France v Springboks Quarter Final Review - Rugby World Cup 2023 

All these quarterfinals felt like finals. This is what World Cup rugby is all about.

Kolbe's charge-down must not be overlooked! That was the difference in score!

Congrats to Bokks!!! As french, it's now usual to take massive sports blows historically (3 WC finals loss on rugby, last one against Argentina on football), but at least, it's always in some kind of dramatic unreal fashion. Something to be recording in the books. Until 55th, i was confident, i think we were the best team, by little inche. After usual Saffas second wave, we were doomed and finally beaten fairly. At end of 80th, Bokks were better. And at the end, NH fails again. We failed again as French, with maybe one of our brightest side of all-time. I feeled for Irish yesterday, exact same context, same result. South always prevails. Blacks are still here. World Champs are still here. We're out. Ireland is out. But even if history shows again NH was tamed by SH, it will be remembered for Ages. Congrats Bokkes. Pass this french hurdle on her own soil was massive feat to do. You did it. For me, pressure was to insane coming into this WC. I still believe one day French will become world Champions, absolute dream to wait at least 4 years more, but Irish want to claim either, Australia will coming possessed by new spirit coming to their own WC, and as always, South Africa and New Zealand, both GOATS of rugby will be still here to wait us at turn.. We trash talk England, after last 6N, they're still here. We're not. We wanted hypothetic revenge against Argentina (football^^), they're still here. We're not. We're wanted cross path of ultimate All Black form as 2011 mirror circle. They're still here. We're not. Harsh reality. Good night for all rugby fans all around the world. Congrats again Bokks. Allez les Bleus!!!

Arguably the best game of rugby I have had the privilege of watching. So grateful the Boks came out ahead but it went to the wire…

Even as a South African, I’m heartbroken for France. Their first RWC win, at home no less, would’ve been magical. Much love to Les Bleus. Keep your heads up boys - world rugby is always better with a stellar French team 🇿🇦❤️🇫🇷

Power to weight ratio, Kwagga is probably the strongest rugby player around 💪🏻

Bongi, Kwagga, Kriel and Etzebeth in particular were incredible. What a game, will go down as one of the greatest ever.

This has been the best rugby world cup quarter finals of all time..... without a doubt.

As a welsh man South Africa well deserved boys 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Eben Etzebeth is an absolute machine! Absolute privilege to bear witness to this game. Wow! Thank you France and boks for an amazing display of quality rugby

Things I never see in a rugby match but saw today: Charged down conversion kick. Penalty to touch landing behind where it was kicked from. Scrum called from a mark. Drop-goal attempt from the base of a ruck. Probably more weird things happened in this match besides what i can remember above, and that's not getting into the standard of play! What a crazy crazy crazy match. Absolute treat to watch as a depressed Irish fan.

A NZ v South Africa final looks inevitable. 🤩

Watching Kolbe's was like witnessing a literal sprinbok run across the field.

Kolbe is just amazing 🇿🇦

I'm over the moon that 3 Southern Hemisphere teams have made the Semis👏 From a Fijian supporter, a big Congrats to our Southern brothers in the Los Pumas🇦🇷, All Blacks🇳🇿 and Springboks🇿🇦. Bring it home lads, where it belongs💪 #SOUTHERNSTRENGTH

A lot has been said about the draw, BUT it has produced the best rugby EVER in a rugby world cup. Amazing performances by incredible teams. Kudos to all of them

Let's go all the way Boks!!! Well done to FRA, your boys played their hearts out, I have never seen our defence pushed to such limits!

I was speechless after the first half. Absolutely crazy

After watching rugby ardently since 2011 I have to say this is the best match I’ve ever watched… it had everything, the drama, the quality, the controversy, the emotion , EVERYTHING. And at the end My Bokke came out best. Couldn’t have scripted it any better , and well done to France on an incredible campaign they can be very proud of

Cheslin was my PoTM. So many important touches, tackles, etc. the man was on fire.

Have to say I’ve been enjoying South Africa’s variety/enervation lately: 7-1 split, scrum off a mark, tap for penalty, drop goal attempts form the ruck, changing between a kicking game and free flowing running rugby.

This World cup has produced some of the greatest test matches i have ever seen, Ireland vs SA, Irelans vs NZ and then this one somehow was even better

Outstanding. The 2 big quarterfinals were EPIC with the finest of margins. That blocked conversion kick was the difference in the end

First off, well done France, what a game you guys had. Dupont, Jalibert and Mauvaka are outstanding players.Thank you so much for giving us such a quality game. Second, Bokke, you statted rough but my goodnesss did you fight back! Made us all proud today. Cheslin, Kriel, Etserbeth, Bongi, Kwagga were absolute class today! Bring on England!!!!!

