Liga J2 : l’Atlético Madrid accroché par Villarreal

L’Atlético Madrid a été tenu en échec par Villarreal (2-2) ce dimanche, au terme d’un match à rebondissements au Metropolitano.

Après une première période fermée, les Madrilènes ont pris l’avantage peu après l’heure de jeu grâce à Marc Pubill. Villarreal a cependant inversé la tendance en quelques minutes, avec deux penalties convertis par Gerard Moreno puis Georges Mikautadze.

Réduit à dix après l’expulsion de Robin Le Normand, l’Atlético semblait proche de concéder une nouvelle défaite. Mais les Colchoneros ont trouvé les ressources pour revenir au score grâce à Giuliano Simeone à la 85e minute. capturengo.org

Malgré une fin de rencontre sous tension, plus aucun but n’a été inscrit. L’Atlético doit donc se contenter d’un point à domicile, tandis que Villarreal repart de Madrid avec un résultat encourageant.

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The New Zealand anthem stirred something in Richie Mo’unga at Ellis Park on Saturday, three days before his long-awaited All Blacks comeback at the same venue. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.

Early last year, Mo’unga was sitting in Japan watching the Six Nations on TV when it struck him how much he wanted to play again for the All Blacks.

On Tuesday, for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final, he will do so against the Lions at Ellis Park.

Mo’unga watched the All Blacks’ win against the Springboks from the stands on Saturday, and listening to the New Zealand national anthem before kickoff reaffirmed why he had returned.

“There was that moment where I thought, this is why I wanted to come back, that feeling of adding to the legacy, and that feeling of testing yourself against the best in the world.”

MORE: DMac ready for Boks to return blows

That desire to return had taken hold during his stint with the Toshiba Brave Lupus.

“I was sitting in Japan and thinking, why not? Watching the Six Nations and just understanding there’s no better feeling than being in the arena. Rugby in Japan is a lot different to that.

“There’s a lot of beautiful things about rugby in Japan, but when you’re watching Test matches over in Europe and watching your mates play, you don’t get that feeling.

“One reason for coming back was I didn’t want to have any regrets, I didn’t want to think, ‘I wish I’d given it another crack.’”

TEAM: Richie at 10 as All Blacks aim for SA sweep

Reflecting on Sunday how the All Blacks the camp had changed in his three years away, the 56-cap playmaker said, “There are a few changes, but the main one is some of the faces. I’ve met some of my teammates for the first time on this tour, so that’s a different dynamic that I’m used to.

“But there’s an awesome buzz within this group. The leaders are doing a really awesome job leading this team, and you’ve got guys just ready to go, ready to put their hand up.”

Mo’unga believes he’s a better player for his time abroad.

“Japan gave me a lot of perspective, a lot of different experiences I hadn’t had in New Zealand, and you just don’t get that in terms of the game itself.

“I’ve had to lead from a different angle: lead as a player, but also as a coach in Japan. And I’ve grown so much as a person, as a father and as a husband, which has been pretty special the last couple of years.”

RENNIE: Boks will double down

He says he’s also older and wiser.

“Some of the boys have already mentioned it, but I’ve just come back really grateful. I knew I missed it, but coming back in, you realise this is a really special circle to be in. I’m savouring every moment and not taking these things for granted.”

Naturally, his rivalry with teammate Ruben Love for the No 10 jersey is a recurring theme, but Mo’unga welcomes the fresh dynamic.

“I’ve been so impressed with how he’s played this season, both as a Hurricane and as an All Black, and coming into this team, it’s not about trying to get back the 10 jersey, that’s not my role at this moment.

“My role is getting into the group, understanding how the team plays, meeting coaches for the first time, and helping out however I can, prepping the boys for an awesome Test yesterday.

“And now I’ve got the awesome opportunity to put on a jumper myself.”

OPINION: ‘Moneyball’ with a haka will worry Rassie

Photo: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images

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Ethan Blackadder quipped that he’s in competition with himself to grow an impressive handlebar moustache, but his real competition is to push hard for a Test spot. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.

Blackadder, sporting what one wag called a “lip caterpillar”, will start at openside flank against the Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday night, knowing that natural attrition, and form, could yet swing things his way.

“Rens [Dave Rennie] made it pretty clear that we’re not just filling in a game, we’re trying to play our best footy to push for a jersey. So yeah, the competition is well and truly there for that,” said the 14-cap loose forward.

