For these last hours of the year 2024, let's take a look in the rearview mirror, with some of the most striking declarations in the small world of rugby. There is mourning, again, for the 2023 World Cup, but also tributes, great stories and of course criticism of refereeing…
People's sadness is still heavy to bear
It was last February but it reflects the impact of the Blues' elimination in the quarter-finals of the World Cup by the Springboks, three months earlier. Charles Ollivon, the third row of Toulon, ex-captain of the Blues, was engaged in the Midi Olympique on this personal disillusionment which was also collective.
With Matthieu Jalibert, we are like an old couple without the monotony
Maxime Lucu played the game a river interviewjust before the sequence of the 6 Nations Tournament. He discusses his future role within the French XV in the absence of Antoine Dupont, number 1 at the position, who left for the 7-a-side season. Also, the scrum half answers questions about his relationship with Matthieu Jalibert, his pivotal teammate at Bordeaux-Bègles.
France-Ireland, it's not a slap, it's a knockout.
In Marseille, the French XV got off to a very bad start to their 6 Nations Tournament. After this 2024 edition, which for the Blues really had two faces, Laurent Sempere accepted for the Midi Olympique of take stock.
When you take two reds, you go home
Ronan O'Gara may not have invented rugby in his post-semi-final analysis. But after the defeat conceded by his La Rochelle team against Stade Toulouse (39-23), the Irishman could not hide his disappointment: “We must understand that today, in high-level sport, discipline is very important.”
I am convinced that today he was present with me
Icon Sport – Sandra Ruhaut
Léo Berdeu played the saviors, passing the winning penalty to allow Lou to win a very close match against Bordeaux-Bègles (J2, 28-26). And this victory had a special flavor for the fly-half, since he had just lost his former teammate Quentin Gobet following a car accident. “I told my teammates that the tide was going to turn and that we were maybe going to get a star tonight at the end. This penalty wasn't easy for me, I had cramps but I had a star above my head. I have a tribute to the Gobet family. He's a friend we lost before the match, we were playing with him in the hopes… I'm convinced that today. , he was present with me, with the whole group. I'm happy for me because when you're a scorer, it's a childhood dream to give victory in the last action. ÇThis has never happened to me.”
We have a feeling of unfairness. It's easy to put our heads under water
The comeback of the Girondins de l'UBB against RC Vannesbeyond being historic and having left its mark, aroused a lot of bitterness in the Vannes camp. Jean-Noël Spitzer, quite annoyed at the press conference, issued a controversial message against the referee of the match, Mr. Praderie, and also his colleagues: “We arbitrate the status of the clubs. It's frustrating, all your work for the week can be thrown to the ground by that, swept away. We have this feeling, a feeling of unfairness. It's easy to put our heads under water, there is this impression that it will not have any consequences […] These are televised matches, in the evening, the referee sees the score increasing for a team which must play for the title…”
Icon Sport
He later changed his mind: “I am well aware, cold turkey now, that I lacked at least reserve and perhaps even exemplarity. These were comments which serve neither rugby, nor the Vannes club, nor me- even elsewhere.” This did not prevent him from being summoned by the LNR disciplinary committee on January 8.
I have rarely seen a knockout. like that
The knockout of Sam James (Racing 92) against Montpellier will unfortunately remain as an image of this year 2024. The English full-back received a shock to the face and lost consciousness on the Hérault lawn. His teammate Nolann Le Garrec reacted: “He was unconscious and he convulsed. I've rarely seen a knockout like that.” “He has regained consciousness and the doctor is rather optimisticreassured Dimitri Szarzewski. Obviously, it's quite impressive since he remained unconscious on the ground for a while. But it should be fine.”
My last hat-trick dates from Federal 3
Gaël Dréan is one of Toulon's men in form in this first half of the 2024-2025 season. And the winger had the luxury of scoring a hat-trick, his first in the Top 14, against Bayonne (39-19). What to fill it with: “Today I told myself that nothing could happen to me. I was close to having another one. Sinz' (Sinzelle) gave me a nice pass. Everything went quickly this afternoon. I walked on water a bit in this part. I was in a bit of a dream.”
Icon Sport – Johnny Fidelin
I won't have time to go to Lourdes
Stade français reassured itself by winning in Perpignan, just before Christmas. A way to get away from the red zone and prepare well for the trip to Haute-Garonne. Laurent Labit, after this victory which gave way to Christmas, expressed this: “Even if we're going to have four days as a family, I won't have time to go to Lourdes. But we're going to pray a lot around the tree (laughs). This match is at the Stadium, we know what it means when the Toulouse stadium relocates to this venue We will try to be the best we can, but like all the teams, we know that we will be dependent on the level of Toulouse. It is clear that the youth and the chances given to this team did not alter its courage, with a good part against Stade Toulouse, which was frightening for a time.
