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Peter O'Mahony minimise le rôle décisif du match d'ouverture
Le nouveau capitaine de l’équipe d’Irlande, Peter O’Mahony, écarte toute idée selon laquelle le match du Tournoi des Six Nations de vendredi contre la France, qu’il anticipe comme étant « colossal », sera déterminant dans la course au titre.
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Les hommes d’Andy Farrell se rendront à Marseille en tant que champions du Grand Chelem en titre, grâce à leur victoire déterminante (32-19) sur les Français lors de la deuxième journée en février dernier à Dublin.
Les Bleus, qui sont les favoris du Tournoi cette année, avaient réalisé un parcours sans faute en 2022 après une victoire cruciale sur l’Irlande à Paris (30-24).
Face à face
5 dernières rencontres
Victoires
3
Nuls
0
Victoires
2
Moyenne de points marqués
23
27
Le premier essai gagne
60%
L'équipe recevante gagne
60%
Le troisième-ligne du Munster O’Mahony, qui a succédé à Johnny Sexton au poste de capitaine, a réfuté toute idée que le match puisse à nouveau décider de l’attribution d’un titre, avant une soirée d’ouverture qui s’annonce passionnante au Stade Vélodrome.
« Je ne sais pas si c’est le cas », a-t-il déclaré lors d’une conférence de presse à la veille de la rencontre.
« C’est la première pour nous, la première pour eux aussi. Dans cette compétition, chaque match est colossal et c’est un euphémisme.
« Nous sommes tous les deux là pour gagner, nous mettre dans une dynamique pour la suite de la campagne.
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« Chaque fois que vous avez l’occasion de jouer pour l’Irlande, c’est énorme, mais celle-ci semble particulièrement spéciale… pour continuer notre chemin.
« Quel endroit pour le faire, quel stade… quel endroit pour jouer au rugby. »
L’Irlande et la France sont toutes deux en train de rebondir après des quarts de finale angoissants lors de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023.
Mais O’Mahony insiste sur le fait que l’équipe est tournée vers l’avant, plutôt que d’essayer de rattraper la déception subie aux mains des All Blacks.
« Nous ne cherchons pas à nous justifier vis-à-vis de ce qui s’est passé », explique-t-il.
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« Notre objectif est plutôt de nous évaluer à travers nos performances, de comprendre où nous en sommes, de définir nos objectifs futurs, et de nous donner un élan positif.
« On ne peut pas changer le passé, mais nous allons nous concentrer sur le test-match à venir. Cette opportunité est cruciale pour nous, et la priorité absolue est de livrer une performance exceptionnelle.
« Chacun est ici pour donner le meilleur de soi-même au service de l’équipe irlandaise, c’est notre ambition principale. »
O’Mahony a déjà été capitaine de l’Irlande à plusieurs reprises, mais il dirigera son pays pour la première fois en tant que capitaine titulaire.
Le joueur de 34 ans pense que lui et ses coéquipiers ont tous appris de son prédécesseur Sexton.
« J’ai eu une bonne discussion avec lui il y a quelques semaines et je peux vous dire qu’il est en bonne forme », a déclaré O’Mahony.
« Je serais étonné si vous demandiez à quiconque dans notre vestiaire, ayant joué avec Johnny, s’il n’a pas tiré une leçon de lui.
« C’est le propre du rugby, c’est d’apprendre, d’être assidu et de s’inspirer des gars qui ont compris et il était certainement l’un d’entre eux. »
Comments on RugbyPass
Terrible idea…will be too hot, no one will travel, fan zones will be promised nice cold guinness and last minute will get water. Also how do you squeeze this into the already busy battle rhythm, Prem, summer series, 6 nations & world cup….if, and its a big IF you’re going to do this, do it in a rugby nation.
2 Go to commentsWell let’s hope world rugby doesn't read some of this nonsense, because next on the agenda will be…“players will only tackle other players deemed to be in their weight class, and only with moderate velocity”.
15 Go to commentsI was never allowed to adjust boots, or ever replaced, while I was playing and staying on the field. If I had issues, I had to go to the sideline and fix them myself. Then I would ask the ref to get back in. That would really make you deal with it FAST!
4 Go to commentsGreat point. It would be terrible to have a card for poor tackling cost the all blacks a world cup. Oh hi all blacks captain Sam Cane, how you going?
15 Go to commentsI like Andy’s critical approach to all hot issues especially when it comes to the rugby big “bosses”. However, sorry Andy, I don’t support your “we shouldn’t be questioning the integrity of Karl Dickson or any other official”. May I ask why? They do have a lot of responsibility, but they are people like us with all their sins and weaknesses. We have to respect their decision during the games, but why they became untouchable afterwards and people cannot even criticize them and the ones, who does express their concerns, got punished for publicly analyzing their mistakes and asking questions. If they believe they did right, there shouldn’t be a problem for any of the refs to answer these “questions” publicly. I don’t really remember such cases. However, I do remember how Craig Joubert shown his running skills in 2015 or Pascal Gauzere shined in Cardiff in 2021. I do believe that Rassie, as anybody else, had a full right to share his vision of Nic Berry’s performance the same year. I do not support the hate in any form especially in public one, but creating the cast of untouchable refs and rugby bosses is not for me. As for Karl, he had all means to question his appointment for the game and since I don’t now whether he did it, blaming just RFU wouldn’t be quite correct at this moment. I love the game of rugby and almost every time I watch it I don’t support any team, I just wanna see the good game and fair referring. Sorry, Karl. last Saturday you got my Craig Joubert”s award of the round. It is up to Karl to prove that I am wrong, not to Andy or RFU’s corporate bla-bla-bla. Something like that…
1 Go to commentswell remember the blues had a guy called jed rowlands for a season. remember scott took his coaching team with him give him time
15 Go to commentswell maybe he needs to be introduced to darcy swain then who never got anything much and put a cheifs ands allblack player out injured and made him miss a season recovering
15 Go to commentswell maybe the match offficals should sort it out if they are worried about it and stop the clock
4 Go to commentsI totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
4 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
15 Go to commentsverkeerde kant van die gereg lol
5 Go to commentsJust like John Plumtree at the Sharks he has had a poor start to this season’s coaching gig, but now it looks like he is starting to pull them back also having won 1 game in the first Eleven games they played. It obviously helps that 11 of his fifteen are Springbok players. But now they are starting to improve. No ways they can make it to the playoffs this year but they probably used this season as a way to figure out their game plan. One query I have and I think quite a few people have is: Are they playing better simply because of their international players are back or is it the team strategy led by Rob Penney that is starting to tick? Well I guess we wait and see. Also if it doesn't work out this season, it might be that Rob Penney is using this season as a way to organize himself for next season. Getting all his combinations sorted, his team strategies sorted and figuring out who is best is which position. Now I don't follow Super Rugby any more having now a full focus in the URC but I was surprised about the current Crusaders stats.
15 Go to commentsIf I’m a little bloke, who’s just had possession of the ball, I should expect to get cleaned up by Samipeni Finau if he’s opposite me and I do nothing to avoid him. FTFY You’ll need to rewrite the rest of your article now Hamish Bidwell. I’m not sorry for having missed reading this one. I find it hilarious it’s only the static aussie 10s, just waiting there, that are getting smashed. Move on your feet guys, haven’t you watched DMac and Mounga play for the last decade ffs. Chin up, at least your smiles should return when BB returns to SR next year and there’s more 10s to the fodder.
15 Go to commentsFinau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
15 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
15 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
137 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
2 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
15 Go to comments