2023-10-24 22:12:15
The defeat is still on everyone’s minds. Nine days ago, the French XV said goodbye to their dreams of a world title at home by losing to South Africa in the quarter-finals (28-29). A defeat with a bitter taste, which plunged the staff into a fairly deep silence. This Tuesday, Karim Ghezal, co-coach of the forwards, spoke in The Teamand assured that he had digested the disappointment.
“I watched the match at least six times. I needed to review things that I had in mind during the match, he explained. A coach must be lucid despite the environment. And my feelings on the video were the same as those at the stadium. » Asked what his team lacked to secure this place in the last four, the new Stade Français coach especially highlighted the last ten minutes. “We lost two matches in 2023, against Ireland (32-19) in the Tournament and the one against South Africa, with two very close ends to the match,” he underlined. We missed the last ten minutes for things to change in our favor. It’s nothing. »
“There are still a lot of things that I don’t master”
Karim Ghezal also returned to the refereeing of Ben O’Keeffe, much criticized by French supporters after the meeting, particularly after the transformation of Thomas Ramos blocked by Cheslin Kolbe or this last questionable penalty offered to the Springboks. And he ruled out any controversy. “From the moment you take four valid tries, that means you have something to look for (the reasons for the defeat) in your own performance,” he said. He also assured that he had no regrets, despite the legitimate disappointment.
The now former coach of the French XV forwards also took the opportunity to look back on the four years of Fabien Galthié’s mandate. And the memories are numerous. “The twenty matches of the Tournament, with sixteen victories,” he first highlighted. A Grand Slam (in 2022), and three second places. The fact of having won in Wales, Ireland and England with a record of points but also the 80% of victories (35 victories-9 defeats). It is also the fact of having been part of this “we”, of this group which won fourteen matches in a row and of this team which was world number 1. »
Finally, Karim Ghezal looked forward to his new position at Stade Français, alongside Laurent Labit. “What I want is to win, and alone that is not yet possible,” he admitted. I have enough humility to know that. There are still lots of things I don’t know. And Laurent is the ideal person because he is very square and he has fifteen years of experience. He knows everything by heart, including recruitment, contracts, interviews, meetings, etc. He will teach me as he goes. » At the top of the Top 14 after the first three days and before the restart, Stade Français, traveling to Bayonne this Sunday, hopes to take advantage.
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