'On the one hand': Galthié assesses potential quarter-final opponents

France have secured their place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, having emerged from Pool A undefeated.

Italy stood as France’s final opponents in the pool and were eager to respond after a demoralising 96-17 loss to New Zealand the week prior. unfortunately, for the Azzurri, France were in a dangerous mood and ran away with a 60-7 win.

France’s quarter-final opponent is yet to be confirmed, but it will be the runner-up from Pool B.

Four years of building towards the tournament, including a Six Nations title in 2022, have placed the World Cup hosts as one of the favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup on October 29.

Three huge Tests now stand between Fabien Galthié’s men and their ultimate goal. The coach reflected on their success in the tournament so far.

“We’re very happy to have succeeded in this match,” he told press in Lyon. “Very happy to have succeeded in our qualifying phase, and overall our four years and our 43 matches.

“Tonight, we’re going to recover well together, have a good time together to celebrate qualification, and then we’ll turn our attention to the quarter-final, which, after playing a first World Cup final against New Zealand in the opening match, will be a second World Cup final.

“We’re delighted to have qualified for this stage. But we know that our next fixture is a second World Cup final.”

Ireland and Scotland join South Africa as potential quarter-final opponents for the French, but the Scottish would need to win by 21 to knock South Africa out.

That leaves the reigning champions and the world’s number-one ranked team as the two most likely opponents for the French.

“Whoever the opponent, for us it’s clearly a World Cup final,” Galthié said of his quarter-final preference. “On the one hand, the reigning world champions, who have prepared for back-to-back titles, and on the other, the world number ones. The draw has done its job; it’s up to us to do ours.”

Through an opening try to Damian Penaud just one minute into the match, the French got off to a hot start against the Italians. The try summed up the French mentality for Galthié.

“As long as we score and win games, that’s fine. We’re not here to demonstrate. Playing long sequences is not our objective. Taking time to score is not our objective.

“Our aim is always to win matches, and to win a match, you have to tick a number of boxes. Sometimes you score in a certain way and sometimes you don’t concede points. The important thing is to be ahead at the end. We’re not here to make clean copies, we’re here to win the match.”