France captain Antoine Dupont said on Friday that beating Rugby World Cup holders South Africa 21-19 was essential to prove his side could secure tough victories, according to “Dupont praises France late grind in South Africa victory.”
The French outfit successfully held off a second-half resurgence from the Springboks in Paris to maintain their lead in the Nations Championship table.
Dupont, who is set to turn 31 on Sunday, delivered a player of the match performance that included a crucial last-gasp defensive effort to seal the result.
Reflecting on the mental toughness required for the win, “In the head it’s important to win matches that count, that are tough, that go down to the last minute,” Dupont told broadcaster TF1.
The captain noted that the team never surrendered despite facing significant pressure on their own goal line.
France head coach Fabien Galthie praised his captain for his versatility, jokingly referring to him as a good back rower during the post-match commentary.
Galthie highlighted that Dupont played in multiple positions, including stints at nine and ten, while also contributing defensively to hold up South African flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus expressed frustration following the loss, noting that the defeat effectively ended his team’s hopes of winning the tournament.
Erasmus admitted that his squad failed to capitalize on key opportunities throughout the match.
The South African coach noted that his team missed out on a potential final appearance at Twickenham due to the loss and the failure to secure a fourth try.
According to the reporting, “We basically killed our dreams for the Nations Cup tonight with this performance and not getting the win and the fourth try,” Erasmus stated.
He concluded that while the opposition played at the top of their game, his own side was slightly off, leading to a narrow defeat in a match that came down to individual errors and missed chances.