Best weekend of test rugby ever.

That was possibly one of the best games in the history of the tournament just awesome

Rubbing salt in the wound as an irish fan seeing them progress to the semis but looking forward to the Boks mowing the English 🇿🇦 what a game

i had a heart attack when we went for that dropgoal. what a game! 🇿🇦

Seriously this game (& NZ v Ire) was/were next level stuff. I feel privileged to have watched them both. It will take something truly insane for it not to be an NZ v SA final. It's so rare to see a game when literally every player was on point both mentally & physically. Marginal decision making was the only difference such as SA going for a tap & go set move leading to the Etzebeth try & then France opting for 3 points in a similar situation soon after. The intensity & discipline under pressure were a sight to behold. Great stuff, and what a RWC it has been thus far.

Best rugby weekend probably in rwc history. Tears 😭 for Fiji though. Great channel you’ve got - I’ve discovered it this World Cup. Well done yourself mate and your lovely family 👍❤️

The best rugby game of the century. Two Titans going head-to-head and what a breathtaking performance from both teams. Magnificent!

Can't wait to see the team of the week. Jessie Kriel was my MOM and in outside center

“Eben Etzebeth, he looked like a giant playing with children“ 😆😆 great line

BOK -B -VOK!!!!! Well done Bokke.. my heart nearly gave in! And the French players are legends. Top man Mark. Your folks are legends too!

Bok fan here. I cannot take much pleasure from a French side this brilliant leaving in the quarters. Screw World Rugby.

Another cracking game!!!! Which comes as no surprise! Well done 🇿🇦 and well played🇫🇷 Looking forward to the semi finals

We see the Klipdrift brady there in the back 😂 What a game!

From South Africa here - what a game. My heart was racing the whole time. I think we made silly mistakes, lack of discipline, but I think we did really well especially with the added pressure from the French crowd. Definitely needed a drink after that one. What a brilliant game of rugby. Hopefully we can make it through to the finals

Gutted for France in their home tournament but South Africa were simply sensational tonight! Hope the Boks go on to lift the World Cup in 2 weeks time! 🇿🇦

Really enjoyed that one, amazing efforts from both teams. As a Scot Im not sure I would have liked watching us play NZ or SA in that form!

To beat this French team in WC at home is incredible!!!

Man the game was insane. Both teams were in it to win it. I'm sure fans all over lost a few kilograms 😅 Well done Boks ❤

I watched this in a bar in Florida with about 400 other South Africans. Probably the most I’ve stressed and the loudest I’ve ever screamed. Hot damn what a match.

Devastated really. I'm trying to scroll scenarios in my head of where it went wrong. Several places really. I think we - the French - offered too many counter attack opportunities and lost our nerves when it mattered. French social media is lambasting the ref but we just made too many mistakes against a fantastic side. I don't remember SA playing so well. So yeah, it hurts because this was our best ever side by some distance and the French federation had gone to extreme financial length to make things happen. In the end, it's a case of never the bride, once more. We get respect and admiration all over the world for our French flair but without the killer instinct, it's not good enough. This going to take some deep soul searching for me and possibly many French fans.

Love the Klipdrift in the back left of your setup! Supporting the Boks the right way😉

Mark being in the know about Klippies en Coke shows that he is the real MVP! ✌🏾

Almost certainly the best QF games in the WC. Every one was a tight, contested and skillful game. All four of them. But this was at another level

Willie Le Roux absolutely added nothing, doesn't deserve his place in the team. I really hope they opt for Moodie in the Semi who can cover 15, 13 and wing. Edit : BTW Steven Kitsoff is one of the greatest props we've ever had, but he had his most shocking game in his entire Bok career today.

Without a shadow of doubt, the first half is the best half of rugby I've ever witnessed.

What a game. I didn't breathe for most of the game. So proud of our Bokke. Great show Mark. Looks like a Boks vs AB final. But we can't relax. Rugby is a funny game. So proud of our team 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

》》 At one point I actually thought my intestines are out of my body😭💔... never in my existence have I screamed like that‼️😭.《《 thank you Springboks🇿🇦🇿🇦🔥

so let me get this Straight..France beat the All Blacks, All Blacks beat Ireland, Ireland beat the Boks, & the Boks beat France..this World cup is Something else😄

Four amazing games this weekend! What a time to be alive! P.S. Up yours Sir Clive! P.P.S. Felt like the first 40 minutes went by in a blink of an eye and the second took absolute ages. P.P.P.S. Polisiekoffie (brandy and coke) - drink of champions!

