We have chosen for you the most brilliant interpreters of the first eight games of the world
The first day of the Rugby World Cup 2019 ended from Friday to Monday 8 games occupied our mornings, all with something to say.
Among technical issues, tactics, stories on and off the pitch, we have chosen the players who impressed the most in the first round of this world championship.
Charles Ollivon – France
Lorenzo Calamai
Once upon a time, there were reservists: 6 players called to backup Jacques Brunel’s 31 squads for the Rugby World Cup. Two of them, Charles Ollivon and Virimi Vakatawa, end up being decisive in the important game against Argentina.
Ollivon is a talent that they have known for a long time in France, but that has always remained on the margins of the transalpine national team. he made his debut in 2014, but in five years he has accumulated only 8 appearances for the Bleus, including the preparatory matches for this world championship. It is one of those third lines that could dominate in triathlon, thanks to a monstrous athletic versatility, but it also has sweet and sensitive hands, perhaps due to the practice of Basque pelota in its youth[source].
Against Argentina he was a positive constant for his team: always present in support of his teammates, ready to receive direct continuity by suddenly appearing alongside them, he carried on innumerable balls, cleaned up a thousand meeting points.
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Timothy Lafaele – Japan
Daniele Pansardi
When the ball passed through Timothy Lafaele’s hands, the pain was almost always felt to defend Russia. The second center of Japan has put on display all its extraordinary technical qualities in the management of the tool, especially in the action of the first goal of Matsushima in which he served Tupou with a wonderful offload from the ground.
Moreover, Lafaele is not new to such games, because Samoan has as a distinctive trait a unique sensitivity in the hands, which allows him to complete passages with a huge coefficient of difficulty. In a game like the one against Russia, in which Japan initially struggled to mesh, his class allowed the Brave Blossoms to make life a little easier.
Tolu Latu – Australia
Matteo Viscardi
Not later than last late spring, Tolu Latu seemed to be able and should see the World Cup at home, because of the excesses on and off the pitch, amid too many badges and accusations of drunk driving. The Waratahs hooker, however, has been able to draw important lessons from the lessons offered by life, regaining Michael Cheika’s confidence in extremis and earning the gallons as the number 2 Wallabies holder.
Choice, that of the ex-coach of Petrarca. Who has paid significant dividends since the first match of the World Cup, against Fiji, during which the 26-year-old was by far the best on the field, deservingly obtaining the recognition of Man of the Match? The two goals, marked by concretizing a couple of Australian driving mauls, were only the icing on the cake of a very high-level all-round performance.
The native Tongan did a good job at the launch, in touch, worked well in the closed and guaranteed the usual effectiveness in the open game, confirming himself as a ball carrier of great value. An element, therefore, polished, capable of giving another dimension to Cheika’s offensive apparatus.
Levani Botia – Fiji
Lorenzo Calamai
Cross and delight of the Fijian game, Levani Botia offered a performance that legitimized the nickname of Demolition Man. If it is true that the yellow card awarded to the La Rochelle player has ditched the hopes of the islanders in the moment of greatest difficulty, it is equally true that his performance so far had been the cornerstone on which John McKee’s team had built its partial successes.
Botia has exalted himself in his defensive role, forcing with his hard blows the Australian backward line to a sequence of errors, lost balls, changes of possession.
The white jersey number 12 was captain of the Fiji seven-strong national team, the strongest in the world. He left school very young to pursue his rugby career, ending up under the eyes of the Fijian rugby legend Waisale Serevi. Who in 2011 discovered him in a field on the outskirts of Suva and took him to the Pacific Games. Botia said nothing to his wife about his career start in professional rugby: she only found out by turning on the television and seeing him play for the national team.
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Anton Lienert-Brown – All Blacks
Daniele Pansardi
Anton Lienert-Brown is never talked about too much. It’s true, between Barrett, Mo’unga and Ardie Savea the space for the titles is reduced, but the second center of the All Blacks is a portent and a true champion.
Even against South Africa, Lienert-Brown beat repeat defenders (8, the best of his team). Taking advantage of the light support and the speed in evading the opposing defenders, as demonstrated in the personal action that led to Scott’s goal Barrett.
The 24-year old almost always manages to create a small advantage for his team, both in one on one and with offloads or well-balanced passages. It does not steal the eye for explosiveness or physical strength. but has an individual technique of the highest level.
Jordan Larmour – Ireland
Michele Cassano
I honestly did not expect such a dominant Ireland and such a “focused” player.
Jordan Larmour has truly shown authority and a great understanding of his teammates. Putting his hand in the first and fourth goals of the Greens.
As the Times headlined, “Larmour has silenced the doubts that existed about him” and also sent back to the sender the statements of Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, who had framed him as a weak point in the enlarged triangle of the opponents .
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