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Gutted Matthieu Jalibert says South Africa fed off the referee's whistle
By PA
Devastated Matthieu Jalibert admitted France’s World Cup elimination on home soil was “hard to accept”.
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Les Bleus went into the tournament with high hopes of winning it for the first time, having established themselves as one of the world’s top sides in the years leading up to it.
The fact they had not lost for two and a half years on French soil further added to the belief that this might finally be their year.
But they were left disconsolate at full-time on Sunday evening after South Africa edged a thrilling contest 29-28 to end Les Bleus’ 18-match winning run at home and kill off their dreams of glory.
“Every time we play at home, we have incredible support,” said stand-off Jalibert.
“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.
“We could try to find something positive by saying that we have a lot of young players, a fine generation.
“But the reality is that we failed to get out of the quarter-finals of a home World Cup. That’s going to be hard to accept.”
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Jalibert offered praise to South Africa for the way they dug out victory from a pulsating Stade de France encounter that could easily have gone either way.
“It’s hard to know what to say,” he said.
“It was a fine game of rugby between two fine teams who gave it their all.
“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, the support from all our supporters, we’re disappointed.
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“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.”
Everyone forgets that game on the 12th of November 2022 when the Boks lost 30-26. I would say the French got the rub of the green. No complaining from the SA players. There were decisions that went both ways in the game this weekend
I’ve watched the game again, and there were multiple contentious decisions on both sides. Nothing out of the ordinary.
The notion, that a ref would whistle against the French in France is preposterous.
They are a magnificent rugby team (as they’ve shown in the match), but this pointless whinging undermines their reputation.
Perhaps you should have scored one point more, Matthieu. Perhaps you shouldn’t have utterly shanked the touch finder. Perhaps you should first search for error in yourself, not in others.
The French, paid for their usual tempts at ‘flamboyancy’ (ie in other boring words… lacking technical correctness & therefore risking failure) & suffered the result. Sooo many French errors and sloppy (‘flamboyant’) plays.
Those whinging about ref calls (surprise, surprise the losers) should review the video & the rules. Kiwi Ben O’Keeffe was near perfect & to the letter of the law; oh so amazing given the speed & near 50/50 of some of the the calls (eg but not only, knock-on calls NOTE ALL which were reviewed by Video& other refs while the game went on… argue with that/them). ACTUAL 50/50 incidents (VERY rare with video ref involved) are & should be always the call of the ref. O’Keeffe was NEAR PERFECT, eg not being sucked by Bok attempt to milk a penalty by halfback passing the ball into the off side F player … when it wasn't so blocked that he could have passed it slightly over or around him.
NOTE, O’Keeffe only NEAR PERFECT, as missed the obvious hand on the ruck (the other refs should be able to make this calls ie within 30sec of incidents).
Need perfection… the problem is you or your team.
In every rugby match there will be contentious desisions but at the end of the day the final score is all that counts.
Seriously everyone chill out. I saw one incident where probably Etzebeth knocked on. France go 14 up instead of 7-7….but you literally don't know what would have happened. SA could have suddenly been galvanized! That, as far as I saw it, is as much controversy as I could see tbh.
I really don't like this attacking of referees and their decisions post game. It's very very damaging to the sport.
Its safe to say Boks have three world cups credit to World Rugby and its Officials. Long shot if you would ask me. Losing a test match to Boks must hurt. The last time we played France we were 14 men. They won all facets of the game except the score. Its heartbreaking and cruel this game. Its sport. France will bounce back. They are a quality team. The will earn their final someday. Nigel take it easy mate. We all see the world differently. Its okay to disagree. Perhaps the mediocre NH teams will catch up. IN 150 years
And yet another article about the horrific refereeing that the pathetic, ignorant saffa rugby dunce little girls won’t read. Hilarious. Bottom line is that SA play England in the semis and should go through to the final.
Disheartened by these comments. They are a great team. They will win thus trophy the next time. Blame on the officials is fair enough…But thar’s not changing the result
DON'T SQUEAL!! - Dr Danie Craven
In 1979 or 1980, Doc Craven, that late, great doyen of South African Rugby, once addressed a Valedictory Assembly at one of the great rugby schools of its time - Queen' College.
His message came through. Don't squeal! Not on the rugby field. Not off the rugby field. When you are tackled, when you are hurt, when you lose, when you briefly lose your support - either on the field or off the field - Don't Squeal!"
Get up, put up! Play up! Bear the knocks with honour! Be a better man than those that knock you down.
Just don't squeal!
Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell are cast from the same mould. Squealers both! Squealing at the ref, squealing at the opposition, squealing when they lose; squealing when things don't go their own way.
Many a schoolboy (and these days a schoolgirl) could learn from these examples of what NOT to do!
Esse Quam Videri
To Be, Rather Than To Seem To Be
all teams have young players playing in the RWC or coming through their ranks. ABs have a production line of young players every year.