2023-10-16 01:54:33
As if the sky had fallen on the heads of the 80,000 spectators at the Stade de France this Sunday evening after the Springboks’ victory against the Blues (28-29). The next day, you will have to return to work, looking like you have had a bad day. A Monday morning which will undoubtedly recall another, a few months earlier, when Argentina finally won against Mbappé’s Blues.
This December 12, 2022, images of Emmanuel Macron comforting the Parisian striker made the rounds on social networks. Today, it is up to the nugget of the oval ball Antoine Dupont to receive strong words first from his coach Fabien Galthié and certainly from the president, present in the locker room of the XV of France. Another image will stay in the memories of Les Bleus supporters for a long time: that of Dupont, hands behind his head, entering the Stade de France tunnel.
At a press conference, the Toulouse man appeared with a scar on his face, having played this quarter-final with a helmet. Asked about the refereeing, he seemed annoyed. “And what did you think about it? There’s a lot of frustration, clear and obvious things that are easy to hiss at. We could have had this penalty, when we advance 60 meters, and a ruck slows down afterwards, it’s easy to whistle. I don’t want to be bitter but the refereeing was not up to the challenge today. That doesn’t take anything away from the South Africans’ performance, they had a great match. »
In front of the cameras and microphones, his pivotal companion Matthieu Jalibert appeared on the television screens, his head bowed. “It’s complicated to know what to say in view of the match,” declared the UBB opener. I think there was room. The two teams went blow for blow. We had moments where we could have taken off. I congratulate the Boks who resisted our attacks. There is a lot of disappointment and frustration. We had incredible support alongside us. We weren’t able to make the crowd proud tonight. We failed today in the quarterfinals. It’s going to be hard to accept. »
The mines of bad days
Same disappointment visible on the face of François Cros. “The scenario is cruel. We are very disappointed. I don’t have the words. It’s a shame for the group, the public, the event. We didn’t give up anything in the match, but we conceded points too easily. On the last action, we produce efforts without being rewarded. It’s over. The adventure ends there for us. It was the competition of a lifetime. »
“On the last action, was there a fault? It’s not my place to comment on it. »
Thomas Ramos
The hoarse voice, full-back Thomas Ramos, whose transformation was countered by Kolbe, also spoke on TF1. “They feed on our mistakes. On the last action, is there a fault? It’s not my place to comment on it. We’re down tonight. It’s sports. There were a few plays that allowed them to stay in our camp. We did some good things in this match, but it wasn’t enough. They put their hands in the rucks every time. Our hinge didn’t have many clean balls. We came across people who were stronger than us. »
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