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Les Françaises arrachent leur place en demi-finale du Hongkong Sevens
La Nouvelle-Zélande s’est inclinée 26-21 face à la France lors de son dernier match de poule, mais les deux équipes se sont qualifiées pour les demi-finales du Cathay/HSBC Hongkong Sevens, où elles affronteront respectivement l’Australie et les États-Unis.
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Les championnes de Hongkong en titre se sont ressaisies en battant le Canada 26 à 5, tandis que la France n’a fait qu’une bouchée de l’Irlande en s’imposant 31 à 7 en quart de finale.
Les États-Unis se sont imposés 33-7 face aux Fidji, mais l’Australie a dû redoubler d’efforts pour s’imposer 12-0 face à un Japon déterminé, ce qui lui permet de se préparer à affronter les Black Ferns Sevens dans le cadre d’un derby attendu.
Ainsi, les États-Unis, le Canada, l’Irlande et les Fidji rejoignent l’Australie, la Nouvelle-Zélande et la France pour confirmer leur place à la Grande Finale de Madrid.
La huitième et dernière place sera attribuée à Singapour, mais la Grande-Bretagne, actuellement huitième, rencontrera le Brésil, neuvième, demain lors de la finale de la neuvième place, dans un match crucial pour cette place à Madrid.
La France bouscule la Nouvelle-Zélande
La France a remporté le match décisif de la poule A face à la Nouvelle-Zélande sur le score de 26 à 21, après avoir remonté un déficit de deux points à la pause. Trois essais ont été marqués de part et d’autre, mais la France a marqué un essai de plus en fin de rencontre grâce à Séraphine Okemba, ce qui a entraîné la première défaite en phase de poule de la Nouvelle-Zélande cette saison. A l’inverse, la Grande-Bretagne a remporté sa première victoire du week-end en battant le Brésil 17 à 12.
L’Australie n’a fait qu’une bouchée de l’Afrique du Sud en s’imposant 28-0 dans la poule B, ce qui lui permet de remporter trois victoires sur trois à Hongkong. Les Fidjiennes se sont imposées 21-5 face à l’Irlande grâce à un doublé d’Adi Vani Buleki, mais les deux équipes se sont tout de même qualifiées pour les quarts de finale.
Le Canada a assuré sa position en tête de la poule C grâce à une victoire serrée 12-5 sur ses voisines, les Etats-Unis, qui ont pris une avance de 7-0 à la mi-temps grâce à un essai de Fancy Bermudez en fin de match. De son côté, le Japon a battu l’Espagne 19-12 grâce à un essai de Wakaba Hara et s’est qualifié pour les quarts de finale, assurant ainsi son meilleur résultat de la saison et conservant l’espoir de se qualifier pour Madrid.
Les Eagles dans le dernier carré
Les Etats-Unis se sont qualifiés pour les demi-finales grâce à une victoire sans appel sur les Fidji (33-7). Kristi Kirshe a ouvert le score pour les Etats-Unis, mais Ana Maria Naimasi a rapidement remis les Fidjiennes à égalité. La marqueuse d’essai a ensuite été sanctionnée d’un jaune, ce qui a mis fin à l’aventure des Fidji à ce stade, qui ont désormais perdu leurs six derniers quarts de finale, car les États-Unis ont trouvé le chemin de la victoire quatre fois de plus pour s’imposer largement.
La France s’impose grâce à un doublé de Ciofani
La France a continué sur sa lancée en battant l’Irlande 31-7 pour se qualifier pour sa première demi-finale à Hongkong. Anne-Cécile Ciofani a ouvert le score pour la France, mais Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe a rapidement passé la ligne à l’Irlande pour égaliser.
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La France, cependant, prenait une avance de 19-7 à la pause en trouvant le moyen de contourner la défense irlandaise, d’abord par Séraphine Okemba sur la droite, puis par Ciofani une fois de plus dans le coin gauche. Montserrat Amédée a augmenté l’avance de la France peu après la mi-temps, mais c’est le cinquième essai du week-end de Joanna Grisez qui a permis aux Françaises de se mettre à l’abri, grâce à sa vitesse sur l’aile gauche.
La Nouvelle-Zélande poursuit la défense de son titre
La Nouvelle-Zélande s’est relevée de son faux pas en phase de poule pour battre le Canada 26 à 5 et conserver l’espoir de défendre son titre à Hongkong.
Le Canada, qui n’avait pas battu la Nouvelle-Zélande à ce stade depuis neuf ans, est arrivé avec de minces espoirs et a été mis à mal en première période, un doublé de Shiray Kaka et un autre de Jorja Miller permettant aux Néo-Zélandaises de mener 21-0 à la pause.
Mahina Paul a ensuite porté l’écart à 26 avant que Shalaya Valenzuela ne trouve enfin le chemin de l’en-but pour le Canada, mais il ne restait plus de temps pour remonter la pente.
L’Australie en demi-finale
L’Australie a battu une équipe japonaise tenace pour se qualifier pour la demi-finale grâce à une victoire 12-0. Le Japon n’avait jamais battu l’Australie et n’avait jamais gagné un quart de finale, mais la première période a été très disputée, les outsiders se défendant avec acharnement contre les leaders de la série SVNS, jusqu’à ce que Tia Hinds finisse par débloquer la situation.
La deuxième mi-temps a été du même acabit, les Japonaises empêchant les Australiennes de se créer des occasions et voyant Sariah Paki expulsée pour un en-avant volontaire. Cependant, une équipe australienne habituée à jouer à six s’est imposée, Teagan Levi s’imposant pour donner à son équipe la marge de manœuvre nécessaire pour remporter la victoire.
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Comments on RugbyPass
NZ 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…
1 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 .
127 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
5 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.
36 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.
9 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.
8 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
36 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.
9 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.
9 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
1 Go to commentsI agree about 8 being too many The English premiership has top four only Top 14 has six URC has 8 I think 6 would be fine It gives those other two teams an incentive But rewarding a team in perhaps 8th with three wins is atrocious If they get in they know they only need one big game
8 Go to commentsInteresting article. I think the answer lies in a comment Kwagga Smith made during the World Cup. Asked whether it bothers him that the Bok team doesn’t get more credit he said: “We don’t play for people to respect us: we play for each other and we play for South Africa.” The Springbok team is a brotherhood - an incredibly tight unit, most of whom are good friends off the pitch as well. Not only do they not want to let South Africa down, but they fight like crazy not to let their teammates down. Not saying they don’t care about their club teammates, but I think the bond shared in the Boks is just much, much deeper. Tough to forge the same sort of bond at a club over a handful of years. That must translate into superior performances for country over club.
36 Go to commentsThere is very little creativity in the 9-10 axis for SA. 10 needs to be solid, put the work in and kick the points. the SA counter is almost always via the edge or a kick through for a winger. When was the last offensive backline score from SA against a top team? Perhaps the ultra physical nature of the SA teams means players they get to hit more stats in those games. Maybe the SA pleyers are perfectly suited to the SA system. In other Words they are not club players gathered to play SA Internationals. They are SA International players adapting to play club.
36 Go to commentsJust what you want your prop doing 😂
2 Go to comments