That game took about 10 years off my life... France played so well, but the Boks stayed in there through sheer grit and determination. An absolute classic for the ages. Now we need to go all the way... Go Boks!! 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
Springbok fan here. So sorry France for having to knock you out the competition. You were incredible opponents and I truly wish we got to play against you more. Much respect!!!
I'm french and my pain is immeasurable. This defeat will haunt me a loooong time before I move on. My frustration is immense .. I thought our time had come. We have an incredible team, incredible coach, incredible supporters and the world cup is in France. I think there are a LOT of questionable decisions made by the referee but in the end I'm impressed with the determination Bokkies put into this game. May the best team win the world cup and let's enjoy a little bit more these amazing final phases we have. Long live rugby and allez les bleus forever in my heart ❤
Cheslin Kolbe's conversion charge down was a critical 2 point save... With Ramos such a sharp-shooter it was arguably the difference... Boks could have gone down by 1
Congrats to Bokkes!!! 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, Bokkes 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 Bokkes. Allez les Bleus!!!
From a Saffa, I can't remember being this stressed watching a Springboks game for a VERY long time. The French were magnificent, and I think the Bokke just ground out this victory in our traditional gritty style. Sure there were moments of flair, but the victory is down to pure grit and determination, and a sprinkle of luck.
I am a huge bok fan and never feel any emotions toward a losing team, I am usually just so happy we won. But man am I said for the French. You guys deserved just as much as we did to go through. And same with Ireland. I am extremely happy we made it, but I can't help but feel sad for the team and the fans - you were hoping your team wins just as much as we were hoping ours would. Best 2 QF i have ever seen and probably best 2 world cup games as well. I though Dupont were overrated. I was wrong. That man is the best 9 I have ever seen.
Ref made bokke stronger by openly favouring France. He lost the game for France. Actually the ref lost more than what France did. He lost face in the rugby world. I'm wondering if he wasn't paid to fix the match. Sorry pal, you lost bigtime
French fan here and wow, that game almost gave me a heartattack. Well done to the Bocks, Kolbe is such an outstanding player, it was a delight to watch. Gutted for my Bleus but glad we get to witness such high quality games! We'll be back in 4 years for more. Good luck to South Africa for the rest of their campaign, can't wait to see you in the final ✌️.
Yeah, France has a great team! Congratulations to france, from Portugal! Now it's official: france is the second best african team! And congratulations also to france for being an inclusive african team, as they have an european player in their squad: the Portuguese Ramos!
Another great assessment. This came down to composure and winning the big moments. The Boks took the French out of their comfort zone and it rattled them. Credit to the Boks, brilliant.
Have to feel for both Irish and France after this weekend. Both teams had a realistic chance and belief that they could go all the way... proud of the Bokke..what a game!!
Ireland were way too overconfident and arrogant. Glad they got put in their place as eternal quarter-finalist. Glad Sexton went out in a game filled with his trademark whining to the ref.
France.. credit to you.. fantastic team.. either of us could have won that… a big special thank you to your fans.. you have hosted an unbelievable World Cup,,, thank you
Absolutely brilliant. The French were brilliant for 75% of the game(for me, still by miles the best side in the northern hemisphere), but.... Well done Sprinboks. For me, the cooler heads won. Experience perhaps?
The most painful is when you give it your all, do your utmost best, and yet, you come 1 point short. Im a south african, but man did france deserve that win. This the best game I've watched in the past 4 years and that includes south africa vs new zealand in the warm up. What a game!!!!!!!!! Congrats Boys, now it's the rematch against the roses. South 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 Africa!!!!
Thank you to the country France for being the perfect hosts and fielding a magnificent tournament! The French team in my opinion the best team in the Northern Hemisphere! Tonight could have gone either way. You forced us to come and take it from you. You were excellent, thank you!! To the Boks, well done! You deserve it
2 of the best matches I've ever seen. Last night and tonight with the 4 best teams in the world absolutely going at it and only the smallest of margins to separate them. Just a pleasure to watch both.
