It was a fitting way for the woeful tenure of Philippe Saint-Andre to end — a record loss and jeers from France rugby fans who won't be sorry to see him go.
As he conducted his on-field interview following France's 62-13 loss to New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals, Saint-Andre's face appeared on the giant screens at each end of Millennium Stadium.
This is a man widely regarded as one of France's greatest ever wingers, but that wouldn't spare him.
French supporters let their displeasure known. The vitriol was sustained and heartfelt.
"You would rather be applauded than booed," Saint-Andre said.
The statistics of Saint-Andre's near-four-year reign make painful viewing. Twenty-three losses in 45 games. Three fourth-place finishes and a wooden spoon in the four Six Nations. A quarterfinal exit at the Rugby World Cup that was completed by the most points any France side has conceded.
Saint-Andre will go down as the worst France coach in the professional era, perhaps ever. Someone who butchered France's identity, ripping away any of the so-called "French flair," and replacing it with physicality that got utterly shown up by a more mobile, dynamic New Zealand team. Someone whose habit of constantly tinkering with the side meant there was no chance of instilling continuity.
His France side is unloved.
The French have built a reputation for overlooking the importance of the Six Nations, and raising their game for the Rugby World Cup. He had his players in camp for three months, which involved trips to the Alps and the Pyrenees, and said that preparation would be enough to bring the cup back.
But in Britain, they've been outplayed in their only two matches of real consequence — a 24-9 loss to Ireland in the Pool D decider, and now this dismantling by the All Blacks.
"We were hoping this long preparation would give us a new dimension," Saint-Andre said. "My players put everything into it, invested, and committed themselves. But we cannot lie — we reached the quarterfinals and we are between the fifth and eighth in the world since 2011.
"I accept my responsibility for this and for this match."
Good luck Guy Noves, who has already been hired as Saint-Andre's replacement. The former Toulouse coach has to rediscover France's identity, establish a better rapport between the national team and the country's powerful clubs, and replace a generation of players set to call time on their international careers.
That includes Thierry Dusautoir, Frederic Michalak, Pascal Pape, and Nicolas Mas.
At the final whistle, Dusautoir stood with his hands on his hips and looked down at the ground. The Millennium Stadium was the scene of his greatest performance, when he made 38 tackles in France's 20-18 win over the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup quarterfinals.
Eight years on, it was a very different feeling for the flanker.
"After such a defeat, and the helplessness we felt for most of the game, there's not much more to say," Dusautoir said.
On his future with France, he added: "We have just lost a quarterfinal and conceded 60 points. You can imagine I'm not thinking about that. I'm thinking mostly about my teammates. Our World Cup is over. We are going to have to go back to reality and real life."
Saint-Andre was a successful club coach in England, winning league titles with Gloucester and Sale Sharks. But he didn't win anything in two years with Toulon from 2009-11, and has failed with France.
"Maybe three months (together) every four years is not enough, we had too much to catch up," Saint-Andre said. "Today was the last match for some players who have given a lot to French rugby.
"A new generation has learnt a lot in this Rugby World Cup and will bring victories for us in the future."
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.