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Sam Whitelock va égaler la longévité de Richie McCaw
Contre la Namibie au Stadium de Toulouse le vendredi 15 septembre, le deuxième ligne Sam Whitelock, qui fait partie des six joueurs reconduits après la défaite 27-13 en ouverture contre la France, fêtera sa 148e sélection et égalera ainsi Richie McCaw en tant que All Black le plus capé de l’histoire.
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Seul Alun Wyn Jones (171) devance les deux Néo-Zélandais au classement des joueurs les plus capés du rugby mondial. Depuis ses débuts en 2010 face à l’Irlande, Whitelock a joué 147 des 173 tests de la Nouvelle-Zélande sur cette période, et a pris part à 120 victoires sur les 143 de son pays au cours des 13 dernières années.
Sam Whitelock a marqué un de ses sept essais en carrière face à la Namibie lors de la RWC 2019. Il est d’ailleurs le seul joueur de son équipe à avoir affronté la Namibie lors des deux précédentes rencontres entre les deux pays. Mais depuis ce match à Tokyo, il n’a franchi la ligne qu’une fois ; face aux Wallabies, l’année dernière à l’Eden Park.
Lui et Brodie Retallick vont ajouter une unité à leur record de matchs joués côte-à-côte en deuxième ligne, avec une 66e association.
En termes de pallier à franchir, Caleb Clarke, qui fêtera sa 19e sélection, n’aura besoin que d’une cape supplémentaire pour égaler son père, Eroni au nombre de sélections avec les All Blacks. Eroni père a inscrit six essais en dix sélections entre 1992 et 1998, mais n’a jamais participé à une Coupe du Monde de Rugby.
Titularisé à l’ouverture pour sa 43e sélection, Damian McKenzie disputera son premier match de Coupe du Monde de Rugby. Il avait dû déclarer forfait pour la précédente édition après avoir subi une blessure au talon d’Achille en Super Rugby. Il sera titulaire pour la cinquième fois à ce poste. Sur 22 de ses 26 titularisations, il a endossé le rôle d’arrière.
Cam Roigard est un des trois joueurs de l’équipe à faire ses débuts en Coupe du Monde. Il partage cette particularité avec Caleb Clarke et Damian McKenzie. Il fête sa première titularisation avec les All Blacks après deux sélections en tant que remplaçant cette année, face aux Wallabies et aux Springboks, au cours desquelles il a joué 40 minutes.
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Le capitanat sera de nouveau assuré par Ardie Savea qui est le seul All Black à avoir débuté les six tests de l’année 2023. Jusqu’ici il a disputé tous les matchs en intégralité
XV de départ
1 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 Samisoni Taukei’aho
3 Nepo Laulala
4 Brodie Retallick
5 Samuel Whitelock
6 Luke Jacobson
7 Dalton Papali’i
8 Ardie Savea (cap.)
9 Cam Roigard
10 Damian McKenzie
11 Leicester Fainga’anuku
12 David Havili
13 Anton Lienert-Brown
14 Caleb Clarke
15 Beauden Barrett
Remplaçants
16 Dane Coles
17 Ethan de Groot
18 Fletcher Newell
19 Scott Barrett
20 Tupou Vaa’i
21 Aaron Smith
22 Richie Mo’unga
23 Rieko Ioane
Comments on RugbyPass
This has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI 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 also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 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.
124 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…”
124 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
45 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
124 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 comments