Latest news with #FabienGalthié
Telegraph
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Peato Mauvaka handed three-week ban for ‘flying headbutt' on Ben White
However, the 28-year-old was promptly cited after France's 35-16 victory, which sealed the Six Nations title for Fabien Galthié's side, and has been found guilty of foul play contrary to law 9.12. This dictates that a player 'must not physically or verbally abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm, shoulder, head or knee[s], stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking.' The verdict of a three-person disciplinary panel, comprising Jennifer Donovan (Ireland) as well as two former men's internationals in John Langford of Australia and Leon Lloyd of England, infers that they believed Mauvaka to be deserving of a red card. Mauvaka, whose six-week sanction was halved because of remorse and a clean record, will now miss three games for his club, Toulouse; their Top 14 clashes against Bordeaux-Bègles and Pau before a Champions Cup last-16 tie against Sale Sharks. Fraser Brown, the former Scotland hooker, had been among those to condemn Mauvaka's actions on Saturday night. 'Ben White is laying on the floor and Peato Mauvaka dives at him,' Brown said. 'It's a flying headbutt straight to the face. 'That's a straight red card. The whistle has gone. It's direct head contact – I cannot agree with this process.' Rory Darge, the Scotland captain, labelled it as 'an intentional headbutt', with head coach Gregor Townsend querying how the punishment was not upgraded. 'The decision not to raise it to a red card was because there was not excessive force,' he said. 'I'm not sure that's the criteria for a non-tackle incident. It shouldn't be anything to do with the force involved. 'I don't know how it wasn't raised to a red card. Whether it affected the final result, who knows? France deserved their victory and are deserved champions.'
Bloomberg
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Bloomberg
France Wins Six Nations Rugby Tournament After Beating Scotland
By Updated on Save PARIS (AP) — France saw off a resilient Scotland 35-16 and clinched the Six Nations title with a tournament-try record on Saturday. Coach Fabien Galthié's side needed only a victory at chilly Stade de France to ensure a first title since 2022. The bonus-point win helped Les Tricolores finish one point above England, which hammered Wales 68-14 with 10 tries.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Six Nations takeaways: France triumphs despite Mauvaka madness and Lions squad shaping up
LONDON (AP) — France prevailed in the Six Nations and the standings didn't change on the final day in an anticlimactic end. Scotland was game but outgunned in Paris and France pulled away to win 35-16 on Saturday. It was France's second championship under Fabien Galthié, the coach since 2020. England was second, a point behind, after handing Wales in Cardiff its worst defeat — 68-14 — in the tournament's 142-year history. Wales' 17th straight loss in 17 months landed it with another low, consecutive wooden spoons for finishing last. England's 10-try romp ended Ireland's faint hopes of a historic third consecutive title. The Irish needed a Dan Sheehan hat trick to labor past Italy 22-17 in Rome. The top three teams all had 4-1 records, not seen in 10 years. France beat Ireland, which beat England, which beat France. Here's the AP's take on the final round. Champion France Dynasties are short-lived in the Six Nations era. England won three titles in four years that were capped by the 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph. France then won three in four over 2004-07 only to lose the plot at the 2007 World Cup to England in a Paris semifinal. Others since have won successive titles but were unable to sustain the run. Which made France coach Fabien Galthié pause when asked if the new champion was on the brink of something special. France joined 2001 England as the only teams to score more than 200 points, and became the first team to post 30 tries. Galthié warned about having to be humble because things can change very quickly. In international rugby, a week is a long time, let alone a year. But he acknowledged, 'We feel like we're causing problems. We got a taste of something during this competition that allowed us to unbalance defenses.' While a marauding pack was complemented by X-factor backs, France's gamble on extreme 7-1 reserve benches paid off in spades. After the shock of losing to England, France debuted the 7-1 against, in order, Italy, Ireland and Scotland, and overwhelmed them as the second pack of fresh forwards drained the legs of tiring opponents in the third quarter. The combined first half scores against the trio was 59-36. The second half was 91-31. Why, with trophies on the line, would France want to change? Mauvaka's mischief The silence from France coach Fabien Galthié about hooker Peato Mauvaka's headbutt contrasted starkly to his furious reaction and public blame on Ireland duo Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter for France superstar Antoine Dupont's ruptured ACL the previous weekend. The referee, TMO and, ultimately, Six Nations organizers agreed that Dupont's injury in a ruck clearout was accidental. But there was nothing accidental about Mauvaka's nastiness against Scotland's Ben White that earned him a yellow card and not a red. While both players lay on the ground, Mauvaka launched himself at White and headbutted him. It came after the whistle and was deliberate. He should have been sent off. But the yellow card was not upgraded by the bunker because 'the danger was not high.' Degree of force should not be a factor, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said. 