22 tries in the 4 QF matches this weekend, all razor close and the Boks France match was simply epic. I think Qwagga Smith made a huge difference when he came on and he slowed the French ball a lot
On the Siya Kolisi substitution, it's simply comes down to performance. His job is not to make 80 minutes, but to give absolutely everything he has until he drops below a certain performance level, at which point he is subbed. It's the basic principle behind the bomb squad, having key players play at 90% for 40-60mins, rather than 60-70% for 80mins. They're literally monitoring vital signs, the time from the tackle, to the recovery, to the next tackle, etc.
France! What a team!! What a game! As a Bok fan I cannot thank you enough for one of the most incredible games of rugby I’ve witnessed! I thought that South Africa vs Ireland pool game was the best ever … but nope! This one even topped that! Hats off to a fantastic French team lead by a brave WARRIOR in Dupont! If there is a team and players who did not deserve to lose a game … it is this French team! Unfortunately only one team can win - and by luck of a bounce of a ball or Kolbe blocking a conversion …. We, South Africa, got that bounce of the ball that could so easily have gone the other other way!! Thank you for a fantastic game France! That could so easily have been the final! Your team is GREAT! You should be proud! And Dupont - what a LEGEND!!
Two very very good teams, all warriors, showing their determination and passion for the game. Thanks to both teams. Very happy for our Green and Good team, proud of you all, Thanks Rassie and Jacques you are the best. Love how you are able to lodge in other teams heads without paying rent
From a Springboks fan, well done for a great match and commiserations for the result to France as a phenomenal host 🙌 But also the Springboks and the All Black's 🇳🇿 have carried the flag for the southern hemisphere and redeemed each other from the losses they suffered from Ireland 🇮🇪 and France 🇫🇷 respectively!
Well done to the French team, they got the Boks on their backfoot and the Boks bleed to get through. I as a South African feel for the French team. But the Boks just show quality under pressure from an amazing French side.
I feel for both France and Ireland. Both teams were great in the last 4 years definitely deserved more than a quarter final exit. But Boks and All Black's final will be epic.
The commonwealth referee helped them through as usual. We do our best to be as perfect as we can, but commonwealth countries always get through... Rugby will be rigged until we don't have VAR cards for coaches. And SA didn't agreed to international doping rules. 5 to 10 times more drugged guys in SA remember?
It was 50/50. Anyone could have won that game. One kick here, one there, one penalty call here or there. This was war and it was beautiful, unfortunately only one team can win!
The excitement of the 1st half with all the tries had my heart pumping. That Cheslin save was pure magic. French team played great and it was a classic just like All blacks vs Ireland. This was 2 great QF games. Looking forward to the semi's. Lets go 🇿🇦
Absolutely incredible what we've witnessed this weekend the quality of the rugby was sheer class and out of this world . France were amazing in this game du pont is unreal what a player and it's sad one team had to go but credit to my team we hung in there and got there in the end thiugh I was nervous towards the end . Go Bokke 🇿🇦
Great coverage, quick post game and insights are good. France ran themselves into errors which the Springboks fed on - and quickly. The bench worked well and the team's depth has now been fully tested. Keep up the great coverage - tres bon.
It's funny how France and Ireland had beaten New Zealand and South Africa in Group stages (Northern vs Southern Hemisphere). But Ironically knockout comes and it's NZ beating Ireland and South Africa beating France😂 ... So this clearly means no Team can be confident enough during this time of the tournament.
@@Smoke_C I said at the time that I was happy with the Boks performance against Ireland and that it gave me confidence for the rest of the tournament. It was more a case of the Boks losing it, than the Irish winning it.
Amazing game ....couldn't ask for more in a nail biter. France came at the boks with pace and ferocity...great respect to Du Pont and his boys. Big cheers to the Boks ....thats what we love you.