TEAM: Richie at 10 as All Blacks aim for SA sweep

On whether he shares teammate Richie Mo’unga’s feeling of missing the environment when not involved, Blackadder was emphatic: “Yeah, absolutely. Watching the All Blacks last year and not being involved, you still feel like getting back out there and being in that environment. I think it’s similar for a lot of players in that position.”

He also spoke in general terms about playing SA opposition again, saying that the country’s teams had been missed since withdrawing from Super Rugby in 2020.

“It’s pretty awesome to play South African teams [on tour]. We’ve missed that for a long time.”

MORE: Richie relishing All Blacks return

After a thumb injury ended his season in 2025, Blackadder returned with the Crusaders this year and was again a regular starter, helping rebuild his case for higher honours.

He made 11 Super Rugby Pacific appearances during the season and his form earned him an All Blacks recall for the tour to South Africa, his first call-up since 2024, ending a lengthy absence from the national side.

His most recent Test appearance had also come in South Africa, at Ellis Park, making the return particularly significant.

RENNIE: Boks will double down

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

The post Bullish Blackadder chasing down a Test spot appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Le FC Barcelone fait ses débuts en Liga ce dimanche 23 août avec un déplacement sur la pelouse d’Elche, à l’occasion de la 2e journée du championnat espagnol. Après une préparation estivale prometteuse, les hommes de Hansi Flick vont tenter de lancer leur saison par une victoire et ainsi afficher rapidement leurs ambitions pour la défense de leur titre.

Face au champion d’Espagne, Elche compte profiter de l’avantage du terrain pour jouer crânement sa chance. Le Barça devra donc se méfier d’une équipe déterminée à réussir son entrée à domicile et à contrarier les plans catalans.

La rencontre se disputera au stade Martínez Valero avec un coup d’envoi fixé à 19h30, GMT.

En France, le match sera à suivre en direct sur DAZN et Disney+. Une première sortie officielle très attendue pour le FC Barcelone, qui cherchera à repartir d’Elche avec les trois points.

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All Blacks coach Dave Rennie expects the Springboks to stick to their set-piece and aerial approach for the second Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test in Cape Town on Saturday. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.

Fronting up to the media in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon, there was no triumphalism from Rennie.

“It’s important we don’t get carried away,” he said in the aftermath of his team’s emphatic win at Ellis Park. “We’ve almost had a reset.

“We’ll take a lot out of the game, though. I thought our leaders did a really good job of managing various situations. I thought we won a lot of key moments, both in defence and attack. We’ve learned a lot about ourselves, and I reckon we’ll be better this weekend, and I think South Africa will be too.”

RASSIE: Bok loss not catastrophic

Reflecting on his team’s apparent troubles in the scrum, Rennie conceded that it’s a complex part of the game, but “they certainly got the hit on us a couple of times”.

He said he spoke to Rassie Erasmus afterwards, the Bok coach admitting that losing both wings had put pressure on the team’s resources, necessitating several redeployments.

Speculating on how the Boks might respond in Cape Town, Rennie was unequivocal: “They’ll double down, probably feel they had the edge on us at scrum time. The aerial contest… they’re good in that area. They’ll double down and try to do it better.”

Asked if Saturday’s win was the most significant of his long career, Rennie thought about it for a second. “Yes,” he declared.

MORE: DMac ready for Boks to return blows

On team preparation this week, Rennie said: “We haven’t talked about it at all with the group that played yesterday. Everyone gathered when we named the team this morning [to face the Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday], our team had a quick preview and trained, and the rest of the guys did recovery.

“I’ve had a chat with the captains, and we’ve got a leadership meeting this afternoon where we’ll talk a little bit about what’s important this week, but there’s been no discussions yet with the players.”

TEAM: Richie at 10 as All Blacks aim for SA sweep

Turning to Tuesday’s match against the Lions, which will be Richie Mo’unga’s first for the All Blacks since the 2023 World Cup final, Rennie said the selection was keen to “give it a rip”.

Having campaigned long and hard for Mo’unga’s inclusion in the tour party, Rennie is excited to see him play.

“He’s been awesome. I told him we’d not consider him for the first Test … he had no expectation to start. He’s been phenomenal [in Japan]. His vision decision stuff is phenomenal. He and [flyhalf rival] Ruben Love work a lot together.

“Richie gets the chance [against the Lions] to put a bit of pressure on.”

OPINION: ‘Moneyball’ with a haka will worry Rassie

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

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