France-South Africa: why is it a very rare match in the Rugby World Cup?

2023-10-09 03:46:56

It will be one of two huge shocks in the quarter-finals after the one between Ireland and New Zealand the day before. Sunday, at 9 p.m., at the Stade de France, the XV of France will challenge South Africa for a place in the semi-final of its World Cup. An opponent that the Blues know very well since they have faced the Springboks 45 times (12 wins, 6 draws, 27 defeats) in their history. But only once during a World Cup. Why this anomaly?

Already, South Africa missed the first two editions of the Rugby World Cup, after being banned from the international scene due to apartheid. Second explanation: the randomness of the draw. The two teams have never fallen into the same group, and very rarely found themselves on the same road in the final table. Quite the opposite of the French XV and the All Blacks for example, who have already crossed paths eight times in the World Cup, twice in group play, and six times in the final phase.

Back in the South African squad following the injury to hooker Malcolm Marx, fly-half Handré Pollard, hero of the 2019 coronation, must resolve the goalscoring problem which is weighing down the title holdershttps://t.co/dBWhARxGpO

— The Parisian | sport (@leparisiensport) October 1, 2023

Some missed appointments

Then, the Blues and the Springboks are also a story of missed appointments in the World Cup. In 2007, for example, after having achieved the feat of eliminating New Zealand in Cardiff (20-18) in the quarterfinals, France faced England at home in the semi-final before potentially meeting Africa in the final. of the South, big favorite in its half against Argentina. If the South Africans did not fail with a large victory against the Pumas (37-13), the Blues stumbled on the English defense and lost by five small points (9-14).

Rebelote in 2019 in the quarter-finals. South Africa must easily dispose of Japan while the Blues face Wales to find themselves in the semi-finals. If the Springboks fulfill their part of the contract despite a complicated match (26-3 victory), the XV of France cracks against the Welsh (19-20) with in particular a red card from Sébastien Vahaamahina at the start of the second period.

“The Swindle” of 1995

But when the Blues and the Springboks meet in the World Cup, they don’t do things by halves. Throwback to the 1995 World Cup with a completely crazy semi-final. Disrupted by very bad weather, the match began almost two hours late, on a completely marshy pitch.

In a match of crazy intensity, referee Derek Bevan made several questionable decisions, including a try from Abdelaziz Benazzi not awarded in the 78th minute by a few centimeters. To further accentuate the feeling of having been robbed, the Blues will closely observe, during the post-match reception, the president of the South African federation giving Derek Bevan a gold watch. The French coach at the time Pierre Berbizier, who is our consultant for this World Cup in France, will repeat several times, and still today, that it was a “scam”.

The Blues will therefore have a historic affront to clear, this time at home, at the Stade de France, for the second clash in history between the two teams in the World Cup.