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France player ratings vs Springboks | Rugby World Cup 2023

Antoine Dupont of France looks dejected at full-time after their team's loss in the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between France and South Africa at Stade de France on October 15, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

France are out of the Rugby World Cup. The tournament hosts have crashed out of the event at the quarter-final stage after losing to reigning champions South Africa 28-29 at Stade de France.

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Playing in front of more than 79,450 people, Les Bleus struck first as prop Cyril Baille crashed over in just the third minute, but the Springboks were never out of the fight.

It was tense, exciting, chaotic and brilliant as a Handre Pollard penalty made it a one-point game in the Springboks’ favour with less than 10 minutes to play.

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While Les Bleus mounted a couple of meaningful attacks into the South African 22, their efforts were ultimately in vain as they fell to a heartbreaking defeat at home.

  1. Thomas Ramos – 6.5

Fullback Thomas Ramos didn’t make one tackle against and conceded two penalties. The sharp-shooter managed to hit the target with most of his goal kicks though as France engaged in a rugby battel for the ages. But much like some of his teammates, Ramos just seemed to go missing at times and that proved costly against a desperate Springboks outfit

  1. Damian Penaud – 6

There will be no record for tries in a single Rugby World Cup for wing Damian Penaud at this tournament. Penaud didn’t find the try line, in fact he didn’t come close, in what was clearly his quietest night at the World Cup. The wing looked threatening with the ball but it wasn’t the dream Test that either Penaud or France wanted.

  1. Gael Fickou – 5.5

Centre Gael Fickou showed moments of class against a red-hot Springboks outfit, but that’s all it was really: moments. While the stat sheet will read that Fickou ran for 50 metres, the midfielder went missing far too much. That’s a price you can’t afford to pay when you’re lining up opposite a World Cup-winning duo of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel.

  1. Jonathan Danty – 5.5

Jonathan Danty looked threatening with the ball at times, but the centre wasn’t able to make the most of any headaches he caused. Danty averaged less than one metre per carry, and that includes some runs which saw the midfielder beat five defenders.

  1. Louis Bielle-Biarrey – 4

The life of a winger can be exciting, headline-grabbing and satisfying – and other times it’s the opposite. If the ball doesn’t come to your wing there’s not much a player can do, and that sums up Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s first-half. The speedster only ran the ball once for one metre during the opening 3 minutes and produced an ineffective clearance kick with his next touch.

While Bielle-Biarrey got the ball more times during the second term, it wasn’t anything to note really. It was a tough night for the left wing.

  1. Matthieu Jalibert – 7

With halfback Antoine Dupont back in the halves, fly-half Matthieu Jalibert took a back seat during a thrilling first half. Jalibert reeled in a clever Dupont chip kick early on, but that proved to be his only major involvement during that half.

Jalibert was better after the break, though, with the playmaker dancing around some defenders before sending teammate Charles Ollivon on a lengthy break. Things continued to improve for the pivot as France took control of the Test. Could’ve rated him anywhere between a 6.5 and 7.5.

  1. Antoine Dupont – 8

Reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Antoine Dupont was back in blue on Sunday night just three weeks after recovering from surgery after fracturing his cheekbone. Sporting black and white headgear, Dupont didn’t skip a beat against the defending Rugby World Cup champions.

Dupont looked cool, calm and collected back in the Test arena. The halfback kicked well, but was especially impressive on the back of his quick and clever passing game. Dupont sent teammate Peato Mauvaka over for a try midway through the first-half and was also lethal with his running game.

  1. Cyril Baille – 7

When Cyril Baille was replaced in the 50th minute, thousands of fans cheered as they gave the front-rower a much-deserved standing ovation. Baille scored the first try of the Test in just the fourth minute and completed a first-half double about 25 minutes later. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though, with the loosehead giving away a scrum penalty just before the half-time break.