Hey Alfred, Mike form NZ here. I really like your analysis of the past two big quarters, particularly given that its straight from the stadium and that you have had a spectators stadium view of the game and not view a complete view via the TV screen. Great game again both France and the Boks. To France, I wanted to face you in quarter for redemption but then again I didn't knowing what a special team you have, so commiserations. For the Boks, goes to show that the men in green have something special, deeper that the tangible from which they draw on for these games - see Siya's post match interview. And Rassie, an absolute master and legend of the game and an amazing guy. Strategically he's without peer and pushes the boundaries - running the medic on for in game calls and the HIA's for two SA players to activate a quasi rolling subs bench was genius ; ). Re the Refs, it takes a little joy away from games when we feel the ref is so decisive in the outcome, which I now feel is the case in these big games. Last night the Irish crowd drowned out any NZ supporters in the crowd despite the AB's really getting a rough deal from many of the ref(s) calls. A classic example is shown during that final sets of phases after the 80 minutes - neck roll (at 80m:14s) and the ignoring of the holding on ground/sealing off from the Irish (at 80m:17s) despite views from a touch judge, the ref (potentially) and definitely the TMO, not a word was muttered. If the Irish had gone on to win from there (which they very well could have) it would have been a travesty of justice and shows how much influence the refs now have. All we ask for is and despite winning the game on the weekend as a NZ fan there felt like an anti-NZ sentiment in many of the calls... even to the level of the officials potentially subconsciously thinking of the ABs that they have had their glory at RWCs and now its time to give these other lads from the Northern Hemisphere a shot. And this view is from a winning teams perspective. What do you think, is it just my black eye patch? : )
One of the best games I've watched. Well done to the Boks. Glad we've made it despite loosing all stat metrics. Feel for France. Wouldn't have mind them winning this time around as they are a good team now. Wish this could've been the final.
After this weekend I have to say I'm just glad I'm a rugby man....what a game it is, the wonderful technicalities and nuances, the supporters, the drama, the athletes, there's just nothing else like it.
Great review! Greater match! France with an avg age of 25, will dominate rugby for a few years to come...bring on a NZ vs SA final, in all honesty, the dream final for many...
Bok fan here - huge respect to the French. That was an absolute battle and riveting to watch. It could have gone either way. This bok team has grit. Go bokke.
I'm an Irishman. I thought Barnes yesterday was great. Although I think Ben O'Keefe was shaky today. That Kwagga penalty he gave at the end was insane. And overall seemed much more lenient to SA than to France.
The French loose trio were massive,but our bench was impressive and Fourie and Kwagga Smith gave us parity once they came on & in the scrum Ox Nche brought huge power.Eben Etzebeth was awesome too
The Boks general (tho unusual) trajectory had me quietly confident ahead of the FRA match, but man, that was a gladiatorial contest. Hats off to a sensational French team, they have revolutionised every aspect of their game & are finally a strong consistent team headed in the right direction. Keep going FRA, you will get there! Brush off setbacks, prepare for hardship & remember it's still only a game ... with a funny shaped ball. Anything can still always happen!
Both sides made mistakes, which in a game of such intensity and pressure is to be expected. I think your analysis is spot on, the French should have/could have taken more advantage in the first 20 or so, but small lapses and great contesting by the Boks led them to parity, which seemed to unnerve the French a little. The second half reverted to how we expected the game to be (especially with the Etzebeth yellow where no points were scored), and Rassie and Jacque's interesting selection on the bench gave them the upper hand I think, particularly in that vital 5 minute period where the Boks scored 10 points. Awesome game and could have gone either way, but just feel it was World Cup knockout rugby pedigree that just gave the Boks the edge.
That sounds unkind. I see it more like a penalty shootout, Libbok was the striker that missed and Cheslin was the goalkeeper that saved a goal next so it stayed level.
As a SAFA, that was a great game - your points about rotating the squad are correct. My heart bleeds for the French - particularly if you see Argentina & England are in the semi-finals!
So true as an irish/bok supporter. rugby as won this weekend. OMG!!! this is why I find soccer ⚽️ boring!!! I played soccer for 20 years. But Rugby 🏉 is such a hard brutal game. I love it !!!! Beats WWF. 😅😅 go bokke. Uncle Cyril wants to pick up the cup again. Lekker jy !!! 😅😅😅😅
So true as an irish/bok supporter. rugby as won this weekend. OMG!!! this is why I find soccer ⚽️ boring!!! I played soccer for 20 years. But Rugby 🏉 is such a hard brutal game. I love it !!!! Beats WWF. 😅😅 go bokke. Uncle Cyril wants to pick up the cup again. Lekker jy !!! 😅😅😅😅
So true as an irish/bok supporter. rugby as won this weekend. OMG!!! this is why I find soccer ⚽️ boring!!! I played soccer for 20 years. But Rugby 🏉 is such a hard brutal game. I love it !!!! Beats WWF. 😅😅 go bokke. Uncle Cyril wants to pick up the cup again. Lekker jy !!! 😅😅😅😅
He is a complete has been. Why does he always grab the ball when we get a penalty, thinking the other team thinks he is going to do something special. Please let him be the water boy, but he will probably drop the water.
