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L’exploit majuscule de la France en Nouvelle-Zélande
C’est un exploit incroyable qu’a réussi le XV de France féminin en venant défier et battre son hôte, la Nouvelle-Zélande, sur le score de 17-18 au Sky Stadium de Wellington pour clore la première journée du WXV 1 devant 8000 spectateurs.
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Une victoire qui résonne comme une revanche contre les championnes du monde en titre qui les avaient battues l’année dernière à l’Eden Park en demi-finale de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2021. Plus symbolique encore, c’est la toute première victoire de la France sur les Black Ferns en Nouvelle-Zélande.
Dès le premier essai d’Emilie Boulard à la 5e minute après une jolie interception faisant suite à un groupé déroulant des Black Ferns sur plusieurs mètres dans le camp français, les tricolores n’ont plus jamais relâché la pression.
Les Blacks Ferns n’ont jamais pu trouver la clé du match, ne parvenant jamais à percer les lignes françaises, concédant cinq fois plus de fautes de main que leurs adversaires du jour et en concédant deux pénalités par Morgane Bourgeois (34e et 45e).
Deux essais de part et d’autre
Elles n’ont réussi à franchir la ligne qu’à deux reprises par Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (11e) après 17 phases de jeu au pied des poteaux, puis par Katelyn Vahaakolo (73e) profitant d’un coup de pied rasant de Ruby Tui qui faisait là son grand retour dans l’équipe nationale à XV.
Ce n’était pourtant pas faute d’essayer pour les Néo-Zélandaises qui affichent au final 204 courses avec ballon contre 91 et le double de passes (244 contre 110).
Par conséquent, les filles du duo Gaëlle Mignot et David Ortiz ont défendu sans relâche, 221 plaquages contre 91 pour un taux de réussite de 85% (contre 76%). Un exploit et une démonstration de force comme rarement elles ont montré en Nouvelle-Zélande.
En face, les Françaises n’ont jamais douté de leurs performances en attaque non plus, marquant leurs deux seuls essais dans le premier quart temps de la rencontre. Les deux seules entrées dans les 22 adverses ont été couronnées de succès par Boulard donc après une course de 80 mètres, puis par Cyrielle Banet (16e).
La différence sur le jeu au sol
Equivalentes sur les phases statiques, les deux équipes se sont démarquées sur le jeu au sol avec la France qui a récupéré huit ballons (contre cinq) et en ne perdant que la moitié des ballons alors que les Black Ferns ont monopolisé le ballon 62% du temps.
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Le carton rouge sur la pilier remplaçante Chryss Viliko à l’heure de jeu après un déblayage sur Gabrielle Vernier a permis aux Françaises de contenir le score.
les deux prochaines rencontres de la France en Nouvelle-Zélande seront contre l’Australie et le Canada.
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
42 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’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.
123 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.
4 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.
6 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…”
123 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
42 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.
6 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
123 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.
42 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 comments