  1. Peato Mauvaka – 8.5

Along with captain Antoine Dupont, hooker Peato Mauvaka was clearly one of France’s best players on the night. Mauvaka was perfect at the set-piece from about 11 throws, ran the ball with purpose, and scored a try as well. In the end, Mauvaka finished with an incredible 77 running metres from 13 carries, made two line breaks and beat five defenders.

  1. Uini Atonio – 5

Prop Uini Atonio had an uncharacteristically quiet night against the Springboks. While fellow front-rowers Baille and Mauvaka hit their stride, New Zealand-born Atonio seemed to go missing for extended periods. The French enforcer averaged about one metre per carry and missed one of his three tackle attempts. South Africa also controlled the scrum battle during the first term.

  1. Cameron Woki – 7.5

The success or failure of France’s lineout, it seems, rests on the shoulders of one man, and that man in Cameron Woki. Woki was the go-to man at the set-piece on eight occasions, which follows on from a similar showing last week against the Italians in Lyon.

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Woki defended well as the towering lock made all four of his tackle attempts, fought hard for much-needed metres – but what was especially impressive was his work rate as Woki appeared to be in the thick of pretty well everything.

  1. Thibaud Flament – 6

It was a mixed night for Thibaud Flament with the lock staring in defence but failing to fire on the other side of the ball. Flament only ran the ball once during the first half, and that didn’t change in his 10 minutes on the field during the second term.

But Flament was solid defensively – finishing with 100 per cent tackle completion from eight attempts. The second-rower had made the most tackles out of any French player when he was replaced in the 50th minute.

Points Flow Chart

South Africa win +1
Time in lead
32
Mins in lead
25
40%
% Of Game In Lead
31%
56%
Possession Last 10 min
44%
3
Points Last 10 min
0

  1. Anthony Jelonch – 7

Blindside flanker Anthony Jelonch received a deafening cheer from the Parisian crowd as he made his way off the field early in the second-half. Jelonch had put in a massive shift at Stade de France and the crowd, clearly, appreciated the flanker’s efforts.

When Jelonch let the field, the 27-year-old had run the ball 10 times for 17 metres, beaten one defender, and impressed on the defensive side of the ball with seven completed tackles from nine attempts.

  1. Charles Ollivon – 7

Behind lock Cameron Woki, flanker Charles Ollivon was the backup option at the lineout with the backrower targeted twice at the set-piece. Ollivon worked hard around the field too as he ran for more than 50 metres from 12 carries, and held his own in defence with nine tackles from 10 attempts.

  1. Gregory Alldritt – 7.5

With the Test in the balance, world-class Number Eight Gregory Alldritt made his way off the field with just over 10 minutes to play. Alldritt ad put in some serious work against a talented French outfit. The backrower carried the ball 13 times for more than 40 metres, beating two defenders and he completed all nine of his tackle attempts.

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Replacements:

  1. Pierre Bourgarit – 5
  2. Reda Wardi – 6.5
  3. Dorian Aldegheri – 5.5
  4. Romain Taofifenua – 5.5
  5. Francois Cros – 6.5
  6. Sekou Macalou – 5.5
  7. Maxime Lucu – N/A
  8. Yoram Moefana – N/A
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Comments

25 Comments
J
JoNo 434 days ago

Don’t get these ratings - I am Bok supporter and the French beat the Boks in every aspect but the scoreboard. As the euphoria of the win rubs off, it’s clear the French team exposed the Boks, they had a very similar game plan to the ABs Mt. Smarts game (chipping over the rush D and targeting our Tight head/pillar defender). This time though the Boks won……. due to some “deep-digging” by the boys on the field and credit to them for that. The ratings indicate that France was blown off the pitch - that was not the case. To France - chin up you played well, very well, and hosted/ing a great world cup. Can’t see a lot of things, or something glaringly obvious, that France could’ve done better on/in. Rugby Pass please, call it properly…. The players deserve better than this.

