Team manager Ibanez, Jalibert & Cros talk about 29-28 defeat to South Africa

ON-FIELD REACTION

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."