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Qualifié pour les quarts, le Pays de Galles pousse l’Australie vers la sortie
L’Australie a enregistré sa plus grande défaite de tous les temps en Coupe du Monde de Rugby dans le match de la poule C à l’OL Stadium à Lyon. Le Pays de Galles a largement remporté ce choc entre le Nord et le Sud par 40 à 6. C’est aussi le score le plus important des Gallois contre n’importe quel adversaire sur Six Nations ou du Rugby Championship.
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Mais au-delà de ces records statistiques, c’est un véritable coup dur pour l’Australie d’Eddie Jones qui, après une seule victoire en trois matchs (contre la Géorgie 35-15) ne devrait pas pouvoir se qualifier pour les quarts de finale. Une première historique pour ceux qui ont été champions du monde en 1991 et 1999.
Une élimination des wallabies est attendue à moins d’improbable miracle des Fidji à qui il reste encore deux matchs à jouer contre la Géorgie et le Portugal. Le Portugal sera d’ailleurs la dernière équipe que jouera l’Australie.
Quand ça veut pas, ça veut pas
Largement portés par les supporters de l’OL Stadium, le Pays de Galles a donc d’ores et déjà réservé sa place pour les quarts de finale de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023. A part deux pénalités passées par Ben Donaldson (8e, 13e) replacé à l’ouverture, les Australiens n’auront rien pu faire de la soirée.
Battus dans tous les secteurs de jeu, ils ont vite été gagnés par la fébrilité, manquant leurs coups de pied de dégagement en touche, perdant des ballons précieux sous la pression, encaissant 12 pénalités. Rarement les Australiens ont inquiété la ligne galloise avec seulement quatre pénétrations dans les 22 contre 11 pour le XV du Poireau.
A l’inverse, les Gallois se sont sentis pousser des ailes dès la deuxième minute lorsque Gareth Davies a marqué le premier essai, transformé par Dan Biggar. Un souffle d’inquiétude a bien été ressenti à la 7e minute lorsque l’ouvreur vedette, touché à l’épaule, a été contraint de sortir.
La fiabilité d’Anscombe
Mais remplacé par Gareth Anscombe, natif de la Nouvelle-Zélande, la précision au pied a été exactement la même, celui-ci passant trois pénalités avant la pause (16-6).
Au retour des vestiaires, le fossé s’est creusé avec trois pénalités supplémentaires, puis deux essais signés du trois-quarts centre Nick Tompkins (47e), et du capitaine troisième-ligne Jac Morgan (77e) ; Anscombe se permettant même de passer un drop pour alourdir la note (69e). L’Australie plongeait en plein cauchemar alors que les supporters quittaient progressivement le stade.
« Il faut rendre hommage au Pays de Galles qui nous a surclassés ce soir. Je n’ai pas grand-chose à dire, j’ai honte pour le peuple australien », confiait David Porecki, capitaine et talonneur de l’Australie. « On espérait faire un grand match. Ce n’était tout simplement pas suffisant. Il va falloir assumer nos responsabilités. Cette défaite fait mal. »
L’impossibilité d’enchaîner les phases de jeu
« Sur le plan défensif, au début notre ligne ne montait pas assez vite, mais on s’est améliorés par la suite », a rapidement analysé, tout sourire, Warren Gatland, le sélectionneur du Pays de Galles. « On a été très réalistes, on a contrôlé le match sans vraiment leur laisser de munitions. Cette équipe ne cesse de s’améliorer. La confiance venant, sur cette bonne dynamique, nous voilà dans une situation assez favorable maintenant. »
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« Le premier essai mis à part, on a très bien joué les 20, 30 premières minutes, mais on a commis une série d’erreurs, que ce soit dans les phases statiques et sur des ballons portés, ce qui nous a empêchés de maintenir la pression sur le Pays de Galles. Pour se mettre dans une bonne dynamique, il faut pouvoir installer deux ou trois phases de jeu, et on a été incapables de le faire », regrettait pour sa part Eddie Jones.
« Bravo à eux, ils ont joué un bon match de rugby, ils ont été solides dans les phases statiques, leur jeu au pied a été exceptionnel et ils ont bien défendu. »
Comments on RugbyPass
Fox 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.
5 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.
5 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
7 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.
33 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.
33 Go to commentsJust what you want your prop doing 😂
2 Go to commentsEveryone needs to have a bit of ball player in them Nick and second phase but forwards and backs are still different coz of where you stick your head most of the time. Pocock and tizzano were 12s right up to the edge of seniors. Pocock was 12 to quades 10 then pocock was at the force At 17 year’s old or so. Hamish Stewart was apparently was a junior 7. Don’t know when he switched but apparently he was crons 10 in the Oz 20s. A mistake too often made is playing a guy like taquele nairavuro at wing instead of as a power 8. On rugby tours we often had a spare 7 playing crash 12 coz the regular 12 stayed home. Often had a spare 7 playing on a wing too.
5 Go to commentsyikes - what a load of crap Gallan. Interesting until after your 1st paragraph, but then again not worth anyone’s time responding to such pointless analysis and of course your dumbass opinions.
33 Go to commentsOutside of their national camp, club teams seem to take a tighter stance on doping. Think that explains it really.
33 Go to commentsThanks Nick Ive always thought that there should be a few more innovative attempts at players moving from backs to forwards and vice versa. Samu was one, as was Jim Williams last century. Cole certainly could run like a back, as can Lonergan from the Brumbies. I think that it’s going to become hard again for hookers though as front rowers seem to be getting bigger and bigger, and the guys have to look after their spines as well as (in Australia) their achilles! I always thought that Folau should have been tried in the lineout…. I think the same for Vunavalu…if he lasts any longer. Movement between positions is much more common in League, mainly because the size requirements between backs and forwards are not as pronounced. Hookers and halfbacks interchanging and second rowers and centres as well. The great Cameron Smith was effectively a hybrid hooker/halfback, being able to play both positions…sometimes it seemed simultaneously! For now, it seems like McReith and before him Hooper are the standouts, though Cale could be anything. John Eals did a few “back” type things mind you, including running and kicking. As for Jones, I don't credit him as anything (in an Australian context) other than a speaker of a million throw away lines, with the occasional one being picked up! Sorry
5 Go to commentsHe's Big in Japan
2 Go to comments“England are set to lose some of their best ever players at the end of the season with the mass departure to France”… Really? Best ever? What a joke of an opening line. The england players leaving for France are… Sinckler, Ludlum, Tuilagi… that’s the list of players England are losing at the end of this season to France. All 3 are fringe players at best these days. Manu is the only one you could fathom debating being one of “their best ever players” and even that debate would be shut down pretty quickly. Pathetic excuse for journalism this. Not grounded in reality.
2 Go to commentsYep. The insanity of the decision of trying to outspend RL for outside backs just looks more and more stupid as time goes on and talented players either bully us into paying overs to keep them (Jorgensen) or simply leave as Uncle Nick comes calling (Nawaqanitawase).
20 Go to commentsInteresting that you pick Amatosero, John. I would agree with your choice. He could well be capped this year at some point. At only 21 years of age, he has a lot of experience at a high level from his time at Clermont. I’m surprised he did not remain there for longer, as last year he was really starting to move, with 14 games, six starts, well up from the previous year, 7 games, only 2 starts. Have liked what is doing with the Waratahs this year. Not an easy situation for any player there, with the poor results.
3 Go to commentsNed me old shinwah, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn how to spell the last names of great All Blacks wingers. (Otherwise we will demean our memories of Grant Bitty, Jonah Lima, Joe Rococo and Doug Howler.)
4 Go to comments