'I don't know how it wasn't raised to a red card,' he added. Mauvaka escaped with a sin-bin and France escaped from playing the last hour of the title-clincher with 14 men. Crowley and Prendergast The debate in Ireland about whether Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley should be the starting flyhalf wasn't resolved by Crowley's performance against Italy. His first start since November was a mixed bag. He assisted in two tries though one was scrubbed by a knock-on, and kicked well out of hand but was only 25% off the kicking tee. Crowley, at 25, has three years on Prendergast and 16 more caps. After Jonathan Sexton's reign, both are still starting their test careers and Ireland hopes they will lead the team for at least a couple of World Cup cycles. But Crowley comes off contract after this season and is considering heading abroad, which would end his test career. He played every minute of the 2024 Six Nations triumph and started the July drawn series in South Africa. But his patchy form in a struggling Munster side was compounded by average displays in November against New Zealand and Argentina. Prendergast, driving an unbeaten Leinster, took over and started the next six tests and didn't lose until a week ago against France. He received a rising star award from the Six Nations this weekend but finished the tournament having missed the most tackles, 18. The debates goes on. Lions watch The AP's British and Irish Lions selection based on Six Nations form would start six Irish, four English, four Scotland backs and one Welsh. The squad to Australia isn't announced until May 8 and names will undoubtedly change. For instance, two-tour tighthead Tadgh Furlong made his first Ireland appearance on Saturday since July, and Scotland midfielder Sione Tuipulotu tore his pec in January and has an ambitious aim to return before May. The AP's team has only four players who have been Lions: Locks Maro Itoje and Tadhg Beirne, flanker Tom Curry and flyhalf Finn Russell. Itoje, Wales captain Jac Morgan and Scotland fullback Blair Kinghorn are the only home nations players to play every minute. Kinghorn's club commitments could clash with the Lions if Toulouse reaches another Top 14 final. Hooker Dan Sheehan was the leading try-scorer among forwards with five, the same as England wing Tommy Freeman. Tom Jordan, one of three New Zealand-born players, was the bolter after seamlessly fitting into the Scotland backline in place of Tuipulotu. Others to shine in the final round included Ireland wing Mack Hansen, Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie, and England openside Ben Curry — Tom's twin — and flyhalf Fin Smith in the romp in Cardiff. Lions: Blair Kinghorn, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris (captain), Jac Morgan, Tom Curry, Tadhg Beirne, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter. ___ AP rugby:
Associated Press
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Six Nations takeaways: France triumphs despite Mauvaka madness and Lions squad shaping up
LONDON (AP) — France prevailed in the Six Nations and the standings didn't change on the final day in an anticlimactic end. Scotland was game but outgunned in Paris and France pulled away to win 35-16 on Saturday. It was France's second championship under Fabien Galthié, the coach since 2020. England was second, a point behind, after handing Wales in Cardiff its worst defeat — 68-14 — in the tournament's 142-year history. Wales' 17th straight loss in 17 months landed it with another low, consecutive wooden spoons for finishing last. England's 10-try romp ended Ireland's faint hopes of a historic third consecutive title. The Irish needed a Dan Sheehan hat trick to labor past Italy 22-17 in Rome. The top three teams all had 4-1 records, not seen in 10 years. France beat Ireland, which beat England, which beat France. Here's the AP's take on the final round. Champion France Dynasties are short-lived in the Six Nations era. England won three titles in four years that were capped by the 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph. France then won three in four over 2004-07 only to lose the plot at the 2007 World Cup to England in a Paris semifinal. Others since have won successive titles but were unable to sustain the run. Which made France coach Fabien Galthié pause when asked if the new champion was on the brink of something special. France joined 2001 England as the only teams to score more than 200 points, and became the first team to post 30 tries. Galthié warned about having to be humble because things can change very quickly. In international rugby, a week is a long time, let alone a year. But he acknowledged, 'We feel like we're causing problems. We got a taste of something during this competition that allowed us to unbalance defenses.' While a marauding pack was complemented by X-factor backs, France's gamble on extreme 7-1 reserve benches paid off in spades. After the shock of losing to England, France debuted the 7-1 against, in order, Italy, Ireland and Scotland, and overwhelmed them as the second pack of fresh forwards drained the legs of tiring opponents in the third