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Tevita Tatafu retenu pour les prochaines tournées du Japon ?
International japonais, né aux Samoa et élevé aux Tonga, le troisième-ligne Tevita Tatafu illumine le Top 14 avec l’UBB depuis son arrivée en France à l’été 2023. A ne pas confondre avec l’autre Tevita Tatafu qui évolue dans le Top 14. Le pilier droit de Bayonne (21 ans) est en fait son cousin.
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Si le Tevita Tatafu de Bayonne souhaiterait devenir un jour international français (on le présente comme le futur Uini Atonio), ce n’est pas le cas du Tevita Tatafu de Bordeaux qui compte déjà 16 sélections avec le Japon depuis 2016 (première cape contre la Corée), dont trois contre la France (juillet et novembre 2022).
Il n’a jamais fait mystère de son envie de rejouer avec les Brave Blossoms avec lesquels il s’était entraîné en prévision de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 avant qu’une blessure à la main ne mettre fin à ses espoirs d’y participer. « J’étais vraiment au plus bas moralement à cette période », admettra-t-il face à nos confrères de Sud-Ouest.
Arrivé pour deux saisons à l’Union Bordeaux-Bègles en provenance de l’équipe japonaise des Suntory Sungoliath pour la saison 2023-2024, le numéro 8 (28 ans, 1,83 m, 120 kg) semblerait toujours intéresser le nouveau coach du Japon, Eddie Jones, qui pourrait bien l’appeler dans son squad en prévision des prochaines tournées d’été et d’automne.
Une perspective intéressante quand on sait que le Japon jouera contre la France le samedi 9 novembre prochain au Stade de France.
Il a commencé trois-quarts centre
Tevita Tatafu a commencé à jouer au rugby à 8 ans, d’abord en tant que trois-quarts centre jusqu’au lycée avant de switcher. « A l’époque, l’équipe avait besoin de plus de puissance devant, alors je suis passé troisième-ligne centre. Ça s’est plutôt bien passé. Maintenant, je ne pourrais plus revenir en arrière, c’est trop tard », confiait-il à Sud-Ouest au début du mois.
Arrivé au Japon à 14 ans – « je suis arrivé en t-shirt et en tongs alors qu’il neigeait » – il marque vite les esprits dans les championnats lycéens et universitaires jusqu’à intégrer l’équipe des U20 pour le Championnat du Monde en 2015 et 2016. En Italie, il est battu 7-43 par les Bleuets d’Anthony Jelonch. L’année suivante au Royaume-Uni, il s’incline deux fois, 14-46 (dans la poule C) et 27-41 (en demi-finale pour la 9e place) contre la bande à Antoine Dupont et Peato Mauvaka qui compte dans ses rangs deux de ses futurs coéquipiers de Bordeaux aujourd’hui : Damian Penaud et Romain Buros.
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Sous l’aile de son compatriote tongien Ben Tameifuna, Tevita Tatafu a mis peu de temps à s’adapter en France où il est vite devenu indispensable avec des stats impressionnantes : 16 matchs joués (sur 21) dont 13 comme titulaire, 1020 minutes de temps de jeu, trois essais, 58 plaquages cassés, 135 plaquages réussis (94% de réussite), 5 ballons grattés, 160 courses, 16 offloads et 3 franchissements.
On comprend mieux pourquoi Eddie Jones le garde sous le coude et qu’il demande à l’UBB de bien veiller sur lui.
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments