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Ils rejouent le France-USA, la dernière finale olympique de rugby à XV, 100 ans après

France – USA, le 18 mai 1924 à Colombes

Le centenaire du match France-USA, la dernière finale olympique de rugby à XV, sera célébré en France, en partenariat avec l’association franco-américaine Rugby Centennial et le National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), à l’occasion d’une tournée des All Americans au début de l’été.

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Cette « Tournée des héros » fait également partie du programme officiel célébrant le 80e anniversaire du Débarquement en Normandie.

Le premier match aura lieu le 23 juin au Stade du Littoral à Dunkerque contre l’équipe nationale U23 de Belgique, suivi par des matchs le 27 juin au Stade Henry-Jeanne de Bayeux contre une sélection de la Gendarmerie Nationale, puis un troisième match le 4 juillet au Stade Jean-Moulin à Suresnes contre l’équipe de France universitaire.

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Damian de Allende talks about the plaudits heaped on him by his teammates

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Damian de Allende talks about the plaudits heaped on him by his teammates

« Cette tournée illustre l’engagement de National Collegiate Rugby à offrir des opportunités de haute performance aux étudiants athlètes, hommes et femmes, et à renforcer le vivier de talents pour les Coupes du Monde masculines de 2031 et féminines de 2033 aux États-Unis », indique l’organisation amateur sportive qui compte près de 10 000 joueurs et 6 000 joueuses répartis dans près de 600 clubs aux Etats-Unis.

L’équipe NCR All Americans qui se déplacera en France sera composée de 30 joueurs issus des trois divisions du National Collegiate Rugby.

La suprématie américaine sur le tournoi olympique

Comme presque autant de joueurs cent ans auparavant, ils traverseront l’Atlantique pour disputer plusieurs matchs de rugby à la différence près que leurs illustres aînés, à leur arrivée en France, étaient champions olympiques en titre pour avoir remporté la précédente édition à Anvers en 1920.

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En 1924, le rugby à XV figure pour la quatrième fois aux Jeux olympiques d’été. Les Britanniques boycottant les JO et les équipes du Sud étant dans l’impossibilité de venir pour raisons financières, le tournoi de rugby à XV est organisé entre seulement trois équipes : les États-Unis, la France, et la Roumanie. Chaque équipe doit rencontrer chacun de ses adversaires une fois au stade olympique de Colombes.

La Roumanie s’incline très vite face aux deux autres, augurant une finale France – Etats-Unis prévue le 18 mai 1924. Près de 20 000 spectateurs sont rassemblés et les États-Unis remportent le match avec un score de 17 à 3.

Le match qui a mis fin à l’aventure olympique

Mais ce n’est pas sur ce résultat que la rencontre rentrera dans la légende, mais sur les circonstances néfastes qui porteront le coup de grâce au rugby dans le giron olympique.

La rencontre est en effet marquée par une atmosphère tendue, tant sur le terrain qu’en tribunes, avec des actions violentes et des tensions croissantes. L’équipe de France, diminuée par les blessures de deux joueurs, termine la partie avec seulement treize joueurs.

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Le public français, mécontent de la défaite, se montre hostile en sifflant et insultant les Américains ainsi que l’arbitre, provoquant des altercations entre supporters. Dès lors, le rugby ne sera plus le bienvenue aux JO.

Il faudra attendre 92 ans pour que le rugby fasse son retour sur la scène olympique, cette fois-ci sous la forme plus rapide et festive à 7 à l’occasion des JO de Rio 2016.

Dans le dernier épisode de "Walk the Talk", Jim Hamilton s'entretient avec Damian de Allende, double champion du monde de rugby, au sujet des Springboks, en particulier de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 et de la série à venir contre l'Irlande. Regardez l'épisode 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
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