Mitchell : « Cela fait longtemps qu'on attend ce bras de fer »
Attention les Bleues ! L’Angleterre est prête à « remettre ça », selon la formule du sélectionneur John Mitchell, lors du match du vainqueur du Tournoi des Six Nations 2024, ce samedi à Bordeaux (17h45 sur France Télévisions).
Les Red Roses ont ratatiné l’Irlande 88-10 à Twickenham lors de la 4e journée. En feu en attaque, elles ont inscrit la bagatelle de 14 essais pour se placer à une petite victoire d’un 3e trophée consécutif dans la compétition.
Troisième au classement mondial, la France va proposer une opposition autrement plus consistante aux Anglaises, mais Mitchell a insisté sur le fait que l’Angleterre continuerait à repousser les limites dans sa quête d’un rugby d’action qui remplirait les stades.
« Nous sommes très attentifs à notre façon de jouer. Le jeu que l’on développe fonctionne bien, et on pense être dans le vrai », appuie l’entraîneur en chef.
« L’équipe est devenue meilleure au fur et à mesure du Tournoi, et je n’ai entendu personne dire que notre style a ses limites, avec ce qu’on a produit le week-end dernier. »
« On est capables de remettre ça. On n’a absolument pas envie que cela s’arrête. On va continue d’évoluer, cela stimule les filles. »
« Elles comprennent parfaitement la direction que nous prenons, mais ce groupe place la barre si haut qu’il n’est jamais satisfait. On cherche toujours à s’améliorer. »
L’Angleterre a beau avoir gagné les 12 dernières confrontations face aux Bleues, la France demeure son adversaire le plus coriace, et réserve aux troupes de la capitaine Marlie Packer une réception gratinée au stade Chaban-Delmas, où près de 30 000 personnes devraient se masser.
Les deux équipes se retrouveront en septembre pour le WXV1. Mais leur objectif actuel, à l’une comme à l’autre, c’est de réussir le Grand Chelem. « Cela fait un moment qu’on s’attend à un bras de fer », poursuit Mitchell.
« C’est ce que nous voulions, c’est ce qu’on demande depuis longtemps, et cela va se produire ce week-end. Ce match va nous donner pas mal d’informations sur nous-mêmes. »
« C’est important d’engranger cette expérience et cela nous aidera à progresser. Un été difficile nous attend, et c’est bien de commencer ainsi. »
« La France est là où elle voulait être. Les Françaises seront motivées par le fait qu’elles vont jouer à la maison, mais nous aussi on a hâte de relever le défi. »
« On va à nouveau jouer dans un stade plein, ce qui nous donne de l’énergie à nous aussi. C’est ce qui anime les filles. Elles veulent jouer dans des stades pleins. »
Comments on RugbyPass
Playoffs featuring 4 or 6 teams would mean the other teams playing meaningless games for longer and a further drop of interest in Australia. But yes a 12 team competition with 8 teams making finals is ridiculous.
5 Go to commentsJoe's picks will be more interesting than Razors. The dumping of Dave Rennie for Jones has to be one of the worst exec decisions of all time. Joe and Dave have similar styles and personalities, the players should like that. Predicting some success for Aus this year. Well more than last year!
2 Go to commentsHey Ben, Thanks for your opinion article. As a die hard rugby tragic and loyal supporter of the game can I say your article seems a touch negative so I would like to offer a slightly different spin on it. I am assuming that the sole purpose of the Super Rugby competition is not just to be a training camp for the International teams but an independent event and competition in its own right with sponsors, media companies and teams that need a financial return. Now, from this rugby fans perspective, I am enjoying the last few weeks of the competition and enjoying the fact that most teams can still make the play offs and nobody wants the wooden spoon. Most rugby followers would agree to it being a travesty if the Crusaders or the Waratahs now made it to the final but history tells us it is very unlikely with the importance of home ground advantage. Playing each team once and a four team final would give the competition integrity and a level playing field for all teams but I would be surprised if it could satisfy the financial demands of the TV rights. Maybe a six team finals series might be a possible compromise.
5 Go to commentsAll good choices John, even the Tah players ha ha. Others that might be worth a look would be ; Cale, Tom Lynagh, Uru, Keunzle, Anstee and maybe Rory Scott because we need a backup to McReight and he has improved a lot from last year and Tim Ryan.
2 Go to commentsWe only have 12 teams - and probably should only have 10. If we cut it down to 10, had a single round robin format, and only had semi-finals and a grand final, the final game would be on the first weekend of May. Meanwhile the AFL (similar to the NRL) runs until the last weekend of September and starts almost a full month after Super Rugby. At least the players would get plenty of rest!
5 Go to commentsAs article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.
1 Go to commentsNo doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to comments