Le sélectionneur de l'équipe de France a choisi de faire confiance à l'ailier Virimi Vakatawa pour le match d'ouverture du tournoi des VI Nations face à l'Italie samedi après-midi. Find out more about a star of both sevens and 15s, Virimi Vakatawa in action for France in the Six Nations (Getty Images), Who is Virimi Vakatawa: Ten things you should know about the France centre, Virimi Vakatawa made his debut for France against Italy in the 2016 Six Nations and marked the occasion with a try. Former Wales international Jamie Roberts was surprised at Vakatawa’s skill levels when he played alongside him at Racing. For me it’s simple, I just give the ball to Virimi. He won his first 17 Test caps as a winger and his next ten as a centre. Virimi Vakatawa (FRA) joue actuellement en France - Top 14 avec Racing 92. Racing are the only professional club Vakatawa has played for, although he has had two stints there – either side of a spell when he was contracted to the France sevens squad (2013-16). 3. The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Since he returned to the game of XVs four years ago from Sevens, Virimi Vakatawa has rarely been anything less than phenomenal for either Racing 92 or his adopted country of France. >> SPECIAL OFFER: Subscribe to Rugby World magazine and get five issues for just £5/$5/€5. His footwork and his lines. Check out his profile now. Usually, as the years pass, defences find a way to handle even the most dangerous of attacking threats. Rugby : Virimi Vakatawa, des îles aux ailes L'ailier tricolore, débarqué des Fidji à 18 ans, a connu des difficultés avec le Racing avant d'éclore grâce aux Bleus du rugby à VII. Racing’s Teddy Thomas pulled off a brilliant offload to release Vakatawa, but Toulon’s Gabin Villiere tackled him in the in-goal area to dislodge the ball and deny him a try. Born in New Zealand and educated in Fiji, Vakatawa was 18 when he arrived in the French capital on the recommendation of former Racing and Fiji player Sireli Bobo, scoring on his European debut for Racing in 2011 against Leinster. "The more we have played together and trained together, the more the relationship has grown. Vakatawa's stint on the Sevens circuit with France from 2014 to 2016, after qualifying to play for his adopted country through residency, proved to be transformational. Back in the mix pic.twitter.com/vozwgSKYtk, — Virimi Vakatawa (@vvakatawa) March 9, 2021. Virimi Vakatawa est percuté par Gabin Villière alors qu’il n’avait plus qu’à aplatir LP/Icon Sport/Anthony Dibon Par D.C Le 17 janvier 2021 à 22h08 , modifié le 17 janvier 2021 à 23h16 He stands at 6ft 2in (1.87m) and weighs 15st 6lb (99kg). Les statistiques de Virimi Vakatawa, de sa carrière et les vidéos de ses actions peuvent être disponibles sur SofaScore pour certains matches de Virimi Vakatawa et de Racing 92. In this season's Champions Cup, the France centre has beaten 48 defenders so far. If I can’t think of what I’m trying to say he’ll translate and maybe get my point across. Comme face à l'Irlande, Virimi Vakatawa a affiché tous ses manques avec le XV de France contre l'Ecosse, quand Teddy Thomas a encore été le principal danger … Russell and Vakatawa have built an impressive rapport since the Scotland No 10 arrived in Paris back in 2018. Players who are capable of changing the course of a match by themselves are rare. "Virimi is a bloody phenomenon; currently the best centre in the world, I think," believes Racing 92's former assistant coach Chris Masoe, a former team-mate of Vakatawa… Vainqueurs 30 à 10 et portés par un impressionnant Virimi Vakatawa, les He moved to France in 2010 to join Racing 92 and qualified to represent les Bleus on residency, playing first for the sevens team in 2013 and then making his 15s debut in 2016. He promised his mother shortly before she died that he would be part of France’s 2019 World Cup squad – and kept that promise. On top of that, Vakatawa has produced more clean breaks - 16 - than any other player in Europe this season. Virimi Vakatawa célèbrera samedi sa première sélection avec le XV de France, face à l’Italie. A la suite d’un choc avec Virimi Vakatawa, le jeune ailier de l’ASM Clermont a été victime d’un K.O. When analysing Vakatawa in Rugby World‘s March 2021 edition, Sean Holley said: “The sevens game requires pace and physical fitness, but it’s also the breeding ground for ball skills, footwork and exploiting space. Virimi Contre l'Italie, samedi dernier, Virimi Vakatawa a crevé l'écran lors de sa première sélection avec les Bleus, avec un essai et une prestation remarquable. C’est en anglais que Virimi Vakatawa a réagi à sa prochaine titularisation au sein du XV de France, sur son compte Instagram. 