FRA 28-29 RSA: France reaction (head coach Galthié, captain Dupont, team manager Ibanez, Alldritt, Danty, Mauvaka, Jalibert, Cros, Ramos, Ollivon)
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Gregory Alldritt, number eight
On crashing out of the tournament:
"It's a huge disappointment. We wanted to go further."
On this not being the end for this squad of players:
"Of course, it's not over. We're lucky enough to have the Six Nations coming up fairly quickly. We can switch to that."
On whether France lost the match or South Africa won it:
"There's only one winner in rugby. That was South Africa tonight: they were better than us. I think we played a very good match, (but) we made mistakes in a World Cup quarter-final that cost us dearly."
On the support the team has got from the French public throughout:
"We've had tremendous support. It hurts to not give them another 15 days."
Jonathan Danty, centre
On France failing to score between the 40th and 50th minutes:
"It's a turning point and it was positive for the South Africans. The match lasted 80 minutes. There could perhaps have been a few more (yellow) cards. It's always easy to talk about refereeing. There were some pretty clear situations that didn't seem so to the referees. To err is human, unfortunately.
"It wasn't the refereeing that lost the match."
On what comes next for this team and for him:
"The France team will go on. We’ll be at the World Cup in four years' time. There are still some fine players to watch.
"For me, the next World Cup will be complicated. That's a discussion I'll have to have with the staff. I'm 31. If they want to work over a four-year period, maybe I won't be part of it."
Peato Mauvaka, hooker
On the pain of the defeat:
"We would have liked a better ending. That's the way it is, that's sport. You have to be able to digest it, even if it's hard.
"We would have loved to lift this cup. Last year, we won a Grand Slam. We wanted to go further. That's the way it is. We have to be realistic and work for four more years."
MEDIA CONFERENCE
Fabien Galthié, head coach
On his emotions after the defeat:
"I think first of all of the fans, our families and those people who believe in us every day, the staff, the players... My first thought is for them. Tonight, the French group must be courageous."
On possible turning points in the match:
"There were so many key moments. Maybe when we were leading 7-0 and Eben Etzebeth cuts out the ball. We were on a hot streak and we didn’t finish it off. We could have taken a 12- or 14-point lead - and a few minutes later, it was 7-7.
"There's also our attack under the posts at the end of the game, and if the ball comes out quicker, we would finish the action differently; when Antoine [Dupont] is unable to pass the ball precisely, too. These incidents, when they accumulate, are notorious. But it's hard to pick out one key moment because there was so much going on."
On the refereeing:
"He's [referee Ben O’Keeffe] not on his own. The TMO and the referees have time to review the images like us and have the right to officiate. I ask my players to be brave at times like this because I understand their frustration. But I won't comment on it personally.
"I'd rather congratulate them [the players]. We've worked hard with them and we'll continue to work with them. I understand the players' position, because there are a lot of emotions that are not easy to digest.
“But above all, congratulations to South Africa and their staff. Respect and fair play - may they continue on their way for as long as possible."
On his plans for the next cycle:
"It's difficult. We used ‘the arrow of time’ [analogy] to work and grow with the players according to a certain methodology. We've worked really well over the last four years with the staff, the players and the federation, and we've achieved something great.
"This arrow of time gave us a very clear vision. The French team will continue to play, move forward and develop. Only two players are retiring, Uini Atonio and Romain Taofifenua. As for the rest, what we've just experienced is part of writing the book for the French team."
On what he said in the dressing room:
"I didn't want anyone to film it, because certain moments have to remain between us. I congratulated the players and all those who worked for the good of the French team. I asked them to be as courageous as they have been for the past four years."
On whether he will stand down:
"I have a contract that runs until June 2028, so no."
On managing physical intensity:
"In the heat of the moment, I think we played well and had strong periods, even if we couldn’t make the most of them. At times, South Africa had the upper hand. I don't have the stats and data yet, but I have the feeling that we were more than a match for them, and there were good periods and bad."
On any regrets over planning and preparation:
"No regrets. We're entitled to lose the way we did today. We did everything we could to make the most of our potential, and we did it. We made the best of everything that has happened over the last 15 weeks."
On South Africa's strategy and use of substitutes:
"Above all, they took the lead at a key moment, and we could have done that right to the end. These are games that come down to a point. We also had our moments in the second half, when we made a lot of ground and had plenty of good options. They played well, they played fair, they stopped our momentum by slowing down the rucks.
"They used the high ball a lot. We were also strong on things we'd prepared for, and it came down to one point."
