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Posolo Tuilagi, l'habituel invité de dernière minute
Ça fait deux fois qu’on lui fait le coup et il doit commencer à être habitué. Posolo Tuilagi (19 ans, 3 sélections) vient d’être appelé en dernière minute pour être titulaire avec les U20 dans le Crunch marquant la fin du Tournoi des Six Nations.
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Libéré de ses obligations du XV de France le mercredi soir, il est finalement convoqué le lendemain matin avec les jeunes.
C’est la deuxième fois que le puissant deuxième-ligne de Perpignan vit la même situation : être l’invité de dernière minute.
De remplaçant à titulaire en trois rencontres
La première fois, c’était pour le France-Irlande des grands du 2 février. Appelé en urgence à Marcoussis le mercredi, il avait fini sur le banc le vendredi au stade Vélodrome pour remplacer Romain Taofifenua (malade) et donc forfait sur ce match.
Le colosse (1,92 m, 149 kg) s’en était magnifiquement bien sorti. Remplaçant sur le match suivant en Ecosse, il avait connu sa première titularisation contre l’Italie.
Suffisamment malade pour être forfait face au Pays de Galles, il a finalement été libéré par le staff de Galthié avant le dernier match du Tournoi contre l’Angleterre à Lyon.
Pas de relâche pour les braves
Alors que le Top 14 est relâche ce week-end, il devait être mis au repos. Finalement, le staff des Bleuets a revu sa copie présentée mercredi matin et a convoqué son joueur fétiche, champion du monde en 2023, pour le mettre titulaire, histoire de ne pas manquer une bonne occasion de gagner.
Ainsi, Simon Huchet se retrouve sur le banc, et Antonin Corso, présent lors de trois des quatre premières rencontres du Tournoi, n’apparaît plus sur la feuille de match.
Habitué à s’entraîner avec le XV de France, Posolo Tuilagi va devoir apprendre en moins de deux jours à s’adapter à cet environnement changeant qui caractérise les Bleuets.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve little doubt that England is comfortably the No 1 team and not only beat other teams but beat them easily. Not so sure about France. They should be No 2 after winning 3 of last 4 matches against NZ and only a straightforward missed kick prevented it from being 4 out of 4. However, then they inexplicably lost to Canada and Wallaroos in WXV. I thought the NZ match was their “cup final” and they took the others lightly, but they were not particularly impressive in 6N except in flashes. I think they have stood still whilst Canada and England have moved forward but I don't think Canada has the depth and their team is ageing. I agree NZ not moving forward. What will be interesting is how the Wallaroos fare against NZ and then again in their September match against Ireland and then in WXV2 against other 6N teams. I was surprised they lost to USA.
3 Go to commentsI don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
44 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
2 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
2 Go to commentsThere should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
44 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
32 Go to commentsNZ 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…
3 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 .
129 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 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.
44 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.
32 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.
10 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
44 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 comments