France 'can't wait' for South Africa clash after World Cup heartbreak, says Maxime Lucu - 'They stole it off us'
Published 07/11/2025 at 12:17 GMT
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Maxime Lucu says that France have not forgotten their Rugby World Cup heartbreak at the hands of South Africa ahead of Saturday's clash in the Quilter Nations Series. France hosted the 2023 Rugby World Cup but were eliminated in the quarter-finals after a thrilling 29-28 defeat against the Springboks. Lucu was part of the France squad that could not get over the line.
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Scrum-half Maxime Lucu says South Africa "stole" the 2023 Rugby World Cup from France and that the heartbreaking quarter-final defeat has stuck with the French public.
Les Bleus hosted the 2023 Rugby World Cup and were among the favourites for the trophy, but they were beaten 29-28 by the Springboks in a thrilling quarter-final clash.
South Africa went on to retain the Rugby World Cup, beating rivals New Zealand 12-11 in a closely-fought final.
Lucu was part of the France squad that could not lift the trophy on home soil, and he insists that the French public have not forgotten about the defeat ahead of his side’s Quilter Nations Series clash with South Africa on Saturday evening, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"It was a massive defeat for us," he told EPCR.
"For us, the French people, it’s really stuck with us.
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"It was our World Cup and they came and stole it off us. It was such a great game.
"They’re much more than just brutes. It’s true they’re unbelievably strong, but they’ve also got a lot of quick and nimble youngsters coming through.
"There’s talent everywhere; they’re a complete side. We can’t wait to take them on.
"They’re back-to-back world champions. Everything’s set up perfectly for a great game."
South Africa fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was not part of that Rugby World Cup-winning squad, but the 23-year-old has caught the eye for club and country since.
He will go head-to-head with French fly-half Romain Ntamack on Saturday.
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Ntamack is one of the finest play-makers in either hemisphere, but missed out on France’s Rugby World Cup squad in 2023 due to injury.
The back believes that South Africa’s new star Feinberg-Mngomezulu gets the best out of his teammates.
"He's very good; I watched him play during the Rugby Championship," Ntamack said.
"He's an additional weapon and also brings out the best in exceptional players like Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse. We'll have to keep him and the others contained...Physically, it will be a very tough challenge."
"We expect all sorts of innovations from the Springboks, but since we've all been together, we've been trying to study them as much as possible so we're not caught off guard."
Stream the Gallagher Premiership, Quilter Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+
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