Is this a serious warning ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Australia? A lesson? Or even a slap in the face? None of that applies to Anthony Jelonch. The third row of France XV players (29 years, 33 caps), who spent Tuesday in front of the media, gave perspective on the significance of the defeat (17-32) against South Africa on Saturday at the Stade de France.
“We had the impression that it was an accident when reading the press, it looked like we took 50 points,” marveled the Stade Toulouse player, one of the French group’s executives. With If we replayed the match, but if we went back ahead in the 70th minute, where they got a penalty that we could also take ourselves… After that, for the last ten minutes, there was only one team on the pitch. »
“Many remember the last ten minutes”
“We are very disappointed with this result, we saw that we were in the game until the 65th minute when they were one point ahead. We got the ball back on the return, we had a chance in the 70th minute, then the last ten minutes were just one-sided for them, describes Anthony Jelonch, who had to start again against Fiji on Saturday in Bordeaux. Many remember these last ten minutes, where the game was one-sided, in the scrum, but we must not forget the first seventy minutes. »
“I have no problem with criticism,” said France attack coach Patrick Arlettaz. I know the game very well, that helps me moving forward. It’s all about knowing where we are going. If we accept criticism that says everything should be thrown away, I don’t agree. If we say that we were beaten at home even though we wanted to beat them, it doesn’t matter. »
The Blues still have two games to get back on track on this fall’s tour. After the meeting against Fiji in Gironde, they will face Australia on Saturday 22 November, again at the Stade de France.
