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It's tomorrow
You too were waiting for him as the messiah. Well, it's good, we are there: the first semi-final of the Rugby World Cup is played Saturday, October 26 between England and New Zealand (10 hours). And we already know what sauce players will eat.
England coach Eddie Jones has once again relied on the combination of the two openers George Ford and Owen Farrell to face New Zealand after leaving them on the bench in the previous round. Farrell is associated with Tuilagi and Ford takes the place of Slade on the field. This is the only change made in the starting XV.
@EnglandRugby's COMPO to play New Zealand Ford starters at the opening; Tuilagi passes second cent … https://t.co/tRckeq0jFW
Blacks side, four second-line players will line up to target the English touch. Scott Barrett will own at the expense of Sam Cane.
@AllBlacks' COMPO for the semi-final against England This will be their 4th meeting in RWC; Codie Taylor jo … https://t.co/0vcTRLIWKE
It's flat
Bad news for South Africans. Hit late in the quarter-final against Japan, Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe could not be restored in time. He will miss the semifinal this Sunday against Wales, and will leave his place to S'bu Nkosi.
Viewed the praise of Welsh defense coach Shaun Edwards on the South African winger, " one of the most dynamic, incredibly explosive players » he has never seen, there is a good chance that the XV Leek stamped with happiness at the idea of not having face in the field Sunday.
It's seen
Everyone was dying to know what Prince Charles had said to his little Welsh protégés. Thanks to Ken Owens for revealing it to us:
Ken Owens reveals the content of discussions with Prince Charles during his brief visit to the @WelshRugbyUnion 😅 … https://t.co/VutKCV683r
It's planned
The Japanese Rugby Federation will ask New Zealand's Jamie Joseph to remain coach of the Brave Blossoms after their historic quarter-finals. It is its president Shigetaka Mori who announced it Thursday in a statement.
The Federation "Decided to ask him to serve as head coach in light of the results of the 2019 World Cup in Japan", adding that "Concrete negotiations" were going to start.
The Japanese had created the surprise in the group stage, finishing first of their group, thanks to two exploits against Ireland (19-12) and Scotland (28-21). Qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, however, they could not deal with the South Africans (26-3), despite a good resistance in the first half (5-3 at half-time) .
It is said
"In this street where England and we are, the same pressure reaches everyone. I remember a World Cup that went wrong for England four years ago. "
Eddie Jones, versus Steve Hansen, the war is declared. After the English coach's clown number at a press conference on Tuesday, the All Blacks coach counter-attacked. He supported where it hurts, reminding the English (who have certainly not forgotten) how they were eliminated from their own world in 2015 from the group stages. It's good war.
It's reversed
You certainly remember the case of the New Zealand spy secretly coming to the training of the XV of the Rose, spotted and denounced by Eddie Jones at the same press conference. Well, that too, the New Zealand coach Steve Hansen responded.
"Eddie and I know that in love as in war every move is allowed. And Eddie knows that in times of war you have to (the media) give a little distraction, he said Thursday at a press conference. But this is the best click trap in the world: to say that someone is spying on you. "
Hansen has called his English counterpart "Damn good guy" and of "Very good coach", recalling that Jones had not directly accused New Zealanders of this hidden camera: "He did not say it was us. He was very careful not to say it. "
Rejecting the accusations of Eddie Jones, Steve Hansen preferred to take a laugh: "We had a good time" he concluded.
It's sanctioned
Sebastien Vahaamahina, excluded from a red card in the quarter-final between France and Wales, has just received his sanction: a tweet from ASM Clermont, his club announced his suspension for six weeks in the Top 14. He will be on the field again for the meeting of December 21 against Toulon.
#Discipline 6 weeks suspension for @SebVahaa after his deportation to Wales. The second line is … https://t.co/9mzLXylkuJ
That's done
It was already not enough depressed that the Blues failed to pass the quarter-finals. No, it took Bernard Laporte to drive the nail, pointing out that "Sébastien Vahaamahina's gesture deprived us of a World Cup semi-final." And that a Canadian player, Jamie Cudmore, chained and trolle even more the Blues (and the president of the FFR at the passage) on Twitter: "I do not think he watched the game …? ! This is a huge problem in France: it is always the fault of someone else !! "
I do not think he watched the game …?! @FranceRugby This is a huge problem in France from the top down. It's always … https://t.co/S1E0b6Xyyf
It is true that it is in the French tradition to rarely recognize his mistakes and to blame only one person to the utmost for them. Nevertheless, we must still say that this time, Sebastien Vahaamahina gave the Blues a little help. Or elbow.