7. Virimi Vakatawa est souvent désigné par ses pairs comme le meilleur trois-quarts centre du monde. It’s brilliant to see how far he has come.”. Auteur d'un essai et appliqué dans le jeu, la star du rugby à VII a déjà séduit. You can download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door. Here are a few more facts about the star centre…. Vakatawa has been described as France’s answer to New Zealand star Sonny Bill Williams, who also played sevens and 15s as well as being a master of the offload. Virimi Vakatawa made his debut for France against Italy in the 2016 Six Nations and marked the occasion with a try. He was the top try-scorer in the 2018-19 Top 14 season, touching down 13 times, and he was a European Player of the Year nominee in 2020, an award that went to Exeter’s Sam Simmonds. “Vakatawa’s ability to step defenders, often multiple times in one sequence, made him a star in that format, coupled with an insatiable appetite to offload and a physicality that enables him to break tackles, make big hits and fend off would-be tacklers. He was young at the time and here he is now, for me one of the world’s best players. He’s a good guy off the field, he gets on with everyone. ÉCLAIRAGE - Pour sa première à la tête du XV de France, Guy Novès a fait confiance à Virimi Vakatawa. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Virimi Vakatawa (28 ans, 27 sélections) souffre d’une distorsion du ligament interne, révélée par une IRM passée lundi matin. Pour le grand retour de la Champions Cup, le Racing 92 a frappé un grand coup en faisant tomber le champion d’Europe en titre, les Saracens. Parce qu’il y a Virimi Vakatawa Né en Nouvelle-Zélande, de nationalité fidjienne, Virimi Vakatawa a débarqué au Racing 92 en 2011. Please review our, You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. 6. terrible. Yes, I think he's currently the best centre in the world.". He adds so much to the spirit of the team. Whether it’s a chip over the top, like the semi-final, or a miss-pass; he backs me to put it in the right place if he gets into the right place. Find a way to contain Vakatawa, and Exeter will be halfway to victory. Virimi VAKATAWA of France celebrates his try during the RBS Six Nations match between France and Ireland at Stade de France on October 31, 2020 in Paris, France. Russell said this week of their connection: "It happened quite quickly and naturally. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. We get on really well off the field and have a laugh but then we both understand each other well on the field. A noter, les retours de Romain Ntamack et de Virimi Vakatawa, alors que Louis Carbonel et Arthur Vincent sont absents. "He’s not bad is he?! He speaks French and English which helps me. Étiquette : Virimi Vakatawa Aviron Bayonnais-Racing 92 13 août 2017 Deuxième et dernier match de préparation pour l'Aviron Bayonnais qui affrontait le Racing 92, vendredi soir à Jean Dauger. It was Vakatawa's combination with Finn Russell that produced the match-winning try for Racing against Saracens in the semi-final, with the rapid 6ft 2in, 15.5st Vakatawa scorching his way onto a chip-kick from Russell to open up Saracens' defence in the build-up to Juan Imhoff's try. Virimi Vakatawa a manqué un essai tout fait en première période contre Toulon, lequel aurait peut-être permis au Racing 92 d’éviter une défaite dimanche (23-29). Virimi Vakatawa n'avait plus été appelé en bleu depuis 2018. The moment @racing92 clinched their place in the @ChampionsCup final Finn Russell showing his class once again #HeinekenChampionsCuppic.twitter.com/mwn3v4i0QY. Enjoy the luxury of home delivery and never miss an issue <<. Here are a few more facts about the star centre… Ten things you should know about Virimi Vakatawa 1. Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Le joueur de 19 ans, pris en charge par les services de secours de la Croix Rouge, a ensuite été évacué vers l’hôpital Beaujon à Clichy It’s easy. Vakatawa played so well for the Sevens side that Guy Noves selected him to make his Test debut for France at a time when Vakatawa was not actually attached to a XVs club. After stellar seasons in … He made his first Test appearance in 18 months in a RWC 2019 warm-up against Italy and played three matches at the tournament itself, scoring two tries. 2. Virimi Vakatawa was born on 1 May 1992 in Rangiora, New Zealand, and was then raised in Fiji. We know if we get the ball to him there’s a high chance that he’ll be able to create something or threaten a defence so much that they’ll have to do something different to stop him.". He's also flawless off the field: he is calm, humble and hard-working. Rugby XV de France : Virimi Vakatawa, l’atout offensif des Bleus Titulaire indiscutable en équipe de France, le centre Virimi Vakatawa continue d’impressionner par ses capacités offensives. Racing's backline is now arguably the most dangerous on the continent, with Vakatawa their sharpest weapon, having successfully converted from wing to outside centre over the past two years with barely a blip. Yet back in those formative years he made nowhere near the impact we have become accustomed to seeing in recent times. No-one else has managed more than 29. The team finished seventh overall. Vakatawa had an embarrassing moment in a match between Racing and Toulon in January 2021. 9. 8. "When he plays well, the team plays well. "Virimi is a bloody phenomenon; currently the best centre in the world, I think," believes Racing 92's former assistant coach Chris Masoe, a former team-mate of Vakatawa's. 4.Vakatawa represented France in the sevens competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics. A full list of contents for the record breakers issue, which features Dan Carter, Alun Wyn Jones and Rocky Clark, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, LATEST RUGBY WORLD MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION DEALS. Can’t get to the shops? Moreover, few have had the ability to transcend both codes by effortlessly exploiting the aforementioned skill-set in the sport’s mother format.”. Originally from Naluwai, Naitasiri, Fiji. 10. “We’d be doing backs unit sessions and this guy would be just making us all look like idiots. Champagne Rugby! Retrouvez les résumés de tous les matchs du Top 14 Samuel Ezeala gardera un mauvais souvenir de sa première en Top 14. He has since scored eight tries in 23 starts for his country. Virimi Vakatawa is not an easy man to stop , Pace ✅Power ✅Footwork ✅Finisher ✅@FranceRugby #RWC2019 #FRAvTGA pic.twitter.com/MhJ9h1F0lV, — Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 7, 2019. It was reported in 2020 that Premiership club Gloucester had made a ‘colossal offer’ to sign Vakatawa but they were left disappointed as he agreed a new deal with Racing. Pourtant, le maillot bleu, ce puissant ailier fidjien le connaît. He has it all. No-one else has managed more than 29. 1. Après l'affaire du cluster au tour du XV de France, place au rugby. “Not many players have made the transition from sevens to 15s as successfully as Vakatawa. The versatile player is comfortable on the wing and in the centre positions. That has not been the case with Vakatawa in this season's Champions Cup, with the France centre beating 48 defenders so far in the competition. Leur mascotte est en tout cas déjà prête pour le combat ! One of World Rugby's most damaging backs, Racing 92 and French centre Virimi Vakatawa. He told the Rugby Pass Offload podcast: “I remember Virimi Vakatawa being this academy kid who dropped into training and carved everyone up. Découvrez ce diaporama et partagez-le à vos amis Avant peut-être un adversaire plus coriace : l'Australie. Find out more, Virimi Vakatawa is one of Racing 92's main strike weapons, Elliot Daly shines at outside centre as Saracens lay down gauntlet with comfortable win over Ealing, Joe Launchbury's knee injury mars Wasps' late win over Bath, England coach Simon Middleton calls for more free-to-air coverage after Six Nations triumph, Danny Care calls for Marcus Smith to get England No 10 jersey after star turn against London Irish, Rugby sense must prevail to resolve fractious stand-off over Lions call-ups, Sale survive scare after Worcester scrum-half Francois Hougaard scores hat-trick. 5.