Ultimul week-end de rugby international de vara asta

*  Fiji - Tonga;

*  Japonia - Georgia;

*  Noua Zeelanda - Franta:  

Noua Zeelanda: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Samuel Whitelock (capitan), 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Rezerve: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Jordie Barrett.

Franta: 15 Benjamin Fall, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Remi Lamerat, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Gael Fickou, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Morgan Parra (capitan), 8 Kevin Gourdon, 7 Kelian Galletier, 6 Mathieu Babillot, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Bernard Le Roux, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Dany Priso.
Rezerve: 16 Adrien Pelissie, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Felix Lambey, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Maxime Medard.

 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, ora 10,35 (ora Ro), arbitru John Lacey (Irlanda)

* Australia - Irlanda:

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (capitan), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Scott Sio.
Rezerve: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Joe Powell, 23 Reece Hodge.

Irlanda: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Peter O’Mahony, 6 CJ Stander, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Jack McGrath.
Rezerve: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Cian Healy, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jordan Larmour.

Allianz Stadium, Sydney, ora 13 (Ro), arbitru, Pascal Gauzere, (Franta).

* Africa de Sud - Anglia: 

Africa de Sud: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 S’busiso Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capitan), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Rezerve: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Willie le Roux.

Anglia: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell (capitan), 11 Mike Brown, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Maro Itoje, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler
Rezerve: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Sam Simmonds, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Denny Solomona

Newlands Arena, Cape Town, 18.05 (ora Ro), arbitru Glen Jackson (Noua Zeelanda)

* Canada - USA, 22,00 (ora Ro)

* Argentina - Scotia: 

Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Sebastian Cancelliere, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (capitan), 1 Javier Diaz.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia.

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Pete Horne, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 David Denton, 7 Fraser Brown, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Stuart McInally (capitan), 1 Allan Dell.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Ben Toolis, 20 Jamie Ritchie, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 James Lang, 23 Chris Harr.

Venue: Estadio Centenario, Resistencia, 22,40 (ora Ro), arbitru Mathieu Raynal (Franta).

* duminica, 24 iunie,  ora 5,10, Samoa - Germania.

Partide atractive in internationalele de maine

Noua Zeelanda vs Franta, Australia vs Irlanda, Africa de Sud vs Anglia, Argentina vs Tara Galilor. Nu e, cumva, prea mult pentru o singura zi? 

1. Noua Zealanda: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock (capitan), 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Rezerve: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Ngani Laumape.

Franta: 15 Maxime Médard, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud (capitan), 12 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 11 Remy Grosso, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fabien Sanconnie, 7 Kelian Gourdon, 6 Judicaël Cancoriet, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Dany Priso.
Rezerve: 16 Adrien Pélissié, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Bernard Le Roux, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Gael Fickou.

Eden Park, Auckland, ora 10,35 (Ro), arbitru Luke Pearce (Anglia).

2. Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Marika Koroibete, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Dane Haylett-Petty, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Michael Hooper (capitan), 6 David Pocock, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Scott Sio.

Rezerve: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Lukhan Tui, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 Reece Hodge.

Irlanda: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Peter O’Mahony (capitan), 5 Iain Henderson, 4 James Ryan, 3 John Ryan, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Jack McGrath.
Rezerve: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Johnny Sexton, 23 Jordan Larmour.

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, ora 13 (Ro), arbitru Marius van der Westhuizen (Africa de Sud).

3. Africa de Sud: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 S’busiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Siya Kolisi (capitan), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane/Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Rezerve: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw/Thomas du Toit, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Warrick Gelant.

Anglia: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell (capitan), 11 Mike Brown, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Rezerve: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Denny Solomona.

Ellis Park, Johannesburg, ora 18,05 (Ro), arbitru Ben O'Keeffe (Noua Zeelanda).

4. Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de le Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (capitan), 1 Santiago Garcia Botta.

Rezerve: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Javier Diaz, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Sebastian Cancelliere.

Tara Galilor: 15 Hallam Amos, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 James Davies, 6 Seb Davies, 5 Cory Hill (capitan), 4 Adam Beard, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Wyn Jones.
Rezerve: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Owen Watkin.

Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, ora 22,40 (Ro), arbitru Andrew Brace (Irlanda).

Rassie Erasmus pierde meciul de debut. Castres castiga titlul in Top 14

Erau multe asteptari fata de la meciul de la Washington DC. In primul rand fata de gandirea lui Rassie Erasmus, noul antrenor al Africii de Sud. Acesta a scos in teren, practic, o noua echipa, construita in jurul lui Elton Jantjies, Care nu a functionat cum se astepta lumea. Pana in repriza a doua sud-africanii au fost la cheremul galezilor. Si ei echipa noua, dar cu un grad de consistenta mai ridicat. Foarte multe greseli de manuire a balonului si multe erori disciplinare. Ceea ce  l-a facut pe experimentatul Mathew Carley sa fluiere neobisnuit de mult, mai ales in prima repriza. Eseurile sud-africanilor, chinuite, cele galeze mai clare si ceva mai spectaculoase. Un meci mediocru, intre doua echipe cu pretentii.Duracell Mai rasariti s-au aratat a fi Kwaga Smith, Jessie  Kriel (desi a primit putine baloane) si Curwin Bosch, ceuceva greseli de plasament. De partea cealalta mai interesanti s-au aratat a fi Ross Moriarty (omul Duracell al galezilor), Hallam Amos, cei doi tineri de 24 si 23 de ani plus batranul Hadleigh Parkes, 30.  Scor: 22-20. Meci de nota 6.

