Blues, damned in the final

Paul Roger, Media365: Published on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 10:14 p.m.

The French team reached the World Cup final three times, in 1987, 1999 and 2011, and the French XV lost each time. A look back at these three lost finals.

1987

In the first World Cup in rugby history, Australia and New Zealand hosted the competition in 1987. The Australians were eliminated in the semi-finals by Frenchman Serge Blanco, winning 30-24 after eliminating Fiji in the previous round (31-16). ). But the Blues, led by Jacques Foureau, will not be able to win the final against the All Blacks team that dominated them during their previous round, and which logically won this final (29-9). “We had achieved the Grand Slam, we were one of the best teams in the world. But the final was won. I was sad, and I am still sad when I think about that failure,” admits Frank Mesnil Parisian.

1999

In 1999, rugby became professional, and this fourth edition is held in five different European countries, including France. A World Cup in which the Blues will leave their mark by eliminating the New Zealand team from the semi-finals (43-31), after an unforgettable match. Everyone still remembers the legendary try scored by the late Christophe Dominici at Twickenham. Unfortunately, the Tricolores, captained by Jean-Claude Skrilla, fell short again in the final, losing their teeth to Australia during this disappointing match in Cardiff (12-35), against a highly competent Wallabies side.

2011

The Blues’ third and final defeat in a World Cup final is undoubtedly the most disappointing. If they were not so hot before the competition, and in New Zealand, even while losing twice in the group stage, to their hosts as well as to Tonga, Marc Livermont’s men are tenacious, knocking out the English (19-12). Then the Welsh (9-8) in order to reach the final. The French XV team will lose again to the All Blacks in the final (7-8). The French players, who were severely punished, are still in contention for the always controversial refereeing of South African Craig Joubert. “When we understood that we could go as far as we wanted, the referee did not blow the whistle. You hit, you hit, you hit and you get angry,” he confided to. the team Thierry Dusutoire is still very disappointed 10 years later.