The Blues meet the Springboks on Sunday 15 October. This World Cup quarter-final against South Africa is the most important match of the French career.
This is the match everyone has been waiting for. Maybe not so fast. The poster looks too much like a finale. It is difficult to say that tomorrow one of the two teams will return home, as this Sunday morning after New Zealand – Ireland.
Either way, the WC will wake up on Monday with a sense of emptiness. The top 4 in the world will have killed each other and already made the competition lose its flavor. Damn rules! Draw a lottery three years before the start…
In short, too late to redo history. Destiny placed the two monsters in the ring in the quarterfinals. With the Stade de France as the arena, Sunday night’s show heralds chaos. South Africa – France, it’s Mike Tyson vs. Mohamed Ali. Brutality versus patience. Pure strength versus flair.
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Although the styles have become closer in recent years, the Blues and Springboks know the game ahead promises rare violence.
The first round left its mark in November 2022, when Fabien Galthié’s men defeated the reigning world champions (30-26) in a melting Vélodrome. Atonio, Flament and Danty were out of concussion protocol. Mbonambi too.
Baille had his calf crushed, Dupont and Du Toit were sent off for dangerous play… “I hope there will be enough doctors on the side because the last time we played the Boks, the players were queuing up to pass the concussion protocol”, smiles. yellow William Servat, assistant coach of France’s XV.
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This meeting had suddenly made wizard Eddie Jones look old. “The young French have never been confronted with the intensity with which we are going to play,” said the former England coach in February 2020. This match, won by France (24-17), will in our memories resemble a junior match compared to what awaits us this Sunday evening (9pm).
Impatience abounds around this second round. For these Blues, it is the most important moment in their history. The intensity and stress level will go up two levels compared to the opening match against New Zealand (27-13). Defeat is forbidden in their language. But its ghost lurks in their subconscious.
The fear of emptiness makes you dizzy. Impossible for this group of friends who are too used to winning (81% wins) to stop the adventure today.
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France – South Africa: “We are calm because Antoine (Dupont) has returned”, good humor reigns ahead of the quarter-finals
Over the past four years, Dupont and the company have created a dream: to become world champions. After four years, they have never seemed so ready, so close. It’s too early to turn into a nightmare. Tonight is the fight of their lives. Before the next one, we hope, next Saturday.