Eliminated from its World Cup by South Africa in the quarter-finals, the XV of France closed the chapter of its global adventure after five weeks of sporting exploits, hard knocks, and communion.
While the tears are just beginning to dry and regrets are still swirling in heads and hearts, it is already time to look back. Falling against South Africa in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup, Sunday October 15, the French XV came back to earth and saw their dream of a first coronation in front of their public go up in smoke in the sky of St Denis.
The French elimination marks the end of a five-week global adventure, fifteen if we count the preparation started at the beginning of July under the Monaco sun. A bitter end point, difficult to digest given the outcome and the great hopes that these Blues have harbored all this time, but which does not erase the successes and happiness experienced so far.
A strong start before accelerating again
However, the adventure began with a bang, on September 8, in the humidity and fury of the Stade de France, the gala setting for the opening match at the summit against the All Blacks. After the tension and tension, the Blues stepped up to take stock of the match. Irresistible, they inflicted the first setback in their history on the three-time world champions in the group stage and launched their tournament with a bang.
In the wake of this historic success, the Blues’ five weeks on the World Cup grounds were accompanied by numerous sporting successes. Carried by executives almost always at the level, at the heart of a storm of injuries, and great discoveries, like the young Louis Bielle-Biarrey, sWith his round face, his red helmet, his rocket tempo and his four tries, the Blues gradually built their course on the meadow.
After an unexpected and disputed fight against Uruguay, they moved into another dimension. Against Namibia, they achieved their biggest victory in the competition, with 96 points and 14 tries scored. With their backs to the wall, they negotiated without trembling the last group match against Italy, elevated to the rank of round of 16.
A group marked by adventure
The group lived well, on the field and in the locker rooms. Gathered together since the first Monday in July, they lived in small groups and hardly let go of each other for a little over three months. “We worked really well and did something great […] with the staff and players and the federation […] What we have just experienced is part of the writing of the French team’s book.”assured Fabien Galthié in the bowels of the Stade de France on Sunday evening.
From the Côte d’Azur to Paris via Scotland, Capbreton, Lille, Marseille and Lyon, they traced their route, guided by a lot of hope and an already visible popular enthusiasm. Until a first hard blow, in mid-August: the withdrawal of Romain Ntamack, victim of a ruptured cruciate ligament in Edinburgh. First grain of sand, of size, in the cogs of the superb blue machine. “We did everything we could to maximize our potential and we did it. We made do with the events that accompanied us these 15 weeks”also confided Fabien Galthié after the match against South Africa, he who was very moved by the injury of his fly-half.
Together from start to finish, the Blues stood together and faced the hazards and numerous injuries that continued: Jonathan Danty, Cyril Baille, Paul Willemse, in preparation, then Julien Marchand, released after only twelve minutes of play in this World Cup. And then the one that no one would have wanted to see falter, Antoine Dupont, victim after a nasty blow to the head against Namibia of a maxillo-zygomatic fracture. Without their captain and best player, on the sidelines for 24 days and forced to race against time to make his return for the final phase, they did not let themselves be destabilized and got through the end of the group stage with the same serenity.
To support them, the Blues were able to count on enthusiastic French supporters. “It was a great World Cup, we had a great time with the public”, admitted Jonathan Danty on Sunday evening, when delivering his assessment. SOften mentioned and thanked in players’ social media posts, fans pushed for their heroes at home.
“A World Cup in France, we won’t live through it again. It’s difficult to end like that.”
François Crosat World Rugby
In all the stadiums they visited, the Blues offered themselves beautiful laps of honor, like the particularly vibrant one in front of the Lyon public, after having won the ticket for the quarter-finals, while the dream was still intact. “Every time we play at home, we have incredible support by our side. What makes us even sadder is that we weren’t able to make them proud, to make them happy and make them happy”regretted Matthieu Jalibert, closed face, at the edge of the lawn.
Regrets equal to disappointment
For the players and the supporters, everything came to a sudden halt, Sunday evening, in the worst possible way, on the pitch of a Stade de France where the Blues had celebrated their rebirth by winning the 2022 Six Nations Tournament, a year and a half ago. “Last year, we achieved the Grand Slam. We wanted to see higher. It’s like that”blurted Peato Mauvaka.
Having fallen into the South African trap, the Blues will not become world champions on their land, and only have their regrets to dwell on. They perpetuated a bad habit, that to get tripped up at the end of the group stage, since the quarter-finals have become the stage of the competition where the French XV has been eliminated the most in the World Cup (4). But unlike the last two editions, the future looks a little more promising.