How do you feel after this defeat? Fabien Galthié: I am thinking of our supporters, our families, the people who accompany us and who are around us. I think of the players and the staff. That’s my first thought. I think of the France group which must be courageous…
What do you think are the key moments of this match? There are so many game facts and key moments. Maybe when we lead 7-0 and Etzebeth cuts the ball. It’s a strong moment that we haven’t finished yet. We could have led by 12 points. I also think of our progress on the posts at the end of the match. We push. There is also when Antoine (Dupont) cannot pass a ball. There are facts of the game which, taken together, are notorious. Afterwards, it is difficult to get out a key moment. There was so much going on in this match…
What did you say in the locker room? I asked that we not film, that this intimacy remain between us. I asked them to be courageous, as they have been for four years.
You were able to compete physically with the Boks…We had some highlights, which we didn’t all realize. I have the impression that we were evenly matched. We competed widely, with strong times and weak times. (…) They knew how to take the score. The match is decided at one point… We had big advances, which we did not conclude, they played well to stop our momentum. In terms of strategy, they optimized the high-footed play across the board. We were also effective on things that we had prepared.
What did you think of the refereeing? Are these the facts of the game you are talking about? The referee is not the only one to do this. There are people around him who also have the right to participate in arbitration. I understand the players’ frustration. Let me move on. This has happened in the past. (…) If we talk about arbitration, I will not go into that area. I will congratulate the refereeing body. We worked with them for seven weeks. I understand the players’ position. When hot, there are a lot of emotions that are difficult to digest. Bravo to the South Africans. We wish them to continue their journey, with respect and fair play.
Do you have any regrets about the way you prepared for this World Cup? No regrets. We have the right to lose as it happened. We have all done our best to optimize our potential. We also made do with the events that accompanied us during these weeks.
Can you already plan for the future? The arrow of time has allowed us to move forward and progress. We have written a great history of French rugby, the federation can be proud. We are sad this evening. The France team will continue to play and develop. Two players stop, Uini Atonio and Romain Taofifenua, they announced it to us. For the rest, it’s part of the writing of the history of the XV of France.
Can this defeat call into question your contract at the head of the France team? (Smile) I have a contract which runs until June 2028.
Comments collected at a press conference
