Former France lock Paul Willemse says Fabien Galthié’s squad watched Chasing the Sun to better understand the Springboks and Rassie Erasmus.
Willemse, who recently retired from rugby having played 32 Tests for his adopted nation, told Rapport that the Les Bleus coach has long admired Erasmus’ methods and wanted his players to appreciate what makes South Africa so formidable.
“We watched Chasing the Sun to know who we are dealing with,” said Willemse. “Galthié said South Africa is one of the best teams in the world and is doing incredible things. We need to be able to learn from them.”
The two coaches will meet again on Saturday night at the Stade de France, the same venue where the Springboks edged Les Bleus 29-28 in the unforgettable 2023 World Cup quarter-final.
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Willemse, who missed that match through injury, said the loss still cuts deep.
“The World Cup defeat against the Boks was like a stab to the heart,” he admitted. “It’s definitely a revenge game. The people haven’t forgotten it at all. They don’t care much about other things. They’re just looking for that win, the consolation win, over South Africa.”
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