé, et si la Géorgie s’est inclinée face à l’Écosse, elle peut se féliciter d’avoir mené ses hôtes 6-0 à la mi-temps.
En s’imposant 17-13 face aux Samoa, l’Irlande reste la meilleure équipe du monde. Mais l’Afrique du Sud n’est plus qu’à 0,74 point de son plus proche poursuivant après sa victoire 35-7 sur les All Blacks.
L’écart de 28 points est le plus important de l’histoire des All Blacks et la perte de 1,71 points les fait reculer derrière l’Afrique du Sud et la France.
L’Afrique du Sud et la France, qui a battu l’Australie 41-17 lors du dernier match de préparation à la Coupe du Monde 2023 à Paris dimanche 27 août, gagnent chacune une place, pour se retrouver respectivement deuxième et troisième, tandis que les All Blacks chutent à la quatrième place, avec 89,06 points.
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L’Écosse est la deuxième meilleure équipe à la cinquième place, après s’être remise de son lent départ contre la Géorgie en marquant 33 points sans réplique en deuxième mi-temps.
La victoire des Fidji a de grandes conséquences
Le classement de l’Argentine (80,86 points) n’a pas changé après sa confortable victoire 62-3 contre l’Espagne à Madrid. Mais avec la première défaite de l’Angleterre face aux Fidji, les Pumas remontent à la sixième position.
La victoire 30-22 des Fidji sur l’Angleterre, leur première en huit confrontations internationales, a fait grimper leur cote de 1,58 point, les Anglais ayant perdu autant de points en échange. Les Fidji sont désormais les mieux classées des deux équipes, à la septième place, leur meilleure position à ce jour, tandis que l’Angleterre se trouve à un tiers de point derrière, au huitième rang.
La seule fois où l’Angleterre s’est retrouvée aussi bas, c’était au lendemain de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2015, lorsqu’elle est devenue le premier pays hôte à être éliminé dès la phase de poules.
Après avoir subi sa cinquième défaite consécutive, l’Australie a également égalé sa précédente position la plus basse, les Wallabies reculant d’une place pour se retrouver neuvièmes.
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En dehors des matchs de préparation de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023, le Sudamerica Rugby 4 Naciones s’est achevé sur une victoire 41-22 du Brésil dans le match décisif pour le titre contre le pays hôte, le Paraguay.
Le Brésil a été récompensé pour avoir confirmé sa victoire de l’année dernière en gagnant deux places au classement pour atteindre le 26e rang. Dans le même temps, le Paraguay perd deux places et se retrouve à la 39e place.
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
121 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
2 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
5 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
121 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
36 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
5 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
121 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
36 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to commentsOwen Farrell is one of the most polarising figures in the game. His entire attitude on the field (and sometimes off of it) smacks of arrogance and he is about as brash as Donald Trump in a political debate. Yet behind that facade is a calculating, determined and powerful leader who drives any team forward with an Iron will. You are right in that he gets better in the heat of battle and in the face of overwhelming odds. He develops a narrow focus and he delivers his best in a way that few others can. He is one of Englands great performers who sacrificed alot for the team and who often bears the weight of responsibility of leadership alone on the field and in front of the media. Despite what many think of him he is a fantastic game manager with a good rugby brain. He will be sorely missed from the international stage
36 Go to commentsAlways proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to commentsNot sure why Papali’i thinks Scott Robertson needs his help to select the next All Black Captain. In my view, Papali’i would be well advised to have a good hard look at his own game, and to reflect on how fortunate he is to even wear the black jersey. Rather than shouting at his team mates at every set piece, standing in the mid-field pointing and holding his arms out and flopping to the ground at the back of every second or third ruck, may I suggest he would be far better employed actually doing something on the field. Seriously, watch him for 10 minutes during a game - not much happens. When was the last time he was first to a breakdown, or actually made a turnover? If Robertson is half the Coach I think he is, Papali’i will not be anywhere near the AB’s this season.
16 Go to comments