At the Stade de France,
To live happily, let’s live in denial. Let’s find refuge in a world with ifs. What if the French XV had killed off the match against South Africa in the first half? What if Ben O’Keeffe and his clique had kicked Eben Etzebeth off the pitch once and for all after his headbutt on Unui Atonio, if only to balance karma, 28 years after Mandela’s World Cup? The referee of the match would have benefited from listening to the poignant testimony of Philippe Saint-André among his RMC colleagues on the hopes stolen from the French team in 1995. He would have had a soft heart and an easy whistle. in favor of the Blues, those capable of swinging these matches which are played to one point – any resemblance with France-Springboks is fortuitous, or not. In short, the Blues were playing at home with the public but without the refereeing included in the World Cup home pack.
Antoine Dupont, who appeared furious at a post-defeat press conference, did not digest the elbow in his face and the clearing of Pieter-Steph du Toit on Jonathan Danty, who showed his cockard in the mixed zone: “There has a lot of frustration. There are clear and obvious things, easy to point out that have not been pointed out. I don’t want to be the bitter person who complains about the arbitration because he lost, but I’m not sure that the arbitration was up to the challenge. That takes nothing away from the South Africans who had a great match. » A little earlier, and while the question of refereeing had not yet been asked, Fabien Galthié spoke of his own initiative about the pass cut by Etzebeth while the Blues were five meters from the South African line. “When we lead 7-0 and when Etzebeth cuts the trajectory of the ball, it’s a very strong moment for us… Instead of scoring 12 or 14 points it makes 7-7…” Peato Mauvaka highlights these rucks where the South -Africans “entered the sides or did not come out of the tackle… We would have thought we would have several penalties for us, that was not the case. It’s hard, it’s frustrating. »
After spitting out our bile, nothing stops us from showing a little honesty. The stolen dream of the Blues is less a stolen dream than a scuttled one. The French coach did not fail to point out that it was a “one-point defeat”. And the French had plenty of opportunities to score a point. Small list of key moments and other details which cost the French XV the defeat in order of importance.
The non-pass of Gaël Fickou who crunches the match sheet
The XV of France makes the perfect start. Cyril Baille’s try, converted by Thomas Ramos, allows the host country to lead 7-0 after just four minutes of play. An All Blacks-style start that the Blues could and should have pushed further, if Gaël Fickou had not crunched the scoresheet on the left side in a two-on-one situation with Bielle-Barrey in support, stuck to the line and which would only have had to flatten. In this scenario, the Galthié gang leads “12 or 14-0” and the debate on Etzebeth’s pass does not exist.
Number of points lost: at least five
Kolbe’s pressure on Thomas Ramos
Without a doubt the most controversial action of the match. Already, because it is worth two points, that is to say exactly what is needed to reverse the course of history. Then, because the lack of images is suspicious and refers to a statement by Jonathan Danty in the mixed zone on the overall analysis of the TMO during the meeting. “In the (video) booths, we see decisions on the screen where the images are cut just when we are going to see the action.”
If the rules of the game authorize Cheslin Kolbe to climb on the shooter at the moment when he triggers his run-up, the rare images available show that the former Toulouse player somewhat anticipated the first movement of the French back. In the mixed zone, the little trickster pleads not guilty, but without much certainty. “Having played with Thomas for six years helps, I know a little about his way of shooting so I gave it a try. I was hoping the ref wouldn’t check the video, but I was pretty sure I was in a regular position. »
Number of points lost: two
Poorly negotiated aerial balloons
Among the rare tactical analyzes by Fabien Galthié, who asked to review this “extremely busy” match before debriefing it, the coach could not miss the gift points offered on aerial phases poorly negotiated by his players. Gaël Fickou, both shy and unfortunate on the reception of a high play from Libbok, then, ten minutes later, Cameron Woki on a ball from the Springbok opener, cost France two tries. “They have optimized the high-footed game which brings them 2-3 highlights,” explains Galthié. This is an area that we had also prepared for, but they were more effective in it. » Two attempts given is a lot.
Number of points lost: 12 (one try converted, the other not)
Not having scored on a power play
Next subject of the philosophy baccalaureate: obtaining a numerical superiority just before half-time, is it really a gift? Was the passage to the Etzebeth bunker, from the 39th to the 49th between the first and second periods, better digested by the Boks under the effect of the break? The Blues knew they had to score a try from the restart, in vain. “Yes, we knew that the French were going to put us in difficulty, in the rucks in particular,” analyzes captain Siya Kolisi. We knew we had to be strong because it was already hard to stop them at 15, so at 14… I’m proud of the character we showed. »
Number of points lost: none, but five points won was a minimum
The Dupont sausage that costs a try
It’s not easy to touch the legend, especially when she literally gave her body to the homeland to play the match of her life. But, all Antoine Dupont that he is and despite strokes of genius praised by the opponent, the French 9 suffered like everyone else against the rush defense of the Springboks. Thus, hampered by an excellent climb from Reinach, Toto will deliver a Toulouse sausage to Baille, who will not manage to straighten it enough to prevent the inevitable: the service for Kolbe on the outside, which will suck Penaud to conclude.
Number of points lost: 7 (transformed try)
Total
Number of offensive points missed: 7 to 9
Number of points conceded due to unforced errors: 19