Referring to the first half come back - there is a saying “a wounded Bok is a dangerous thing”. This is a great example of this. It was an epic game and well done to France for an excellent game.
This was the hardest game of Springbok rugby I have ever watched. Nail biting to the elbows and shouting at the tv, both sides causing their supporters anguish and desperation like never before. 1 point, only 1 little point that was the difference between heartache and elation. Wow! This match between France and South Africa will go down as one of the greatest games of rugby ever played.
I think the Boks made a lot of mistakes early on but got lucky with 3 breakaway tries. We defended most of the game, and struggled in defence. It was because of the France pressure. Hats off to them.
That was not luck. Think about it in boxing terms. If your opponent throws his greatest punch to your face but you don't fall. Is that luck? Yet you come back out of the fight with a W when for all intent and purpose you should have gone down with that punch but you didn't. Bro, that's not luck. That's preparation, ability, heart, determination and character. That takes a really strong team. Don't play down that victory mate. It was massive and it was deserved.
France should be proud, brilliant team, exceptional no 9, facing a desperate and determined unconventional Bok side, brimming with future stars. Well done to both sides, its why we watch rugby.
I’ve never seen a team play as well as France did and still lose. It was an amazing match and the Boks are truly frighteningly good. Defence wins matches as the ABs and Boks have just demonstrated perfectly.
I think we (Bokke) were lucky, especially that the French came out with 110% and score some structured tries. The game was won by one impossible event that I have never seen before, a try conversion kick been run down, the loosing 2 points that should never have happened. it was a stunner! The French had given it all in the first half and the bomb squad came back at a tried French side with only the crowd holding them the the fight.
Once again a balanced report on the game. Both games you allude to were worthy of being a final, and still a lot to play for. RassNaber won’t allow any complacency in the build up to the England game. So many MOM’s Eben, Bongi, Kriel, Kolbe? Who was your MOM? 🇿🇦💚💛
What a weekend of rugby! France played all the rugby for 60minutes. What heart by the Boks. Manie is better than Pollard, but that kick by Pollard was epic. Just grateful they won in the end and now my voice can recover for work tomorrow
World rugby has provided us with FOUR nailbiters, instead of two semi nailbiters. So, I think all-in-all, it has worked like a peach. Still sad to see such amazing teams as Ireland and France sit on the sidelines.But then again, this WC will probably be remembered for the Quarters, not the semis.
Great match, I hope that the next world, the groups are paired more fairly for 2 tier in one group rather than the top tiers out in the quarters. It's funny that England is in a semi-final, yet they had a terrible 6 nations.
The frence can keep there head high, they kept us honest, but south africa was to much, the french replacements was weak and it shows again that teams with no depth in there sqaud will get punished
The top four nations heading into this World Cup, Ireland, France, South Africa and New Zealand, produced two of the greatest knock out rugby matches in World Cup history over the weekend in the Quarter Final stage. It's a shame that the draw led to this situation as Ireland and hosts France are now out. That's not to say the other two QFs were poor in comparison as they were great games in their own right, but not quite on the same level as the other two. Both Semi Finals should be fascinating games and I would say that the All Blacks and Springboks could meet in the Final for the first time since 1995.
As a Boks fan all i can say is well done 2 both team's...there just wasnt any loser cause both played excellently and fought so hard .wow nail biting indeed
So far the best game. Springboks managed to counterpunch so hard, cuz France was playing so brilliantly, however the impact of the SA bench was indeed phenomenal, closing the match, not to mention that the first 10 min of the 2nd half SA played with 14 players,. 2 am, You should have seen me shouting every time Springboks scored or did a great play, 10 floor buding in the balcony, lol
That period from 40mins to 60mins was crucial. Boks were erratic. Making costly mistakes. And for a period down to 14. They hang on and found a way to regain the lead and did enough to hold on.