Amazing game to watch! Power plays, power defence! SpringBoks bench was crucial to this win. Sorry SpringBoks has no Bench players at all, there are all starters and to me there was the difference that decided this big battle. Congrats to the Sprinboks from an Argentinian! French people should feel proud of their team. Rugby sport wins here!

Another fantastic post match review. You are quality mate. Really appreciate it 🍾😀👍

Felt like the Semis. That was a wonder and intense and a hard played match. Congratulations to both teams.

There were a few bok players that played their socks off, but for me Jesse Kriel was MoM comfortably. Made multiple last ditch tackles and reads, plus that grubber as the cherry on top..felt like i was saying KRIEL! out loud more than any other name. And thats coming from a Kriel-detractor

Great review again - just love the channel!! This is me as a Saffer sitting here down in North Canterbury, thoroughly enjoying the spectacular rugby! Go Boks & AB's!! If it is, would be an amazing final and leading to (continuous) World Cup domination for the Southern Hemisphere teams. Who will get #4?!

I am barely alive atm, that game took years of my life as Boks supporter. Maaaaaaaaaaaan that was intense!!!

Was privileged to be at the game as a South African. Amazing game. The French were amazing post game. Great gentlemen and ladies.

What a match that was, but it was a shame someone had to lose, 💔for France, this weekend has shown how cruel sport can be.

Thank you France. Even if SA lost, I would have been proud that we held up against you.

I could not watch it live because I did not think my heart could take it. Turns out I was right. Even knowing the result before watching it later, it was still making me bite my nails.. If you look at the stats, you don't know how SA got the result, but this was something special, from both teams. For me though, Du Pont was the man of the match, playing with a broken face and what not, and still at times just producing black magic all over the park. France just came against a bok team that did not know how to quit. Incredible game, played in an incredible spirit by incredible teams. Well done France, we salute you. And to be Boks? May the green Machine roll on!

Unreal game of rugby blood pressure through the roof . Just feel blessed at watching such a great game of rugby

I don't think anyone can realistically accuse Ireland of choking last night. But for me, France, or at least some of their players, will feel like they choked. Woki and Ramos definitely were way, way below the standard they'd set over the last year. But kudos to the Boks' scramble defence. So many line breaks but they just kept getting to the ball first regardless. I just hope they go and marmalise England. That might make me feel a bit better, Thanks again for the quick write up Mark!

Best RWC games: 1 France vs SA 2. NZ vs Ire 3. IRE VS Sa 4. France vs NZ or Aus vs Fiji

My heart! Of course I am relieved that SA won but at the same time very sad for France. It's like neither team deserved to lose and I felt the same during the NZ Ireland match.

The game was on here in SA at 9PM which was pretty late, else I would have done the braai thing. What an incredible game of rugby. All the games in these quarterfinals had drama, passion and heartache. Hats off to the French - they brought an incredible game

Incredible game of rugby. Really wish it were a SF or Final. Cruel to have it so early

NZ v SA semi final in 2015 used to be my favourite game ever, until this weekend 😅

As a french woman, naturally disappointed but I have to admit the Boks outclassed us: less mistakes, better aerial game, strong even when one man down. Uncharacteristic scories and fumbles from our end, Jalibert and Ramos missing 2 important kicks...We knew it was a final before the final for us, and Kolbe countering Ramos' kick costs us 2 points which costs us the match. Congrats to the Boks, despite the obvious feeling of disappointment

Damn I love my team, my country, and my people, 🇿🇦. We had no right to win that game the French were superb. Kolbe!!!, Jesus Christ Kolbe!!! He was my "player of the match". His runs from deep gave us a lift every single time, the commitment for the charge down on Ramos. Kolbe was so switched tonight. I can't even think..... so many players stood up, Kwagga, Eben, Jesse. For the French Peato Mauvaka and Uini Atonio were incredible tonight, I was thanking the Gods when they taken off. I guess the biggest difference between the two sides was the quality off the bench.

The whole damn QFs was 🔥

I'm going to lay down for a while now to feel stable again!! Absolutely insane game 💪🇿🇦

I can watch that Kolbe Charge over and over and over....he was incredible. Wow

Never in my life.......Cheslins charge .....saved us. Just wow. He played his heart out. Just wow. Just wow

Springbok jersey and Klipdrift in the background. Glad we still have the NZ vs SA final on the cards!

