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Dupont envoie les Bleus en demi-finale

France's #25 Antoine Dupont scores a try despite the opposition of Great Britain's #24 Charlton Kerr during the HSBC World Rugby Sevens men's play-off match between France and Great Britain at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on June 1, 2024. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)

C’est un véritable quart de finale qui attendait l’équipe de France et la Grande-Bretagne, pour l’avant-dernier match de la journée.

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L’équation était simple et identique pour les deux équipes : une victoire, et l’aventure se poursuivait en demi-finale. Une défaite était la promesse de finir 3e de la poule, et d’un dimanche un peu moins gai. La France passera donc un premier week-end de juin à enjeu, après la victoire un peu miraculeuse obtenue après prolongations (17-12).

Un succès marqué du sceau d’Antoine Dupont, remplaçant au coup d’envoi mais doublement décisif durant les quelques minutes qu’il a disputées. Un essai en solo, une passe décisive pour Epée : sans lui, l’équipe de France aurait sans doute regardé les demi-finales depuis les tribunes, ce dimanche.

La première période a en effet été laborieuse pour les Français, toujours sans Antoine Dupont au coup d’envoi. Rapidement, Ross McCann surprenait les Bleus en bord de ruck. Il ramassait le ballon et partait petit côté (2e, 0-5).

Sans être mise en danger outre mesure, la France se retrouvait menée avant tout par son incapacité à être efficace. À l’image de l’essai refusé à Stephen Parez (4e) pour avoir fait tomber le ballon au moment d’aplatir, ou de la pénalité qui a suivi, gâché par un en-avant (5e).

Toutefois, les hommes de Jérôme Daret revenaient au meilleur moment : juste avant la mi-temps. Jordan Sepho posait un cadrage débordement tout en puissance pour se jouer de son défenseur (5-5 à la pause).

Des efforts annihilés par le carton jaune infligé à Théo Forner pour un plaquage sans les bras (9e). Dans la foulée, les Britanniques marquaient derrière une mêlée dans les 22 français par l’intermédiaire de Morgan Williams (9e, 5-12).

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La France avait bien du mal à approcher de la ligne britannique, et on s’acheminait doucement et tristement vers une 2e défaite française en trois matchs. C’est alors qu’Antoine Dupont est sorti de sa boite.

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Seul sur l’aile gauche, le Toulousain temporisait, fixait son défenseur, accélérait brutalement et raffûtait le pourtant solide Ferguson qui finissait les fesses dans le gazon. 60 m plus tard, Dupont marquait, et Rayan Rebbadj égalisait sur la transformation (14e, 12-12).

Une semaine après la prolongation en finale de Champions Cup entre Toulouse et le Leinster (31-22), Dupont jouait un autre extra time, pour une place en demi-finale de la Grande Finale du Sevens.

Et comme à XV, il a été décisif. En jouant vite une pénalité à la main, il semait la zizanie dans les rangs britanniques. Il fixait puis servait le supersonique Nelson Epée qui crucifiait la Grande-Bretagne (17-12).

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La France jouera la demi-finale, et elle peut dire merci à Antoine Dupont, dont l’entrée a été ultra décisive. Ce sera contre les Fidji, tandis que l’autre ticket pour la finale se disputera entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et l’Argentine.

Visionnez l'épisode exclusif de "Walk the Talk" où Ardie Savea discute avec Jim Hamilton de son expérience à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023, de sa vie au Japon, de son parcours avec les All Blacks et de ses perspectives d'avenir. Regardez-le gratuitement dès maintenant sur RugbyPass TV.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
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