Antoine Dupont, captain, scrum-half
On his view of the refereeing:
"What did you think from the outside? It's hard to say because there's a lot of disappointment and frustration. We want to see the images again - which will give us even more disappointment and even more frustration - but I think some clear and obvious things weren’t whistled.
"I don't know if the match was lost at that point, but at crucial moments, we could have had a penalty. When you’ve gone forward 60 metres and you’re slowed down in the rucks, it's pretty easy to whistle. I don't want to sound bitter, moaning about the refereeing because we lost the match, but I'm not sure the refereeing was up to the challenge.
"That doesn't take anything away from the South Africans' great game, who got on top of us at the breakdown. They played a great game."
On knock-out game inexperience:
"Yes, it was our first knock-out game and we didn't win, despite playing a big game in terms of intensity and content.
“We're going to learn from this and gain experience. There's a lot of frustration and disappointment, but we're going to learn from this kind of match."
On choosing to kick for points near the end:
"Yes, the question came up and we knew we had the chance to go over and score. We chose the penalty. It's clear that when it doesn't pay off we will go back and discuss it again, but it was the right option for us at the time."
ON-FIELD REACTION
Thomas Ramos, full-back
On why France lost:
"It's hard to answer that question - being a little more precise when we had the ball. In the first half, they fed off our mistakes; a little more success on our last set when we had the ball. Whether there was a foul or not, it's not for me to comment. It's obviously cruel. We're disappointed and despondent tonight. That's sport.”
On South African pressure:
"There were a few set-pieces that allowed them to stay in our half. It's always annoying to play in your own half. I think we did some good things in this match, but it wasn't enough. We knew they were a powerful team. They were very strong in the rucks and tackles. Our half-backs couldn’t get clean ball. Tonight was tough. We lost to a team stronger than us."
Charles Ollivon, flanker
On frustration:
"It's tough. At half-time, we were in good shape. In the end, we lost by a point. We need to review everything. It's hard to analyse now. It's not easy to be precise. It hurts others more than it hurts us. For all the support we've had, it’s heartbreaking."
Raphael Ibanez, team manager
On the game:
"We are very sad tonight. I think we gave everything to win that game. We knew it would be a very tight game and we had to score every opportunity. We had some good opportunities but unfortunately we couldn't convert them into points."
On where it went wrong:
"We had our chances, they were pragmatic and sometimes we try and try our best with the support of the French fans. This is why we are sad tonight, we are sad for them. We have to get up and stand up and go for the next fight. We have other games coming, not in this World Cup, but we have to still believe in the team."
On Antoine Dupont:
"I think he is an amazing player. I think he has shown some courage over the last few weeks. We knew he could play at that level and he is a true leader so it's promising. Tonight is so hard for French fans and the team but we will be back."
Matthieu Jalibert, fly-half
On elimination from Rugby World Cup:
"It's hard to know what to say. When you look at the match, I think there was plenty of room for improvement. It was a fine game of rugby between two fine teams who gave it their all.
"There were moments when we could have scored in the second half and taken the lead.
"South Africa should also be congratulated for resisting our attacks and scoring when they had the chance. We’re disappointed and frustrated. When you see the atmosphere today, the support from all our supporters, we’re disappointed.
"We were in good shape physically, we managed to set up a fast-moving game, we had quite a lot of space but we weren't able to capitalise. We made a lot of little mistakes, we were probably too hasty in trying to go too fast.
"They stuck to their plan, scoring three tries on the counter-attack in the first half, playing a lot of pressure games and feeding off our mistakes and the referee's whistle to score at the right moment and with success."
On the supporters:
"Every time we play at home, we have incredible support. What makes us even sadder is that we weren't able to make them proud, to make them happy. For this group, it's a lot of disappointment."
On the future:
"We’re going to try to find something positive by saying that we have a lot of young players, a fine generation. But the reality is that today we failed to get out of the quarter-finals of a home World Cup. That’s going to be hard to accept."
François Cros, back-row
On the result:
"We're sad, at the result and this cruel ending. We’re disappointed, I'm at a loss for words. It’s a shame for us, for the group, for the fans. It’s very hard tonight."
On fighting to the end:
"We never gave up. We had the ingredients, but we conceded points too easily. On the last play, we made an effort and weren't rewarded. It's cruel."
On reasons France lost:
"We can find all the explanations we want, but it's over. It's the end of the adventure for us. It's a shame for this group, who deserved to go further - we’ll never play another World Cup in France. It’s tough to end like this."
