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L'Ecosse se prépare à un retour de bâton des Bleus
Les Bleus se rendent à Édimbourg après une cuisante défaite 17-38 à domicile contre l’Irlande, plus que jamais favorite du Tournoi des Six Nations et du Grand Chelem.
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Cette défaite fait suite à celle subie en quarts de finale de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 face à l’Afrique du Sud. Les Bleus doivent maintenant se mesurer à Murrayfield, où l’histoire récente ne leur est pas favorable.
L’Ecosse en maître chez elle
L’Écosse a remporté trois des quatre derniers matchs du Tournoi des Six Nations à domicile contre la France, et elle vient de remporter sa première victoire contre le Pays de Galles à Cardiff depuis 22 ans.
Le match ne s’est peut-être pas déroulé exactement comme prévu, le Pays de Galles ayant marqué 26 points sans riposte pour menacer de réaliser la plus grande remontée de l’histoire du Tournoi des Six Nations.
Mais l’Écosse a réussi à s’imposer 27-26, mettant ainsi fin à une série de 11 défaites consécutives dans la capitale galloise.
« Nous sommes très heureux d’avoir gagné, mais il y a encore des choses que nous devons corriger si nous voulons continuer à progresser », a déclaré Huw Jones, le trois-quarts centre de Glasgow.
« C’est une excellente occasion d’apprendre de nos erreurs, car on se sent toujours mieux quand on a gagné. Nous pouvons profiter de cette dynamique pour le week-end prochain.
« Nous attendons une réaction de la part de la France et de nous-mêmes. Nous avons regardé leur match et l’Irlande a très bien fait son travail.
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« Nous devons continuer à jouer et à gérer tout ce qu’ils nous envoient. Nous voulons avancer. »
Un défi totalement différent pour Townsend
L’Écosse devrait pouvoir compter sur son co-capitaine Rory Darge, qui a manqué le match contre le Pays de Galles en raison d’une blessure au genou, tandis que le deuxième-ligne Grant Gilchrist a purgé la suspension d’une semaine qui l’avait écarté le week-end dernier.
De quoi rassurer Gregor Townsend, le sélectionneur de l’Écosse, qui cherche à pallier les absences du deuxième-ligne Richie Gray (biceps) et du troisième-ligne Luke Crosbie (épaule), tous deux blessés au Principality Stadium.
Townsend anticipe : « Nous savons que le week-end prochain présentera un défi totalement différent.
« Une équipe qui a été l’une des meilleures au monde pendant un certain nombre d’années et qui sort d’une défaite sera donc une grande menace pour nous et nous devrons être meilleurs.
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« Il faut se remettre en question et si l’on parvient à bien faire les choses et à pénétrer dans les 22 mètres adverses, les occasions se présenteront, surtout avec les joueurs dont nous disposons.
« Si on arrive à mettre le ballon plus souvent dans les mains de Finn (Finn Russell), des joueurs qui sont autour de lui en profiteront, comme ça quand on aura des un contre un et de l’espace pour attaquer, on arrivera à passer derrière la défense.
« En deuxième mi-temps (à Cardiff), nous n’avons tout simplement pas eu assez de ballon. Nous n’avons pratiquement pas eu le ballon jusqu’à la fin du match. »
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
Comments on RugbyPass
This cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
6 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
108 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
6 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
6 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
6 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
108 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
108 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
108 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
108 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
108 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
108 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
108 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
3 Go to comments