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France Rebuts Criticism After Springboks Defeat, Sets Focus for Fiji

Coaches set a focus on structure for Fiji in response to late errors that let South Africa pull away.

Overview

  • France lost 17-32 to South Africa at the Stade de France, with coaches and players noting the game was competitive for about an hour before a one-sided finish.
  • Anthony Jelonch said media coverage was excessive, arguing the performance was portrayed as a "shipwreck" as if France had conceded 50 points.
  • Attack coach Patrick Arlettaz cited a lack of alternation and realism and said too many errors and penalties made the Springboks' late surge inevitable.
  • Looking to Bordeaux on Saturday, Arlettaz insisted France must impose order and rely on collective structure against a Fiji side that excels in disorder.
  • Staff flagged rotation and new combinations for the autumn tour, with Gaël Fickou not likely to feature against Fiji and Grégory Alldritt discussed as a likely option, while Australia awaits on November 22 and rankings are considered secondary to winning.