2023-09-24 01:55:42
Scrum half Conor Murray (fist raised) and his Irish teammates celebrate the victory of the XV du Trèfle against South Africa, on September 23, 2023, at the Stade de France (Saint-Denis). FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Two weeks after the Blues’ inaugural victory against New Zealand, the Stade de France (Saint-Denis) was once again the scene of a shock that looked like a final, Saturday September 23. No opening ceremony or hymns sung by a children’s choir this time, but another duel between two heavyweights of the Oval, having made the 78,542 spectators gathered in the stands hold their breath.
To the left of the ring, we found Ireland, first nation in the world rankings and winner of the last Six Nations Tournament, with the added bonus of “grand slam”. On the other side, South Africa, first runner-up in the XV du Clover in the international hierarchy and reigning world champion.
On points, it was ultimately the Irish who emerged victorious from the fight (13-8) to sign a sixteenth success in a row and, above all, take a big step towards qualifying for the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
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The start of the competition was an opportunity for coach Andy Farrell’s men to show that they were not perched at the top of the world rankings for nothing. Two corrections inflicted on Romania (82-8) and especially Tonga (59-16) were enough to send a fairly clear message to their competitors. It then remained to deliver it in person, which the “men in green” endeavored to do on Saturday evening, in front of an essentially Celtic audience who loudly supported them.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult match, with a lot of physical commitment. We were able to cope and develop our gameexplained captain Jonathan Sexton after the meeting, during a press conference where he appeared particularly marked and tired. It’s a match that will count. » Before enjoying victory, the Irish general and his troops had to respond to the tough fight imposed by their adversaries. The South African recipe was well known: do the percussion again and again, until exhaustion.
Warned, the XV of Clover had to find the solution, facing the fronts as well as the rears. South African center Damian de Allende thus reminded us that the physical power of the Boks could come from anywhere by putting Garry Ringrose (19th) then Jonathan Sexton (21st) on their buttocks with two powerful charges. The first had to leave the field for ten minutes to respond to a concussion protocol when the second sent a breath of worry into the stadium by remaining on one knee for long seconds. The tone was set.
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