France saw its journey in “its” home World Cup come to an end on Sunday, despite a generally dominated match against the Sprinboks.
The return to earth is brutal for the French rugby team. Undefeated during the group stage of the World Cup, she ultimately did not go further than the quarter-finals. The Blues fell on Sunday October 15 against the defending champion, South Africa, by a very small point (29-28). Fabien Galthié’s men nevertheless delivered a great performance, dominating most of the match. When reading the statistics, it is even difficult to believe that the Tricolores could have been beaten, and yet…
100%
The Tricolores conceded three tries before the break, on the only three opposing incursions into their 22 meters. Surprised by the South African kicking game, Fabien Galthié’s players may regret their defensive failure in the first period. A total success for the Boks, while the Blues represented the best defense of the World Cup during the group stage in front of… South Africa.
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The reigning world champions spent only 99 seconds in the French camp in the entire first period and scored 19 points. The French individual errors were very costly, and at great speed.
3
With four tries scored against three, 80% success rate against the poles (compared to 71% for France), and 87% of scrums won (compared to 55% for the Blues), South Africa only displays three statistics to its advantage on the offensive level at the end of the meeting. Everything else was to the advantage of the Tricolores: possession of the ball (41%), occupation of territory (37%), defenders beaten (only 12 for them compared to 42 for the Blues), passes after contact (2 against 13), rucks or mauls won, runs, passes, meters with the ball carried in the hand as well as won with the foot… Cold realism.
42
South Africa, by missing 42 tackles (out of 163 made), was the least efficient in this sector among the quarter-finalists. In contrast, France missed only 12 out of 92 attempts. Also a sign of the lack of tricolor realism.
3
In numerical superiority for ten minutes, France only scored three small points, following the yellow card received by Springbok Eben Etzebeth at the end of the first period, despite a clear domination. In this moment which could have been crucial, they even lost four balls out of the 14 left on the way throughout the match.