Irish fury shook the Nantes tramways. Transported by the resounding victory of their team, Saturday September 16, against Tonga (59-16), the supporters of the XV du Trèfle not only gave their voice but they also danced the jig in the public transport which took them were returning from the Beaujoire stadium to the city center.
Because this time, they believe it. They believe in Ireland in the final, they believe in Ireland becoming world rugby champions. Forgotten, this curse which has weighed since 1987 on the “Irishmen” incapable of reaching the quarter-finals of the competition. Last night’s match clearly confirmed the team’s favorite status, at the top of the World Rugby rankings.
After a winning first match (82-8) against Romania a week ago, the Irish led by their captain, Jonathan Sexton, outclassed the Tonga team. It was a true demonstration of strength, solidity and will.
With eight tries – including a double for center Bundee Aki elected man of the match – coach Andy Farrell’s squad achieved an improved success and thus took the lead in Pool B ahead of South Africa. This was the desired objective. The message sent to its three most dangerous opponents – France, New Zealand and South Africa – is clear: Ireland is strong and ready to fight.
Playing phases repeated a thousand times in training
However, we had to wait until the 21ste minute for the men of Clover, sometimes struggling and a little messy, to manage to control the Tongan density. If the Tonga archipelago is nicknamed “the islands of friends” because of the hospitality of its inhabitants, it is quite different on a rugby field. The players in the red jersey do not spare themselves, tackle, and burst – too rarely – from the back lines at incredible speed, slaloming through the opposing defense.
But these sparks fizzled out due to countless blunders, hand mistakes, not to mention the disastrous touches lost to the Greens who, on Saturday evening, surprisingly played in white jerseys and black shorts. “We made terrible mistakes, we failed to set up our game, we made bad decisions on the pitch”, summed up Toutai Kefu, the Tongan coach, during the post-match press conference. His deputy Tyler Bleyendaal had nevertheless assured, on Friday, “that Tonga was there to create surprises and have a say in this very competitive Pool B”.
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