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Two French stars retire in aftermath of World Cup exit
By Josh Raisey
France head coach Fabien Galthie has confirmed that prop Uini Atonio and lock Romain Taofifenua have retired from international rugby following their quarter-final loss to South Africa on Sunday.
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The World Cup hosts crashed out of the tournament in Paris on Sunday night, narrowly losing 29-28 in what has now turned out to be the final appearance in blue for the heavyweight duo.
La Rochelle tighthead Atonio has been a mainstay in the France front-row during this World Cup cycle and started against the Springboks. The New Zealand-born prop will retire with 57 caps to his name. Lyon’s Taofifenua came off the bench to replace Thibaud Flament for the final half hour at the Stade de France in what was his 49th and final game for Les Bleus.
Galthie said after the match: “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.
“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.”
The pair, both 33, will leave a sizeable hole in the France pack with Atonio weighing 146kg and Taofifenua weighing 136kg. With that kind of weight, they have been instrumental to France’s power up front over the past four years.
Went into the discussion expecting some farewell comments to Atonio and Tao.. wasn’t ready for people ranting about slavery, racism and stuff
Ditto, almost like the ranters couldn't care less about a great team losing great players….
Jesus That’s a bit rich coming from the “Inventers of slavery and Colonialism and now you “Control The Game Of Rugby”
Billy Beaumont and Bernard Laporte, both as corrupt as a Three Dollar notes. Billy will “resign” soon with his “greedy little fingers in the till” as did his best mate Laporte who should be in jail.
So really nothing has changed. Don’t talk to us colonials about Xenophobia and Racism.
World Rugby (Big bad Billy) “jacked” the draw so England had an easy road. He with Laporte vice chairman rigged his own “election” in 2020.
That’s why he is being “Investigated”
Seeing your Royal Family sitting next to Beaumont was hard to stomach.
Anyway Good Luck to all England Supporters. . .Either way the AB’s will win this cup. Hopefully they can avoid “arrival fallacy” and get up Mentally for Argentina.
I think everyone needs to calm down in these comments it's just a game of rugby be proud of the team you choose to support and leave all the rubbish talk there's bigger problems going on in the world
How can we calm down when the refs show a lot of bias in the games..
Where are all the Northern hemisphere pundits? That predicted a Northern hemisphere semi and final?lol
You need to know your place, up north you control the football and down South we control the rugby.
Funny how all the NH teams best players come from the South lol
Got way way to ahead of yourselves.
Would have been no northern H team but for blatant bias against the Island teams, disgusting, then you go and take their players as well, disgusting
Blatant bias? What you mean is you are racist and hate the English and the result was not what you wanted
Hi hear Sir Clive took a big punt on the NH teams… Ouch.
ABs have been pinching islands players for years, but I suppose that’s ok. ABs and Boks squeaked into the SFs by one score.
I am from SA, but have to say that all this SH bragging after the quarterfinals is making me cringe. We can all see that things are improving dramatically in the NH mostly due to their well funded domestic competitions that keep drawing all the best players from around the world.
We all know the inevitable: The future of Rugby belongs there, unless something drastic changes the current trajectory. Follow the money, and you will know where things are headed.