24 days later: Fabien Galthie breaks silence on France World Cup exit
France head coach Fabien Galthie has described Les Bleus’s quarter-final exit from the Rugby World Cup as a scar that he and his team will carry for life.
France were dumped out of their own tournament following a 29-28 loss to eventual winners South Africa but barring a short post-match press conference immediately after the loss, Galthie chose not to talk to the media again in the aftermath.
Until yesterday.
Having alerted the French media of the conference last week, Gatlhie opened up about the devastating loss and where he believes things may have gone wrong.
“There was time to grieve, to digest a huge disappointment. I’m talking about me, about us,” said Galthie. “There were 4 years of hard and successful work, 4 years of development, 4 months of preparation. Our goal was to be world champion. The disappointment would be the same as losing in the semi or final by one point.”
It was a loss that deflated the nation, many of whom believed that this was the year for rugby’s perennial World Cup nearly men to finally get their hands on the Webb Ellis Cup.
“We wanted to experience those moments. […] We spoke with the staff, the starting staff, the players, know how everyone was doing. I would say that the word that comes back is acceptance, the acceptance of defeat. And then, we have to go beyond that. 24 days is not a lot but it’s the sport of the highest level.
“We are all responsible for our careers. The performance of each other will make our destiny be that or another. I had planned to express myself later, but faced with the insistence and the requests, I decided to accelerate the process to share with you this pain and the immense pain of our supporters, of our families, players and France. […] By returning to contact with families and real life, I realized how the French loved us, and I speak in the imperfect and I could speak in the present tense. That is not going to give us the title of world champion.”
“It’s painful at first but when you play at this level, when you play for the France team, you have to be ready to win but also to experience what you have experienced. There is only team that is not in pain is the champion. The others only experience unpleasant emotions. Having spoken about it with the leaders, I think that the injury will leave us with a scar for life.
“We feel a lot of positive but also painful emotions. Having experienced many of them, it is never a handicap. If we ask ourselves the right questions, we can become even better. We have all done or will do an individual or collective introspection.”
Galthie said that tactically France got it right in that they created more than enough attacking moments in South Africa’s 22, even if they failed to convert them. The Boks meanwhile, scored three tries from three opportunities.
“We entered the finishing zone 11 times, it was two times our objectives.
“At the end of the day, on the facts of the match, on the facts of the game, it was not enough. When we are the only team to have obtained so many potential highlight moments, it is because tactically you have not made a mistake on an offensive level.
“South Africa has a ruck in our 22m in the 55′. They score three flash tries.
“South Africa should potentially score 24 and they score 29. And then they will reproduce it in the final.
“On a tactical level, if it was to do again, I will use the same strategy”.
He also confirmed that he sent 9 post-match video clips to World Rugby following the exit regarding the refereeing decisions, as is routine following significant Test matches.
“I worked with Jérôme Garces, with the referees, to question Joel Jutge and Ben O’Keeffe and his team. I sent them 9 clips to understand. The fifth day after the elimination, we were no longer an emergency for World Rugby which prepared the other matches.
“Before the match, we are used to sending out what concerns us and what concerns the opponent. We ask if it is tolerated and if it will be whistled. It was purely professional. I have rewatched it about ten times. I have a lot of data, I have cross-referenced a lot of information to be able to respond to you and the players.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
19 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
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