FAVORITES

This will remain one of the highlights of the first phase of this World Cup. The Portuguese David who defeats the Goliath of the Pacific Islands. The French coach of Os Lobos (wolves), Patrice Lagisquet, told us a few weeks before the competition that a victory for his team was almost a dream. From dream to reality. Sunday evening, Portugal won against Fiji (23-24) its first success in a World Cup, for its second participation after 2007. A great feat for a selection made up, in part, of non-professional players, only 16th in the World Rugby rankings (13th after this success). With misty eyes, the Portuguese heroes took a well-deserved victory lap on Sunday evening in Toulouse. With panache, they delighted the stadiums of France whether against Wales, Georgia, Australia and Fiji. An exciting and resolutely offensive game. For its fourth and final match, Patrice Lagisquet’s team was finally rewarded for its total play with a try on the edge of the will-o’-the-wisp Rodrigo Marta (78th). Despite all the fatigue accumulated since the start of the competition, the wolves found the mental and physical resources to overthrow Fiji in the final moments. Respect. R.S.

Ireland confirmed its status as huge favorite during this group stage. A moderate surprise as the Clover XV has mastered its rugby in recent years. But for each Irish match, the spectacle was as much in the stands as on the field. The two decisive matches at the Stade de France, against South Africa and then Scotland, showed the unfailing support of an entire people. How many were in the stands? 50,000? 60,000? More than 20 minutes after the end of the matches, everyone remained to share a long moment of communion with the players singing Zombie by the Cranberrys or Dirty Old Town by the Pogues. Saint-Denis had become Dublin for a match. Convinced of their strength, the Irish already see themselves returning on October 28 to lift the trophy at the Stade de France… The image is all the stronger because in rugby, the Irish team represents the Republic of Ireland, but also the British enclave of Northern Ireland. The Clover XV, like its anthem, the Ireland Call’s, brings together the four provinces, Ulster, Connacht, Munster and Leinster. Two countries, but one people united for a single goal, to become world champion. Small downside, it is not certain that we will find the same atmosphere in the final phase, the tickets having been sold a long time ago… The stands will undoubtedly be more neutral, because imagine Ireland beating South Africa , and finishing first in the group two years ago was not an exercise without risk. V.B.

Since the start of his mandate, Fabien Galthié has shown himself to be the specialist in integrating newcomers into his starting XV, at times when general opinion did not expect it. Thus Melvyn Jaminet at the back during the 2022 Tournament or the replacement of Cameron Woki in the second row during 2021. Like little whims of fresh flesh in a group which tends rather to garner “collective experience”. Latest darling to date, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the twirling winger of Union Bordeaux-Bègles, 20 years old. First cap on August 5 in preparation against Scotland, then promoted to starter for the last three group matches against Uruguay, Namibia and Italy. Result, four tries and several high-class actions. “LBB” shines in a position where Gabin Viliere has not given complete satisfaction since his return from injury. It remains to be seen which of the two will play in the quarter-final against the South African powerhouse. A.B.

Also read “The All Blacks, my ideal game”: confessions of André Boniface, legend of the XV of France

They were announced to be moribund, in the midst of a crisis, but they will be there for the quarter-finals. The Welsh and English were the first to validate their ticket for the elimination phase, playing directly against their main rivals. Without shaking. By ensuring the essentials. However, Wales was not at its best before settling down in France. Sporting results at half mast, executives announcing their international retirement even before the start of the World Cup (Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, etc.) and, worse, a serious institutional crisis which shook the Federation (player salaries, aggression alleged sexual assault). Warren Gatland’s return to business was not a success until early September. And then the Welsh Dragons woke up at the best time. Just like the English who also come back from very far away. Humiliated by the Blues at Twickenham during the Tournament (10-53), then by Fiji at the same place in a preparation match (22-30), the XV de la Rose was the object of all the criticism. A game at half mast, a coach Steve Borthwick who is far too conservative and players at the end of the race. Nothing happened. Certainly, the English game does not make you dream, but it wins (even narrowly against Samoa 18-17). Like four years ago, the Welsh and English are well represented in the quarter-finals. And, for these two nations, the path seems clear to reach the final four. A.C.

We see them from afar in the streets of French cities, dressed in their green jerseys emblazoned with the clover. And above all, we hear them. Barely have they downed a few pints of the official beer – the modest Japanese Asahi which does not resist the impact compared to the powerful national Guinness – when the green army begins to sing non-stop from the refreshments to the stands stadiums. Perfectly in chorus and without a false note. Who has not witnessed the rendition of Zombie, the Cranberries’ hit, by tens of thousands of throats deployed around the pitch has missed one of the attractions of this World Cup. We don’t know where the band’s sporting journey will end in Sexton, but its supporters have already won the trophy for best fans. J.-M. G.