quarter. The combined first half scores against the trio was 59-36. The second half was 91-31. Why, with trophies on the line, would France want to change? Mauvaka's mischief The silence from France coach Fabien Galthié about hooker Peato Mauvaka's headbutt contrasted starkly to his furious reaction and public blame on Ireland duo Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter for France superstar Antoine Dupont's ruptured ACL the previous weekend. The referee, TMO and, ultimately, Six Nations organizers agreed that Dupont's injury in a ruck clearout was accidental. But there was nothing accidental about Mauvaka's nastiness against Scotland's Ben White that earned him a yellow card and not a red. While both players lay on the ground, Mauvaka launched himself at White and headbutted him. It came after the whistle and was deliberate. He should have been sent off. But the yellow card was not upgraded by the bunker because 'the danger was not high.' Degree of force should not be a factor, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said. 'I don't know how it wasn't raised to a red card,' he added. Mauvaka escaped with a sin-bin and France escaped from playing the last hour of the title-clincher with 14 men. Crowley and Prendergast The debate in Ireland about whether Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley should be the starting flyhalf wasn't resolved by Crowley's performance against Italy. His first start since November was a mixed bag. He assisted in two tries though one was scrubbed by a knock-on, and kicked well out of hand but was only 25% off the kicking tee. Crowley, at 25, has three years on Prendergast and 16 more caps. After Jonathan Sexton's reign, both are still starting their test careers and Ireland hopes they will lead the team for at least a couple of World Cup cycles. But Crowley comes off contract after this season and is considering heading abroad, which would end his test career. He played every minute of the 2024 Six Nations triumph and started the July drawn series in South Africa. But his patchy form in a struggling Munster side was compounded by average displays in November against New Zealand and Argentina. Prendergast, driving an unbeaten Leinster, took over and started the next six tests and didn't lose until a week ago against France. He received a rising star award from the Six Nations this weekend but finished the tournament having missed the most tackles, 18. The debates goes on. Lions watch The AP's British and Irish Lions selection based on Six Nations form would start six Irish, four English, four Scotland backs and one Welsh. The squad to Australia isn't announced until May 8 and names will undoubtedly change. For instance, two-tour tighthead Tadgh Furlong made his first Ireland appearance on Saturday since July, and Scotland midfielder Sione Tuipulotu tore his pec in January and has an ambitious aim to return before May. The AP's team has only four players who have been Lions: Locks Maro Itoje and Tadhg Beirne, flanker Tom Curry and flyhalf Finn Russell. Itoje, Wales captain Jac Morgan and Scotland fullback Blair Kinghorn are the only home nations players to play every minute. Kinghorn's club commitments could clash with the Lions if Toulouse reaches another Top 14 final. Hooker Dan Sheehan was the leading try-scorer among forwards with five, the same as England wing Tommy Freeman. Tom Jordan, one of three New Zealand-born players, was the bolter after seamlessly fitting into the Scotland backline in place of Tuipulotu. Others to shine in the final round included Ireland wing Mack Hansen, Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie, and England openside Ben Curry — Tom's twin — and flyhalf Fin Smith in the romp in Cardiff.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Record-breaking France defeat Scotland to claim Six Nations title
France swept to the Six Nations title with a record-strewn 35-16 victory over Scotland on Saturday. The win put Les Bleus one point above England, whose 68-14 rout of Wales had sent the championship battle down to the wire. France claimed their seventh Six Nations trophy in a record-strewn 35-16 victory over Scotland on Saturday, shaking off their beautiful runners-up tag on a crisp evening at the Stade de France. Les Bleus matched England's number of titles since Italy joined the championship in 2000 and did so in style, scoring 30 tries in a pulsating campaign to make sure they would not end up runners-up for the fifth time in six years. Their only defeat came against England at Twickenham but Fabien Galthié's side put that 26-25 loss behind them by humiliating Italy before crushing Ireland despite losing their talismanic captain Antoine Dupont through injury. The hosts turned on the gas after the interval on Saturday, and prevailed through tries by Yoram Moefana (2), Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Thomas Ramos, who kicked the other points to become France's all-time record points scorer. Scotland competed and scored a try through Darcy Graham with Finn Russell kicking their other points. France, who gave Galthié his second title after the 2022 Six Nations since he took charge in 2020, finished on 21 points with England second in the standings. France started well. Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:France rugby captain Dupont faces 'new challenge' after serious knee injuryFrance beat Ireland 42- 27, becoming favourites for Six Nations title