B
B.J. Spratt 434 days ago

William, World Rugby is a “bent as a three dollar note” Google Bernard Laport, Billy Beaumont’s running mate for the Chairman of World Rugby Position. Laporte is/was “convicted of accepting 180,000 Euros from the Owner of ALTRAD to get the “Front of Jersey rights for the French Jersey. . .

W
William 434 days ago

Not sure which game you watched … this French team was magnificent. Recall that this Bok team thrashed the ABs not so long ago and were about to take the game away from the Irish three weeks ago before the ref ‘was unable to see the ball coming out of the maul…’ Of course, if you say the hosts were fantastic, then you’d have to admit that the Boks were better than fantastic, wouldn’t you … and being that this site is owned by World Rugby and it is becoming apparent that SA are the ‘black sheep’ of the flock, maybe the editorial position on the Boks is … biased? Or you’re actually Ben Smith earning two salaries. Anyway - these French players deserved better ratings.

J
Just another Pod 434 days ago

These ratings are not for the same French team I just watched. They were magnificent and deserve 8s and 9s

Utter tosh whoever wrote this article. Shame on you

B
Brad 434 days ago

These ratings are utter bogus. It was a one point game, if our guys deserved 8s and 9s then so did their guys.

N
NJ 434 days ago

How did we win? We played the moment, have to feel for france, they would dismantled most teams with a performance like that. epic

m
mjp89 434 days ago

You guys need to learn that a team of players can put in an 8/10 performance and still lose.

B
Bob Marler 434 days ago

Harsh. France were immense tonight.

C
Christo 434 days ago

French TF1 TV commentators making excuses for everything now, blaming the ref etc instead of celebrating a wonderful rugby match…..typical

A
Ace 434 days ago

These ratings are really pointless. But, hey, clickbait!

Congratulations and thank you to a magnificent French team. It was one point in 57. This was truly classic test match, one for the purists, to savour and enjoy in the days and years to come. Respect to a gallant French team.

I’m just glad to be on the right side of that one point.

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T
Tom 1 hour ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiistol! Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiistol! Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiistol!


It's incredible to see the boys playing like this. Back to the form that saw them finish on top of the regular season and beat Toulon to win the challenge cup. Ibitoye and Ravouvou doing a cracking Piutau/Radradra impression.


It's abundantly clear that Borthwick and Wigglesworth need to transform the England attack and incorporate some of the Bears way. Unfortunately until the Bears are competing in Europe, the old criticisms will still be used.. we failed to fire any punches against La Rochelle and Leinster which goes to show there is still work to do but both those sides are packed full of elite players so it's not the fairest comparison to expect Bristol to compete with them. I feel Bristol are on the way up though and the best is yet to come. Tom Jordan next year is going to be obscene.


Test rugby is obviously a different beast and does Borthwick have enough time with the players to develop the level of skill the Bears plays have? Even if he wanted to? We should definitely be able to see some progress, Scotland have certainly managed it. England aren't going to start throwing the ball around like that but England's attack looks prehistoric by comparison, I hope they take some inspiration from the clarity and freedom of expression shown by the Bears (and Scotland - who keep beating us, by the way!). Bristol have the best attack in the premiership, it'd be mad for England to ignore it because it doesn't fit with the Borthwick and Wigglesworth idea of how test rugby should be played. You gotta use what is available to you. Sadly I think England will try reluctantly to incorporate some of these ideas and end up even more confused and lacking identity than ever. At the moment England have two teams, they have 14 players and Marcus Smith. Marcus sticks out as a sore thumb in a team coached to play in a manner ideologically opposed to the way he plays rugby, does the Bears factor confuse matters further? I just have no confidence in Borthers and Wiggles.


Crazy to see the Prem with more ball in play than SR!

1 Go to comments
J
JW 5 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

In another recent article I tried to argue for a few key concept changes for EPCR which I think could light the game up in the North.