Incredible game! The klippies and coke is almost sold out here in SA after that game. Hoping for a SA v NZ final.

As a Bok supporter, it was a real nail biter.I I'm relieved and actually feel for the French , they have been so good.

Springboks and Allblacks hitting form.I can see a repeat of the 1995 Final on the horizon.Joost and Jonah will be proud.Well done Bokke! Love you Guys!

Never seen the boks dominated on the gainline like this before, France was immense... champion team just find a way to get the W. Just wonder how much this would have taken out of us physically though, time will tell. Fingers crossed for an AB - Boks final!

Best world cup quarter finals 8n history. People should not write-off England and Argentina, they are quality sides.

If this game didn't kill me, I need to get examined. I might have a heart made out of Titanium...😅😅 What a game!

Springboks 3 cups All Blacks 3 cups This is the dream final

Thanks Mark. Yes even better than yesterday's game which I didn't think possible. NZ v SA final would be a humdinger

Have we ever had four better 1/4 finals in a RWC. I did not think the Ireland AB game would be topped but wow, this was off the charts!

That was a titanic struggle. As a South African I feel exhausted and I was just watching it casually.... France did very, very well and it was a mighty contest worthy of a final.

thanks again mark for a great review. some amazing games this world cup. irelans vs south africa. new zealand vs ireland. south africa vs france. these three game extremely cloae with skill levels and intensity as never seen before....!

Two brilliant QF's from the Big 4...sad to see two go, but that's the margins

Hats off to Rassie and Jacques .... the players end the match may be more important than those that start it 👍💯👊🌟

Absolutely gutted for France and congrats to the Boks.What a game , rugby on a different level.I was so pumped I couldn’t sleep !The charge down came back to bite.I hope it’s not a cricket score against England in the semi.What a weekend fir rugby.

I think I need a holiday after that weekend of rugby! Fantastic stuff. So happy the Boks made it. Two clear favourites in the Semis now - but I think a 50:50 probability (again) NZ vs SA final. It might be a great final. Hope so.

Definitely one of the best games in this tournament, really happy for the Boks. It’s a shame to see the hosts go out in the quarterfinals that could have been a finals game, it was so exciting. I do wonder though if Rassie was being a bit creative with the use of the HIA rules? Players seemed to almost rotate on and off changing positions after rests? Still happy with the result- would love to see a Boks vs ABs final.

Bloody hell that was amazing. Gutted for France but well done SA!

You are sooooooo fast! Literally just left the pub now and I get home to find your review :)

Their N0.3 made a meal of Eben head contact because He carried on playing driving forward and TV ref should have noted that in checking replay but then He was hurt !!!!

An awesome wrap-up to some of the best quater finals in RWC history!

If I'm South African I'm happy of what I got today 🥳: couple high balls flipping on our side during 1st half and we're there at the scoreboard whereas France was less fortunate. Kolbie intercepting a conversion on a very debatable situation (watch the wide angle provided after the game). A yellow card against Etzebeth that could have become red remaining yellow. Couple more elbows to the face that we won't bother looking at, including on Dupont. Our players falling in the french side of the ruck when they can't compete anymore to slow down the pace. Sequences where the ref he's gonna tell us "release", "get away", "nooooo" 3-4 phases in a row, without penalty. Impossible for France to play their game. And finally we've done a bulldozer once we got possession in the french 10 meters to score a try and win by 1 point. Perfect night. Special thanks to Ben for letting us implement our borderline stuffs in the rucks all night long and granting us multiple warnings and extra time before penalizing. ✌️

I only discovered your channel over this long haul world cup and must say, love listening in to your analysis of Rugby. Recently become obsessed with Rugby, always loved the sport but this world cup activated a deep love of the game. Especially supporting Ireland in victory or defeat. I'm a new fan of your review post games.

This game was massive! I felt like I couldn't breathe at the end! France showed why they are so dangerous! They made massive metres under immense pressure from the Springboks. An absolute slugfest. Dupont is such a special player. He had a hand in all the dangerous French moments. What a player! In the end it came down to the defensive pressure of the Boks. They had a huge performance and gave as much as they got and in a game of inches they came out ahead. Some great tries from the Boks! Kriel, Kolbe, Etzebeth and Malherbe were immense! Cheslin Kolbe...bloody hell. He was the MVP of the game for me. Commiserations France. You boys played one hell of a game! Well done, Bokke!