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Mathieu Bastareaud on France's 'final dream' opponent

France centre Mathieu Bastareaud. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

France’s statement win over Italy in Lyon saw the host nation secure the top seed in Pool A, setting up a date with Pool B’s runner-up in the quarter-finals.

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Given the current standings, that team is most likely to be South Africa, the reigning world champions. It would be a cruel reward for overcoming all challenges that have come France’s way, but that is the nature of Rugby World Cups.

With the form of the two teams, the contest would promise a final-worthy spectacle, and should France’s influential captain Antoine Dupont return from injury in time, it would certainly be a superstar showdown.

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    Before the pools are set though, Ireland must play Scotland to secure their top seed as well as South Africa’s second seed.

    There is every chance that the French may yet play either Ireland or Scotland in the first round of the knockout stages, but when former France midfielder Mathieu Bastareaud was asked which team France would fear in the quarters, his mind jumped to the defending champions.

    “For sure, South Africa,” he told The Front Row Daily Show. But, then the idea of playing Ireland instead was raised. “It’s 50/50,” he laughed.

    “South Africa, they are very confident. They look very confident. They remember the game in Marseille, so I think they want their revenge.”

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    The 30-26 French victory over the Springboks in Marseille during last year’s Autumn Nations Series was the last contest between the two nations, and will no doubt have left a sour taste in South African mouths as their victory was snatched in the final minutes.

    Regardless of their quarter-final opponents, should the French progress through to the final, there is one nation in which France have a deeply competitive history with at Rugby World Cups and would love to face on the grandest stage rugby has to offer.

    “In France, we have a lot of respect for New Zealand, for the All Blacks,” Bastareaud said. “You can see when they do the haka, (the crowd’s noise) is very low, because it’s just respect. It’s a final dream.”

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    The three-time European Cup champion noted two key ingredients in a successful Rugby World Cup campaign for the French; focus and Antoine Dupont.

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    The halfback maestro suffered a facial fracture against Namibia in round three and is pushing for a return for the first round of knockout rugby.

    If the 27-year-old is cleared to play, he must be fit to survive the potential three-game run to the final.

    “It is very, very important. He is the best player in the world.

    “He was in a bad situation because maybe you have to end your World Cup. It’s very hard. So, now he is back and we are very happy in France.

    “You have to be focussed, you have seven games to be world champion.

    “It’s maybe one month and a half. You just have to stay focused for one month and a half. It’s hard, but when you know the prize after, sometimes in life you have to sacrifice something for your dream, and I think for the French team, that is the moment.”

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    Comments

    9 Comments
    S
    Snash 654 days ago

    “There is every chance that the French may yet play either Ireland or Scotland” nope its unlikely - Ireland has had Scotlands number for years while Scotland would need 5 points from tomorrows game and - if Ireland get 1 point - just about an impossible (games) points difference, so no not every chance.

    s
    sean 654 days ago

    Scotland just need 4 points to over take Ireland provided they win by 8 points

    A
    AJ 654 days ago

    scotland needs to beat ireland by 21 points while ireland gets a bonus point. so the minimum score for south africa to drop out would be Scotland winning by 41-20 That is simply not happening.

    A
    Another 654 days ago

    There’s probably as much chance of Scotland beating Ireland as there is of Ireland progressing past the Quarter Finals then? How many times have Ireland done that before?

    K
    KB 654 days ago

    Your wish will come true - its going to be a France NZ repeat winner takes all and what a magnficient Final it will be But first we have Ireland SA Wales and England to navigate

    V
    Vin 653 days ago

    🤣😂

    S
    Snash 654 days ago

    Placed your bets?

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    Comments on RugbyPass

    P
    PL 27 minutes ago
    Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

    I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

    Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


    Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


    The officiating of last feet is non existent

    The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

    A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


    Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

    Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


    About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

    Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


    The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


    I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


    The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

    Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

    Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

    My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


    Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


    Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

    Last feet to last feet + 1 m


    When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


    As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


    Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

    25 were scrum for dissent


    Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


    All the s.ite would disappear


    The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


    Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

    1 Go to comments
    S
    Soliloquin 1 hour ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

    His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

    But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

    And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


    I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

    For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

    But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


    As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

    Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


    And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

    So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

    France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

    236 Go to comments
    S
    Soliloquin 1 hour ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

    But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

    He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

    Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

    He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

    He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


    I really hope that:

    -Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

    -Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

    -Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

    236 Go to comments
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