CLAW STRIKES

Fiji hit hard during this World Cup, bringing down Eddie Jones’ Australia (15-22), certainly poor and under construction. But the feat was significant, it was the first of this World Cup. We then praised the strength of this Fijian team, a subtle mix of experienced players who play in Europe (Botia, Radradra, Waisea, etc.) and young people who are becoming more experienced in the province of Fijians Drua involved in the Super Rugby of the hemisphere. south. A team that seemed to have resolved its endemic problems in conquest, with a stronger scrum and a safer touch. “These are the new version of Fiji, disciplined, athletic and consistent. I would not be surprised to see them go very far in this competition,” declared the former Australian fullback, Joe Roff, world champion in 1999. Except that this Sunday, the Islanders fell back into their ways, unable to put their rugby in order, they came close to elimination against Portugal. Conceding the most surprise defeat of the competition (23-24), and only being saved by the defensive bonus point that they managed to snatch. The bare minimum. Fiji are reaching the quarter-finals for the third time in their history after 1987 and 2007. But, facing the English who are never as formidable as in the final phase, they will have to gain in control. And avoid large air holes. A.C.

Argentina, England, Fiji and Wales will therefore compete in the quarter-finals… between them and two of these four teams will reach the semi-finals. Their supporters can legitimately rejoice, but the imbalance between the two parts of the table is dismaying. To qualify, England did not have to play great rugby. She painfully defeated the Samoans, showed herself to be uninspired against Japan, but extremely realistic against the Argentinians. The latter have not shown tremendous confidence either. They were able to dominate Japan in a decisive match, but their rugby remains very messy. What can we say about Fiji, so impressive at the start of the competition against Wales then Australia, before putting on a completely different face against the Georgians. Their rugby seems to disintegrate over the days to the point of losing their last group match against the impressive, but modest, Portuguese. In this lucky group of four, only Wales convinced and seemed to progress during the competition. In any case, Scotland, which returns home this weekend, can look with bitterness at this part of the table, when we know that to qualify it would have had to achieve the feat of beating, at choice, the reigning world champion or the world number 1… The fault of a draw carried out in the middle of the Covid crisis, while certain nations had not played since the last World Cup.. At that time England and Wales were world numbers 3 and 4… V. B.

The Azzuri arrived at this French World Cup with a team made up of several well-trained and promising young players who seemed to be able to honor their place in “Tier 1” bringing together the 10 best nations in the world. With a solid third line, a regular scorer Tommaso Allan, and his young Franco-Italian star Ange Capuozzo placed on the wing or at the back as at Stade Toulouse, the transalpine fans thought they were holding out against the two favorites in their group , New Zealand and France. The two matches ended in two consecutive defeats: 156 points conceded for 24 scored. “It’s a disaster for our federation,” confides one of its former senior leaders. With such results, how can we increase the viewing rate for live matches and, above all, how can we convince our sponsors to stay, let alone recruit new ones? » Even before the World Cup, New Zealand coach Kieran Crowley’s contract had not been renewed despite his desire to stay. Good luck to his successor, the Argentinian Gonzalo Quesada, to relaunch the XV azzuro. J.-M. G.

Also read: Rugby World Cup: why it is urgent to change the format

Festive, popular and… without suspense. For many, the World Cup really begins this weekend from the quarter-finals with gala posters, suspense and emotion. It must be said that the group stage appeared very unbalanced. The first 40 matches have too often resulted in encounters with fluctuating, one-sided scores. By now extending over five weeks, to preserve the health of small nations, the group stage has also become interminable. If Portugal did not make the figure, small nations like Namibia or Romania have regularly served as a foil to the best nations in the world. 96-0 for France Namibia, 84-0 for Scotland-Romania or the 73-0 of the New Zealanders against the Uruguayans, without forgetting the 71-0 inflicted by the English on the Chileans… Italy, although a member of Six Nations Tournament, was also ridiculed 96-17 by the Blacks. While the level seemed to be tightening in recent editions, the gap has never seemed so big between the small nations and the big ones. A two-speed World Cup with an average difference of 31.6 points between the winner and the loser. This is more than in 2019 or 2015 (27.6 and 24.1) and it is just a little less than in 2003 (36.2). But it’s still way too much… R.S.

Since the fiasco of the 2022 Champions League football final between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Stade de France, the English have doubted France’s capacity to host a major sporting event. Two incidents during the first round of group matches reinforced their opinion. The first in Bordeaux, on September 9, where angry Irish supporters missed the Ireland-Romania kick-off due to endless queues at tram stops. The second in Marseille, the same day, when thousands of English and Argentinians found themselves blocked outside the stadium, on the Vélodrome square, even though the match had already started. Flaws in communication, filtering and crowd management… As if the organizers had learned nothing from the serious excesses at the Stade de France. Fortunately for the safety of fans, the problems appear to have since been rectified. A.B.