First, I can't remember who pointed out the obvious elephant in the room (a SA'n poster?), it's a terrible time to play rugby in the NH, and especially your pinnacle tournament. It's been terrible watching with seemingly all the games I wanted to watch being in the dark, hardly able to see what was going on. The Aviva was the only stadium I saw that had lights that could handle the miserable rain. If the global appeal is there, they could do a lot better having day games.


They other primary idea I thuoght would benefit EPCR most, was more content. The Prem could do with it and the Top14 could do with something more important than their own league, so they aren't under so much pressure to sell games. The quality over quantity approach.


Trim it down to two 16 team EPCR competitions, and introduce a third for playing amongst the T2 sides, or the bottom clubs in each league should simply be working on being better during the EPCR.


Champions Cup is made up of league best 15 teams, + 1, the Challenge Cup winner. Without a reason not to, I'd distribute it evenly based on each leauge, dividing into thirds and rounded up, 6 URC 5 Top14 4 English. Each winner (all four) is #1 rank and I'd have a seeding round or two for the other 12 to determine their own brackets for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. I'd then hold a 6 game pool, home and away, with consecutive of each for those games that involve SA'n teams. Preferrably I'd have a regional thing were all SA'n teams were in the same pool but that's a bit complex for this simple idea.


That pool round further finalises the seeding for knockout round of 16. So #1 pool has essentially duked it out for finals seeding already (better venue planning), and to see who they go up against 16, 15,etc etc. Actually I think I might prefer a single pool round for seeding, and introduce the home and away for Ro16, quarters, and semis (stuffs up venue hire). General idea to produce the most competitive matches possible until the random knockout phase, and fix the random lottery of which two teams get ranked higher after pool play, and also keep the system identical for the Challenge Cup so everthing is succinct. Top T2 side promoted from last year to make 16 in Challenge Cup

207 Go to comments
J
JW 10 hours ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I had a look at the wiki article again, it's all terribly old data (not that I'd see reason for much change in the case of SA).

Number Of Clubs:

1526

Registered+Unregistered Players:

651146

Number of Referees:

3460

Pre-teen Male Players:

320842

Pre-teen Female Player:

4522

Teen Male Player:

199213

Teen Female Player:

4906

Senior Male Player:

113174

Senior Female Player:

8489

Total Male Player:

633229

Total Female Player:

17917


So looking for something new as were more concerned with adults specifically, so I had a look at their EOY Financial Review.

The total number of clubs remains consistent, with a marginal increase of 1% from 1,161 to 1,167. 8.1.

A comparative analysis of verified data for 2022 and 2023 highlights a marginal decline of 1% in the number of female players, declining from 6,801 to 6,723. Additionally, the total number of players demonstrates an 8% decrease, dropping from 96,172 to 88,828.

So 80k+ adult males (down from 113k), but I'm not really sure when youth are involved with SAn clubs, or if that data is for some reason not being referenced/included. 300k male students however (200k in old wiki data).


https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugby/document/2020/07/28/212ed9cf-cd61-4fa3-b9d4-9f0d5fb61116/P56-57-Participation-Map_v3.pdf has France at 250k registered but https://presse-europe1-fr.translate.goog/exclu-europe-1-le-top-10-des-sports-les-plus-pratiques-en-france-en-2022/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp has them back up at 300k registered.


The French number likely Students + Club, but everyone collects data different I reckon. In that WR pdf for instance a lot of the major nations have a heavily registered setup, were as a nation like England can penetrate into a lot more schools to run camps and include them in the reach of rugby. For instance the SARU release says only 29% of schools are reached by proper rugby programs, where as the 2million English number would be through a much much higer penetration I'd imagine. Which is thanks to schools having the ability to involve themselves in programs more than anything.


In any case, I don't think you need to be concerned with the numbers, whether they are 300 or 88k, there is obviously a big enough following for their pro scenes already to have enough quality players for a 10/12 team competition. They appear ibgger than France but I don't really by the lower English numbers going around.

207 Go to comments
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