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'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.”
Attack 
164
Passes
164
143
Ball Carries
112
254m
Post Contact Metres
270m
11
Line Breaks
4
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.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 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