2023-10-13 16:10:13
Born in New Zealand, Aki, Lowe and Gibson-Park have been able to change tunics since the rules relating to sporting nationalities were relaxed. Best nation in the world for four years, they chose Ireland who inherited a terrible quarter-final. The XV du Trèfle will have a lot to do to beat New Zealand on Saturday October 14 at the Stade de France and qualify for the first semi-final in its history in a World Cup.
Published on: 10/13/2023 – 4:10 p.m.
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Until recently, as soon as a player had a senior cap, he could no longer wear another national tunic. Wanting to strengthen “small” nations, World Rugby decided in 2021 to modify the eligibility rules. Players who have not been selected for three years can be called up to another national team, provided they have at least one grandparent born in the country in question.
Changes in nationality which also benefit the major rugby nations
The 2023 World Cup is the first World Cup to be held with this new regulation. These changes in nationality have not only benefited the world’s second-ranked teams, but also the major rugby nations. South Africa will count former Irish international Jean Kleyn among its troops.
As for Ireland, it includes three overlooked players in black: Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe. Ireland will line up its indisputable New Zealand trio during its 2023 World Cup quarter-final against the All Blacks, Saturday October 14 at the Stade de France. Bundee Aki, a native of Auckland, arrived in Connacht in 2014. Eligible for the Clover XV since 2017, he became one of its centerpieces, through hard work.
Not the fastest, nor the most spectacular, Aki imposed his iron defense, his intelligence with the ball in hand and his physical impact. Enough to make him an essential player today. He will honor his 54th selection on Saturday.
Jamison Gibson-Park, named man of the match in victory over Scotland
At 33, he is moving into the shape of his life. Already twice voted man of the match in the pool, he leads the World Cup in terms of runs (61) and ranks second in number of breakthroughs (9). With four attempts already!
If Aki had left his country without establishing himself, Lowe had shown good things, recording 52 Super Rugby matches and collecting six caps for the Maori All Blacks. Under the green Irish jersey, the smiling colossus imposed his game with a powerful foot: to free himself, his left boot constitutes a perfect counterpart to Johnny Sexton’s right foot.
Jamison Gibson-Park may have won Super Rugby with the Hurricanes in 2016 with current All Blacks Dane Coles, Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett, but he has never managed to really find his place. The eternal substitute, who still has seven caps with the Maori All Blacks, did not have better luck at Leinster when he arrived in 2017. Elected man of the match in the victory against Scotland (36- 14), Gibson-Park reached his best level at age 31 after a slow maturation. Good thing his Leinster teammates nicknamed him “Whiskey”.
The composition of the Irish team in the quarter-finals
XV de départ : 1. Porter, 2. Sheehan, 3. Furlong, 4. Beirn, 5, Henderson, 6. O’Mahony, 7. Van der Flier, 8. Doris, 9. Gibson-Park, 10. Sexton, 11. Lowe, 12. Aki, 13. Ringrose, 14. Hansen, 15. Keenan.
Substitutes: 16. Kelleher, 17. Kilcoyne, 18. Bealham, 19. McCarthy, 20. Conan, 21. Murray, 22. Crowley, 23. O’Brien.
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