Springbok World Cup winning legend all but concedes RWC victory for France
France might have lost to Scotland on Saturday in their first warm up Test before their own World Cup next month, but they made a statement in defeat nevertheless. Or that is at least what 2019 World Cup winner Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira thinks.
Gregor Townsend’s side won 25-21 at Murrayfield after mounting a second half comeback, and while that looks like a very impressive victory against possibly the favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in October, they will crash back down to reality when they realise that it was only a second string French side that arrived in Edinburgh, with almost the entire starting XV unlikely to start a game for Fabien Galthie’s team in France’s crucial World Cup matches. And the fact that the visitors came very close to winning the match at all has filled plenty of people with fear.
The Beast did not hide this fear, writing on X after the match: “What’s scary is.. that was probably the C side for France yet they dominated Scotland and lost at the death. France will be hard to be beat on home soil come September/October. They have depth like we have, so the scene is set for a spectacle.”
His former Springboks teammate, and 2007 World Cup winner, JP Pietersen was not having any of it though, commenting on the post “what are you talking about.” He obviously has not given up the hope, but the Boks will surely want to avoid playing France at the World Cup. However, that could very well be the quarter final depending on how South Africa’s fixture against Ireland pans out and France’s fixture against the All Blacks pans out in the pool stages. If not the quarter finals, it would be the final where they would meet.
Take a look at Mtawarira’s post:
What’s scary is.. that was probably the C side for France yet they dominated Scotland and lost at the death. France will be hard to be beat on home soil come September/October. They have depth like we have, so the scene is set for a spectacle 🤩👌🏼.
— Tendai Mtawarira (@Beast_TM) August 5, 2023
