A year ago today, the France team lost in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup to South Africa. Substitute for this meeting, Pierre Bourgarit looks back on this match now anchored in the history of French rugby.
No one forgot this part, least of all those who were on the pitch. On October 15, 2023, Pierre Bourgarit had the blue jersey on his shoulders flocked with the number sixteen. Entering shortly after the hour mark, the Rochelais challenged the Boks for more than a quarter of an hour and was a major player at the end of the match.
“Given the result, there aren’t many good memories leftadmits the hooker. It was a huge disappointment for a whole group, who lived together for many weeks. It definitely left us with a bitter taste. And then, when we think about it, the frustration is immense because we would have liked to please the French public, who were magnificent during the World Cup.”
Images difficult to see again
These gestures have become defining moments in the history of rugby. Eben Etzebeth’s tap at the start of the match, Kolbe’s counter on Ramos during a conversion… These facts of the game are much more talked about today than the result itself.
So obviously, it is not pleasant to open your networks and come across actions unfavorable to the XV of France. “It’s very hard when you come across certain images… You wish you could avoidexplains Bourgarit. Admittedly, you’re not having a good time, but that’s part of the story now. I think that in 10 or 20 years, Etzebeth’s intervention will still be on the networks, so you have to get used to seeing it (laughs).” Note that Pierre Bourgarit has still not seen the match again, cold.
Not a taboo subject between teammates
We would easily understand why some refuse to talk about this quarter-final, lost by a small point. However, don’t think that it’s forbidden to mention two words: “It’s not a taboo subject at all. It’s very far from being one. But it’s been a year, we almost never talk about it. When you have coffee around a table, it’s not “It’s not the first topic of conversation that comes up. It’s normal.”
A year after the immense sadness, Pierre Bourgarit moved on: “We have to move forward. We are not going to live in the past forever. Many players who were there in 2023 will still be there in 2027. That’s when we will have to release the frustration for good.”
