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Whitelock quitte la scène sur une ultime victoire

Le deuxième-ligne néo-zélandais Sam Whitelock (G) et le talonneur japonais des Barbarians Shota Horie - à droite Gaël Fickou - tiennent la Killik Cup après avoir remporté le match international de rugby à XV entre les Barbarians et les Fidji au stade de Twickenham, au sud-ouest de Londres, le 22 juin 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

L’ancien capitaine des All Blacks, Sam Whitelock, a terminé sa carrière en beauté, en menant les Barbarians à une victoire 45-32 sur les Fidji lors d’un match palpitant à Twickenham.

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Le deuxième-ligne de 35 ans, double champion du monde de rugby avec la Nouvelle-Zélande, a reçu des applaudissements nourris de tous les coins du stade du sud-ouest de Londres lorsqu’il a quitté le terrain en fin de rencontre.

Whitelock a réalisé une performance fidèle à sa réputation aux côtés des internationaux français Virimi Vakatawa, Gaël Fickou et Cameron Woki face à une équipe fidjienne en pleine possession de ses moyens, entraînée par l’Australien Mick Byrne.

Les impressionnants Fidjiens ont été boostés par un triplé d’Epeli Momo, qui joue dans le Super Rugby Pacific avec les Fijian Drua, mais ils ont échoué dans une rencontre haletante.

LONDRES, ANGLETERRE - 22 JUIN : Les joueurs et les mascottes des Barbarians s'alignent pour les hymnes nationaux avant le match de la Killik Cup entre les Barbarians et les Fidji au stade de Twickenham le 22 juin 2024 à Londres, en Angleterre. (Photo par Steve Bardens/Getty Images pour les Barbarians)

L’ancien ailier anglais et futur joueur de Soyaux-Angoulême Jonny May a marqué deux fois pour les Barbarians, dont les autres essais ont été marqués par Lachlan Boshier (deux), Chay Fihaki, Zach Mercer et l’international néo-zélandais Leicester Fainga’anuku.

Jouaient aussi pour les Barbarians Jack Cornelsen, né sur la Gold Coast et fils de Greg Cornelsen, Wallaby des années 1970 et 1980, qui représente le Japon au niveau international, et Scott Sio, ancien pilier des Wallabies.

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Les Baa-Baas, entraînés par l’ancien mentor des Wallabies Robbie Deans, ont été bousculés par les Fidji. Les trois essais de Momo ont été complétés par les 10 points de Kemueli Valentini et les sept autres de Caleb Muntz, le demi d’ouverture.

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BeamMeUp 1 hour ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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