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France react to devastating exit from their own Rugby World Cup
By Ian Cameron
Devastated France coaches and players have been reacting to their heart-breaking quarter-final loss to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup.
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The Springboks beat the host 29-28, a solitary point separately the sides after a stunning game of rugby ground the country to a halt.
Fabien Gatlhie’s men were lost for words in the aftermath, with ‘sad’ being the operative word as the team struggled to come to terms with the enormity of the result.
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“We are very sad tonight. I think we gave everything to win that game,” said team manager Raphael Ibanez. “We knew it would be a very tight game and we had to score every opportunity. We had some good opportunities but unfortunately we couldn’t convert them into points.
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“We had our chances, they were pragmatic and sometimes we try and try our best with the support of the French fans. This is why we are sad tonight, we are sad for them. We have to get up and stand up and go for the next fight. We have other games coming, not in this World Cup, but we have to still believe in the team.”
Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert who became France’s starting ten following a pre-tournament injury for Romain Ntamack, was equally dumbfounded.
“It’s hard to know what to say. When you look at the match, I think there was plenty of room for improvement. It was a fine game of rugby between two fine teams who gave it their all.
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“There were moments when we could have scored in the second half and taken the lead.
“South Africa should also be congratulated for resisting our attacks and scoring when they had the chance. We’re disappointed and frustrated. When you see the atmosphere today, the support from all our supporters, we’re disappointed.
“We were in good shape physically, we managed to set up a fast-moving game, we had quite a lot of space but we weren’t able to capitalise. We made a lot of little mistakes, we were probably too hasty in trying to go too fast.
“They stuck to their plan, scoring three tries on the counter-attack in the first half, playing a lot of pressure games and feeding off our mistakes and the referee’s whistle to score at the right moment and with success.”
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“Every time we play at home, we have incredible support. What makes us even sadder is that we weren’t able to make them proud, to make them happy. For this group, it’s a lot of disappointment.”
I’m an SA supporter. France was amazing, all over us like a stylish blue suit. Their attack and power gigantic. I don’t know how we won that game, but we dug deep and left everything out there on the field and did.
I am a neutral and european, but i watch rugby games, read reports, study team lineups from contests all over the world nearly every weekend. I wouldn't say, i am an expert but I could "feel" this sport deep in its facettes.
My opinion is, that it's a massive difference, if you play for Toulouse against Leinster, or if you are in a world cup final. 16 players of that SAF- QF- squad are worldcup champions. All Blacks has some too. They transport the DNA to the younger players in their team and the next generation benefits from this experiences. A worldcup knockout match is an other level. A lot of supporters (and players) of France and Ireland dont want to admit this point. Not one player of France and Ireland played a WC-semifinale in the last 10 years. SAF and NZL together propably nearly 100.
Yesterday in the stadium I was nearly perfectly sure, SA will win this match. And if it will be only by one point (i expecred some more). Don't misunderstand me. France has very talented and amasing players, but I never lost that feeling, i watch a match between stormy boys and champions who ecxcectly know, what to do in every situation. Also the Day before i was in the stadium too and the only two irish players, I felt that winning aura were newzealanders. Sexton is in my opinion a massive overrated player. Lack pf humility is a key to success, he never found. Okay, thats past now. Yes, I love to watch european rugby and I am happy with it. But thats another contests than WC.
I'm not sure, if european dominate WC-2027. I heard it already 2019 and now 2023 very loud (too loud). The situation with the experience and the DNA will be the same. Maybe no coincidence, England is the only one european semifinale nation.
Maybe they should rename the northern hemisphere tournament The Six ‘Minor’ Nations?
The Lands of the chokers .... Northern hemisphere.
So much for from the Northern hemisphere over the last week 'experts' & these commen columns, quote, 'probable across the board Northern hemisphere semis in RWC'. What a JOKE.
Experts in choking... eternally. France the worst chokers almost every RWC.
Best Northern hemisphere offer? England, fluked it past an error ridden Fiji game.
Sanity & normality of rugby authority restored.
World Rugby board positions should similarly be appointed according to country team performance... ie World Rugby run by the knowledge, quality & performance of the Southern hemisphere.
Great weekend, apart from oh so close Fiji (good on you, next time).
Well played France. You gave us an incredible game of rugby with the Boks. It could have gone either way very easily. We aere lucky. Bad lick but very well played.
Sad days for France, but unfortunately some one has to go out in these games. Boks look impressive when its tight. Credit to them. Huge semi’s coming up.