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It's today
- South Africa-Italy (11:45, Pool B)
We will be able to check if Italy is (really) on a good start. Victorious twice in two games with two offensive bonuses to the key, facing Namibia (47-22) and Canada (48-7), Squadra Azzura is at the top of her group, in front of … All Blacks and the South Africa ! The big shocks for the teammates of Sergio Parisse, the Italian captain, nevertheless remain to come. And the first is today facing South Africans.
The Springboks, currently third in Pool B after losing to the All Blacks (13-23), need a bonus win to return to the race. This match, which looks like a false round of 16, could, if Italy win, be synonymous with a new feat in this World Cup, after that of Uruguay against Fiji (30-27) and Japan face to Ireland (19-12).
Rugby World Cup 2019: the composition of the XV of France against Tonga
Jacques Brunel unveiled Thursday the composition of the XV of France who will face Tonga Sunday, October 6, in Kumamoto. The coach of the Blues preferred Baptiste Serin Antoine Dupont to form the hinge with Romain Ntamack. Serin had an excellent start on Wednesday against the United States (33-9), including the fourth try tricolor.
Jacques Brunel also renewed four incumbent players against the Americans: the hooker Camille Chat (instead of Guirado), the second line Paul Gabrillagues, the winger Alivereti Raka and the center Sofiane Guitoune. Pillar Jefferson Poirot will be captain.
The starting XV (substitutes not communicated by the Federation): Médard – Penaud, Vakatawa, Guitoune, Raka – Ntamack (half-open), Serin (half scrum) – Ollivon, Alldritt, Lauret – Vahaamahina, Gabrillagues – Slimani, Cat, Poirot (cap)
It was yesterday
- Georgia-Fiji (45-10, Pool D)
Fiji finally holds their first victory in this World Cup. Defeated by Australia (39-21) and then surprised by Uruguay (30-27), the players of the southern hemisphere largely won, Tuesday, October 3, against Georgia (45-10).
Despite this success, with a bonus point, the Flying Fiji should stop in this competition after their last meeting against Wales, since there are two games to the Australians (currently 3es of the group) that they will most likely win. In terms of accounting, Fiji can not compete with Australia.
Good news all the same: before their last match against Wales, the Fijians are almost assured – except missteps of Australians and Welsh – to finish in third place, synonymous of direct qualification for the World Cup 2023 in France , where they hope to reach, for the third time in their history, the quarter-finals.
The Georgians, who are outmatched at this meeting, will finish the World Cup against Australia and will have to go through qualifying to participate in the 2023 World Cup.
- Ireland-Russia (35-0, Pool A)
Ireland finds the way to victory. Surprised by Japan in the previous meeting (19-12), the XV Clover defeated Russia (35-0), with bonus offensive bonus. For his first captain, Jonathan Sexton, the star player of the selection, played 45 minutes. Coach Joe Schmidt has preferred to keep his master playing, suffering from repeated injuries to the adductors, for a quarter-final potential against New Zealand or South Africa.
The Russian selection is the third not to score any point in the World Cup, after the Samoans against Scotland (34-0, Monday, September 30) and the Canadians against the All Blacks (63-0, Wednesday, October 2) .
It's seen
Fiji were many people's pick to cause an upset goal … Uruguay record a memorable win over … https://t.co/bNYnTzUm93
An algorithm able to guess all the winners and all the scores of the matches of the World Cup? Until September 25 and the feat of the Uruguayans against Fiji (30-27), it was true (and scary). The rugby4cast prediction site, created by two British, an accountant and a trainer in web marketing, had until then given all the good winners (including France against Argentina), and sometimes scores close to the results … accurate. Rugby4cast, for example, had bet on New Zealand winners of South Africa … 23 to 13.
But the Uruguayans surprised everyone, including the algorithm. Since then, it is the robotic rout: Rugby4cast had given Ireland victorious against Japan 37 to 19. This was not quite the scenario of the match since the hosts of the competition were imposed 19 to 12.
It is said
"Right now, Eben is totally focused on the World Cup. He will play tomorrow (Friday) and he will focus totally on the match. "
On the eve of the match between Italy and South Africa, Springbok assistant coach Mzandile Stick defended his player Eben Etzebeth (27 years old, 81 caps) while a sword of Damocles sits on his head : his federation launched an internal procedure against him, while he is targeted in his country by prosecution for insults and racist attacks before his departure for Japan.
The affair has caused a stir in South Africa, where racism is still a sensitive topic a quarter of a century after the fall of the apartheid regime.
This follows the announcement of a complaint by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against Etzebeth, accused by several witnesses of insulting a homeless person and pointing a weapon at fire on him at the end of August, during a racist private incident.
At the time of writing, the presence of the player in the South African XV for the match against Italy was still not questioned.
Noted
142
This is the new record that Sergio Parisse, the captain of Italy, will beat today, during the clash between Squadra Azzurra and South Africa. At 36, the third center line will become, with 142 selections, the player of the northern hemisphere most cape in history. He defeated Irishman Brian O'Driscoll, but was beaten by New Zealander Richie McCaw, who has 149.
It's bonus
me irl # RWC2019 #GEOvFIJ https://t.co/gYPXIT8jax
Manasa Saulo will probably not be in the final, but he will still be famous after this World Cup. The Fijian is set to become the meme of this competition, with this ball received in the head, during the match between Georgia and Fiji. What wake up the Fijian pillar and fans of the twittosphere.
Rugby World Cup: find all the groups
Group A: all you need to know about Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia and Samoa.
Group B: all you need to know about New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia and Canada.
Group C: all you need to know about France, England, Argentina, Tonga and the United States.
Group D: all you need to know about Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji and Uruguay.
