DECRYPTAGE – Find out what pleased and displeased our journalists in the oval section during this year marked by a World Cup in France.
FAVORITES
Portugal, hit of the World Cup
«It’s the perfect World Cup», told us Francisco Fernandes, pillar of Béziers and the Portuguese selection. Because yes, Portugal surprised, amazed and seduced us. For the second time in their history, the “ Lobos » competed in a World Cup after that of 2007. Arriving on tiptoe and with the status of “ little thumb », the selection led by Mike Tadjer and Samuel Marquès came out stronger. From the start, Patrice Lagisquet’s men put up good resistance despite a heavy score against Wales (28-8) before securing a historic draw against Georgia (18-18). “ After this match, we had already succeeded in our World Cup. It was the first time in the history of the selection that we managed to do that », Analyzed Fernandes. Far from being ridiculous against Australia (34-14), the Portuguese made their mark thanks to a final victory against Fiji (23-24). A more than positive journey for a team with an impeccable state of mind. Led by great talents like Martins, Portela, Marta and Costa Storti, Portugal has the future ahead of it to continue growing.
La Rochelle, a double for history
A real tour de force. On May 20, Stade Rochelais became one of the biggest in Europe, winning the Champions Cup for the second time in a row. After defeating Jonathan Sexton’s squad at the Stade Vélodrome in 2022, the Maritimes did even better by winning against these same Irish at their Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Impressive collective strength. Because, after a completely unsuccessful start to the match, Grégory Alldritt and his teammates were able to turn things around in a totally hostile context and facing a top player in the competition who had been crowned four times. Proof that the Rochelais are now in the league of the very big ones, they achieve a double that only Leicester (2001, 2002), Leinster (2011, 2012), Toulon (2013, 2014, then 2015) and Saracens had achieved before them. (2016, 2017). Remarkable for a club which has been able to build little by little, but in a lasting manner. And to think that La Rochelle only returned to the Top 14 in 2014… A meteoric rise.
Erasmus, master of strategy
In 2019, Rassie Erasmus had already shown all his genius to take the Springboks to the world title. Four years later, retrained as Director of Rugby, it was in fact still him who imagined the best-conceived plans, the daring ideas, the most notable innovations, to attract all the light on himself – and thus preserve its players – and achieve the double. Let us cite, in bulk, the bench with seven forwards (quickly named squad bomb), the light shows to convey the message (we try or we do not try) to our scorer, the use of the rule forgotten by all of asking for a mixed with the reception of a mark in the South African 22 meters or even (and among others) the removable hinges: Reinach-Libbok to wrap up the game, de Klerk-Pollard to manage it to perfection. Not hesitating to take out the first two named after half an hour of play in the semi-final against England because they were blocked. A fine strategist, Erasmus dominated the chess game in the quarter-final against Fabien Galthié. And to think that he left for four years, returning, after the coronation, to his position as coach of South Africa. But had he really left her…
Les Bleuets world champions for the third time in a row
What a pleasure to see, these young people! By defeating Ireland (50-14) on July 14 in Cape Town (South Africa), the French XV became under-20 world champions… for the third time in a row! Beyond the result, Sébastien Calvet’s Bleuets offered flamboyant rugby which left no chance to the Baby Blacks (35-14) in the groups or to England (52-31) in the semi-final. A “French flair» at its peak, helped by a solid forward pack. We will have to closely monitor this 2003-2004 generation which should soon be knocking on the doors of “grands“. Following in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors like Romain Ntamack, Cameron Woki and Arthur Vincent, the young Posolo Tuilagui, Marko Gazzotti, Nicolas Depoortere and Lenni Nouchi certainly have a bright future ahead of them.
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CLAW STRIKES
L’overdose de Dupontmania
As a preamble, let us specify, and this is essential, that the immense talent of the captain of the Blues is not in question (we know that charitable souls will hasten to point out this little humorous post to him…). Antoine Dupont remains the best French player and his recent and thunderous return to form makes us regret a little more that he chose to skip the Six Nations Tournament to devote himself to his Olympic dream at 7. The overdose does not comes not from justified praise, but from unbearable sycophancy. Antoine Dupont has a cheekbone injury? The world is falling apart, the French XV has no chance of winning the quarter-final against South Africa without him. A soap opera which lasted three weeks, between France-Namibia and the first elimination meeting. Undermining the trust of its partners. Saturating the media space (and preventing the highlighting of any other player from the France team). Weakening coach Fabien Galthié and his staff. Granting him disproportionate power in a sport which affirms that only the collective matters. It was up to him to decide whether or not to play in this quarter-final. To stay, or not, 80 minutes on the pitch at the Stade de France (which he did). It was also he alone, by the president of the FFR’s own admission, who decided whether or not he took up the challenge of 7. Becoming bigger than the team, than the institution, than his sport. A drift that does not bode well. And earned him a terrible nickname from some teammates uncomfortable with this pre-eminence: The Emperor…
The bunker, the false good idea:
Rugby, like other sports, follows changes in society. And undergoes technological changes and additions. While video appeared in 2001 for international competitions and then in 2006 for the Top 14, a new system arrived during the World Cup: the bunker. “ Time saving » according to world authorities, this technology allowed an independent referee based outside the stadium to review an action following a yellow card distributed by the field referee. The independent referee then had 10 minutes to analyze and communicate to the man with the whistle whether the card could turn red or whether it remained yellow. But this technology was of no use. Except to remove responsibility from the referees. “ Take a surgeon who has to perform a heart operation. You obviously want it to be him who operates and not a nurse », quipped former international referee Nigel Owens in our columns. In short, another innovation which, we hope, will not stand the test of time in our beautiful sport.
Also read: Refereeing: the worrying abuses of rugby
The slow decline of Montpellier
The aftermath of titles is often complicated in the Top 14. Recently, Clermont (crowned in 2017) but also Castres (2018) have been there. Disappointing tomorrows. Montpellier, which won the first French championship title in its history in 2022, also had a nightmarish post-Brennus season. The team then coached by Philippe Saint-André finished the last year in a poor 11th place, with a negative record (11 wins for 15 losses), and flirted with relegation for a long time. More serious, the machine has not restarted this season. The MHR is the red lantern and “PSA» was thanked and replaced by Bernard Laporte. A sulfurous return to business for the former president of the FFR, convicted by the courts for acts of corruption with Mohed Altrad, president-owner of the Hérault club (they appealed). A duo who has caused a lot of ink to flow and who will return to court in 2024. Montpellier will once again be in the spotlight. But for dark reasons.
The Wallabies’ descent into hell
Australian rugby is sick. Eliminated for the first time in the group stage of a World Cup, the Wallabies even hit rock bottom in Lyon on September 24, corrected by Wales (6-40). Without Eddie Jones, who resigned after a disastrous mandate of less than a year, we must now rebuild. But there are many projects. Rugby union is experiencing declining popularity in the face of competition from XIII and Australian rules football. This is evidenced by the departure for the XIII of the great hope Mark Nawaqanitawase, a winger of only 23 years old. Undermined by the poor results of its franchises in Super Rugby, the Australian system needs an overall overhaul. Otherwise, the “ Big Three » of the southern hemisphere could well become a “ Big Two ».
