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La meilleure équipe du monde ? La réponse de de Villiers en quatre mots

Les joueurs irlandais célèbrent le drop gagnant de leur coéquipier Ciarán Frawley, caché, dans les dernières secondes du deuxième test entre l'Afrique du Sud et l'Irlande au Kings Park de Durban, en Afrique du Sud. (Photo par Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Aussi passionnante qu’ait été la série de test-matchs entre l’Afrique du Sud et l’Irlande (une victoire chacune), elle n’a pas beaucoup aidé à résoudre le débat sur l’identité de la meilleure équipe du monde.

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Avec le double champion du monde en titre d’un côté, et le vainqueur des deux derniers Tournois des Six Nations de l’autre, les deux équipes les mieux placées au classement mondial World Rugby avaient des arguments à faire valoir. Mais en se quittant bons amis, Sud-Africains et Irlandais n’ont pas fait beaucoup avancer le débat.

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Cependant, l’ancien Springbok Jean de Villiers a une réponse simple pour trancher la question : « Factuellement, c’est nous », juge-t-il.

Dans le dernier épisode du podcast Boks Office, diffusé sur RugbyPass TV, le vainqueur de la Coupe du monde 2007 s’interroge : « Doit-on se baser sur des opinions ou sur des faits ? Parce que dans les faits, nous sommes N.1 au classement mondial et nous sommes champions du monde. Il n’y a donc pas de débat là-dessus ».

Si de Villiers a avancé des éléments concrets, il a toutefois ajouté qu’il était « impossible de le dire », car il n’y a pas que deux équipes qui se disputent le titre honorifique de meilleure équipe.

L’Irlande a remporté le deuxième test à Durban grâce à un drop de Ciarán Frawley en fin de match, ce qui résume à quel point la série était équilibrée. De quoi permettre à de Villiers d’instiller le doute, et de se demander si un seul coup de pied peut clore la discussion.

« Peut-on dire d’une équipe qu’elle est la meilleure du monde grâce à drop réussi ? S’il [Frawley] l’avait raté, est-ce que cela aurait fait de nous les meilleurs ? À cause d’un seul coup de pied botté par seule personne ? »

Burger : « Si on a cette conversation, cela signifie que le rugby mondial va bien »

L’Irlande, l’Afrique du Sud, la Nouvelle-Zélande et la France se sont tour à tour succédé au sommet du classement mondial. L’ancien trois-quarts centre estime que l’Angleterre va rapidement se mêler à la lutte, après son encourageante série en Nouvelle-Zélande, malgré les défaites (15-16, 17-24).

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« L’Irlande peut être considérée comme une des meilleures équipes du monde, mais l’Afrique du Sud est classée N.1et elle est championne du monde. Elle fait donc partie du débat aussi, tout comme la France, la Nouvelle-Zélande et l’Angleterre qui, d’ici quelques mois, fera partie de ce cercle. »

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Présent également sur le podcast Boks Office, Schalk Burger a ajouté que l’unique fait d’ouvrir ce débat montre la bonne santé actuelle du rugby international.

« Si on a cette conversation, cela signifie que le rugby mondial va bien », avance l’ancien flanker.

« Au lieu d’avoir une équipe loin devant, nous avons quatre équipes qui, selon nous, peuvent à tout moment faire la course en tête. »

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Cet article a été à l’origine publié en anglais sur RugbyPass.com et adapté en français par Jérémy Fahner

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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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