Pe Stade de France s-a petrecut surpriza. Montpellier, lidera autoritare a  campionatului regular, a trebuit sa se declare invinsa de ocupanta locului 6, ultima clasata pentru eliminatoriile semifinalelor. Castres devine, astfel, pentru a  cincea oara campioana Frantei: 1949, 1950, 1993, 2013, 2018. Montpellier joaca a doua finala in ultimii douazeci de ani (prima pierduta in 2011 in fata Toulouse). Interesant este ca invingatoarea a condus tabela tot timpul de joc efectiv si nu a lasat nici un moment de respiro adversarei, pregatita de prestigiosul neo-zeelandez Vern Cotter. Pana si renumitul inchizator Louis Picamoles a avut momente in care parea sufocat. Obisnuita cu multe eseuri in partidele campionatului regular, Montpellier nu a reusit sa inscrie ieri decat dintr-un eseu de penalizare plus doua penalitati. Si asta in timp ce oamenii lui Christophe Urios (neindoielnic cel mai bun antrenor francez al momentului, un om aspru si mai mereu posac) au inscris doua eseuri (Dumora si Sitiveni Mafi, Tonga), ambele transformate, si cinci penalitati executate in stil 100% de admirabilul decar argentinian Urdapilleta. Castres a avut si un om mai putin prin eliminarea lui Loic Jaquet dar apararea a rezistat fara mare efort sud-africailor din gramada Montpellier.

Ca sa aveti o masura a performantei realizate de Castres hai sa citim impreuna lista de internationali ai invinsilor : fratii du Plessis, Ouedraogo, Picamoles, Pienaar, Aaron Cruden, N.Nadolo, Fr.Steyn, B.Fall... 

Asadar, Le Bouclier de Brennus merge din nou la Castres, cel putin pentru un an. Chapeau bas, Mr. Urios!

Incep internationalele din iunie.

Startul il da o partida ce se va juca intr-o locatie mai "exotica", Washington DC, pe Kennedy Stadium, un fel de templu al football-ului american.

Partida va opune doua selectionate aflate in plina reconstructie. Prima, Africa de Sud are un antrenor nou, o filosofie a jocului cu totul diferita fata de precedentul coach si o noua poltica de selectie, fapt pentru care in lotul largit sunt nu mai putini de 17 jucatorii fara selectii in echipele Springbok. By the way, pana si capitanul de echipa este o figura noua, un noncaucazian, Siya Kolisi, primul jucator de culoare capitan in istoria de 127 ani a rugbyului sudafrican.

A doua este aceeasi reprezentativa a Tarii Galilor, in interiorul careia controversele nu mai contenesc, nici intre franchize, nici intre antrenori, nici intre jucatori, nici intre cele de dinainte si WRU.  Nu sunt prezenti 10 din cei 17 jucatori galezi are au participat la Turneul Lions din 2017.  Gatland nu mai conduce efectiv echipa ci un fel de triumvirat impus de WRU.

In ultimele 10 meciuri, Africa  de Sud are 7 victorii, Tara Galilor 3, toate 3 acasa, la Cardiff.

Africa de Sud: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capitan), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Ox Nche.

Rezerve: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Warrick Gelant.

Tara Galilor: 15 Hallam Amos, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 George North, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Ellis Jenkins (capitan), 6 Seb Davies, 5 Cory Hill, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Nicky Smith.

Reyerve: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Rhys Patchell/Gareth Davies, 23 Hadleigh Parkes.

Partida va incepe la ora 24 (Ro) si va fi arbitrata de englezul Mathew Carley.

Tot asta seara se va juca si finala Campionatului francez, Top 14, intre Montpellier si Castres. De la 21,45 pe Stade de France sub conducerea lui Jerome Garces. Iata si formatiile de start

Montpellier: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Benjamin Fall, 13 Frans Steyn, 12 Alexandre Dumoulin, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Louis Picamoles (capitan), 7 Kelian Galletier, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.

Rezerve: 16 Romain Ruffenach, 17 Gregory Fichten, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Julien Bardy, 20 Enzo Sanga, 21 Henry Immelman, 22 Joe Tomane, 23 Davit Kubriashvili

Castres: 15 Julien Dumora, 14 Armand Batlle, 13 Thomas Combezou, 12 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 11 David Smith, 10 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Alex Tulou, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 Mathieu Babillot, 5 Rodrigo Capo Ortega (capitan), 4 Loic Jacquet, 3 Daniel Kotze, 2 Marc-Antoine Rallier, 1 Antoine Tichit.

Replacements: 16 Kevin Firmin, 17 Tudor Stroe, 18 Christophe Samson, 19 Maama Vaipulu, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 22 Florian Vialelle, 23 Paea Fa’anunu.