2023-08-19 20:43:08
Apart from the France team, which faces Fiji this Saturday evening in Nantes, five World Cup preparation matches took place across the rugby planet, from Montevideo (Uruguay) to Tbilisi (Georgia), via Wales, Italy and Ireland. Overview of the results three weeks before the start of the French World Cup.
Ireland – England: 29-10
For the fourth time in a row, the Clover picked the Rose. Undefeated since July 2, 2022 (12 games in all competitions), the Irish dominated their English rivals this Saturday in Dublin and held their rank as world title favorites. Deprived of their captain, Owen Farrell, who could be suspended for several weeks, England lost for the sixth time in their last nine games…
Ireland, winner of the 2023 Six Nations Tournament, Grand Slam in the key, dominated this meeting from start to finish. First by two tries signed by the three-quarter center Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose, which gave Ireland 9 points ahead at the break. Ireland, however, lost their hooker, Dan Sheehan to injury just before returning to the locker room.
In the second half, the yellow card revised into a red card by the “bunker” for third line Billy Vunipula, for a shoulder blow to the face, buried the last English hopes. Almost the same gesture as Owen Farrell last week… The two executives of the fifteen of the Rose could well miss the opening of the World Cup.
With three new tries, wingers James Low, Mack Hansen and Keith Earls, who celebrated his 100th cap, Ireland ended their festival of the day even if their opponent saved the honor by their pillar Kyle Sinckler. England will host Fiji at Twickenham (London) next Saturday for a final pre-World Cup outing. Ireland will do the same with Samoa.
*multiplex music*
Billy Vunipola receives a red card (bunker decision) for this shoulder-head tackle.
After Farrell, it is therefore Vunipola who endangers his world.pic.twitter.com/5w6pA0Uqi9
— Gauthier Baudin (@GauthierBaudin) August 19, 2023
Wales – South Africa: 16-52
Two lessons to be drawn from this meeting: the Welsh, admittedly overhauled, really don’t have the look of a world champion; as for the Springboks, they confirm their ambitions of a double, four years after the title acquired in Japan. The Blues are warned then that they could well cross them from the quarter-finals. We are still far from such a scenario but, buoyed by the return of their captain, Siya Kolisi, after four months of absence, the South Africans crushed Wales this Saturday, in front of 74,000 disillusioned fans at the Millennium Stadium from Cardiff.
The demonstration began in the 4th minute with a superb try from hooker Marx on a final pass after contact from Kolisi at the end of the line. Victim of a partial rupture of the cruciate ligament of a knee last April, the future third line of Racing 92 shows that he will be ready for competition. For this return, he only played one half. Logical decision by coach Andrew Brace when the score was already 24-9.
South Africa did not need their captain to step on the accelerator after returning from the locker room and crush the far too tender Welsh. Eight tries to one in the end, doubles for winger Canan Moodie and center three-quarter Jesse Kriel. The former Toulonnais Cheslin Kolbe was more discreet but author of a nice decisive pass for Kriel (35th). The Welsh played their last preparation match this Saturday. South Africa will play a final clash against New Zealand next Friday in London.
The other matches
Italy, present in the group of the Blues, made short work of Romania (57-7) in San Benedetto del Tronto, on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. The first success of the Italians since November 12, 2022 and their feat against Australia (28-27). Against the Romanians, Toulouse’s Ange Capuozzo notably scored two tries (out of the nine in total) for his return to competition six months after his left shoulder injury. The Laurel Crown has an appointment against Japan next Saturday in Treviso for its last outing before joining France.
Another future opponent of the Habs, Uruguay beat the B team of Argentina (33-13) last night in Montevideo. Finally, Georgia, in Group C with England or Argentina, beat the unqualified United States (22-7) in Tbilisi. Spectacular LOU winger Davit Niniashvili has scored a try after four months out with a left foot injury.
#Overwhelming #South #Africa #reassuring #Ireland #favorites #ready #Rugby #World #Cup