France flanker Cros says 2023 loss to Springboks was decided early
France flanker Francois Cros says his side must match the Springboks physically in Paris on Friday, after admitting they were beaten in 2023 before the game began.
France know what kind of contest awaits when they host the Springboks at the Stade de France on Friday night, and flanker Francois Cros says the lessons of the past are fresh in their minds, according to IOL.
Looking back at 2023
Cros believes France approached the 2023 World Cup quarter-final the wrong way. He said the team’s build-up was too long and not hard enough, and that the match was effectively lost “before kick-off”. He recalled seeing photographs of the Springboks’ tough gym sessions before the tournament and realising the two sides worked very differently.
In his view, France matched South Africa for individual skill, and may even have been better, but the Springboks were far stronger physically and that showed in the result. France lost that quarter-final 29-28. Last November they lost to the Boks again, this time 32-17.
Physicality and the scrum
Cros said France cannot hope to win unless they meet the Springboks’ physical intensity, because that is what the South Africans build their wins on. He admitted the contact will be painful, saying “The physicality is going to hurt, that’s for sure.” He added that players who love combat sports enjoy testing themselves against the best.
The flanker said France must first sort out their priorities before they can play with more creativity in attack. One of those priorities is the scrum. Cros pointed out that all eight Springbok forwards work as a unit and like to dominate the opposition. He said the scrum was an area where France struggled at the 2023 World Cup, and that the team has worked on it since the start of their training camp.
Preparation after Fiji
France have prepared behind closed doors after a bruising game against Fiji last week. Cros said the physical exchanges in that match were intense and had been underrated. With only six days before facing the Springboks, the squad focused on recovery early in the week. Tuesday was their only training day, and they chose to work in the best possible conditions.
Cros said it can help to stay in your own bubble, which is how France have approached the build-up.
What to watch for
- The scrum, which Cros expects to be a key battleground.
- How well France handle the physical contest before looking to attack with flair.
- Whether the Springboks can again outmuscle the French, as they did in 2023 and last November.
This story is based on reporting by IOL.
