France pull off one of their greatest wins as Erasmus mind games backfire
France pull off one of their greatest wins as Erasmus mind games backfire
Charles Richardson Fri, November 13, 2026 at 11:21 PM UTC
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Maxime Lucu celebrates a famous victory for France - Nations Championship via Getty Images/Morgan Harlow
One of the smallest players on the field ends one of the most titanic Tests. It was the pugnacious tackle of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the wing known for his agility, which sealed one of France’s greatest victories, their first over South Africa in Paris since 2005, and one of the year’s most pulsating Tests.
Given Les Bleus’ injuries, only the 1999 World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand can come close to this win over the back-to-back world champions, South Africa. The Nations Championship, with the Springboks previously unbeaten, has been blown wide open. Crikey, given these two could meet in a World Cup semi-final next year, rugby’s blue-riband event in Australia has been blown wide open.
And how lucky are we. France did not score a point in the second half and South Africa’s comeback befitted a champion side, but these audacious hosts regaled their Parisian audience with a rugby feast. Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks’ head coach, said that he was nervous before the game and so he should have been. Fabien Galthié, his counterpart, had promised some fun and games, but Erasmus could not help himself: not long before kick-off, he pulled the coup de théâtre, switching his starting and replacement front rows. Time will tell whether such a move was legal.
“We didn’t play well,” said Erasmus. “I can’t find a lot of excuses. They were on top of their game and we were a little bit off. It was one point here and there. They took their opportunities and we didn’t. We weren’t just outplayed, we were outsmarted.”
“I think we’ve killed our dreams for the Nations Championship with this result,” he added, suggesting he thinks New Zealand will beat England next week.
Demons were present for both sides, mainly France. South Africa lost Jasper Wiese to a 20-minute red card for a nasty ruck clear-out – just as Lood de Jager had received in the visitors’ win last year – and, at the end, there was a reverse of that utterly compelling World Cup quarter-final on the same turf. This time, it was South Africa desperately searching for victory, having dominated the scrum and scoring all three of their tries from close range or mauls.
And how France, who played with such authority and accuracy in the first half, might have wished for a full complement. South Africa were close to it, but France were missing Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament, Paul Boudehent, Matthieu Jalibert, Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos. Their issues at fly-half cut so deep that Galthié was forced to start Maxime Lucu at scrum-half and Antoine Dupont at fly-half; no one was too surprised when, from kick-off, they switched roles. But both were truly outstanding; Dupont, in particular, was exceptional.
Manie Libbok’s late conversion miss might have cost South Africa the draw, but other than in the physical stakes, where the Springboks were formidable, the visitors were outplayed. France’s front five, bar lock Florian Verhaeghe, on just his seventh cap, struggled, but behind them it was veritably virtuoso.
The great Grégory Alldritt was back at No 8 for his first start in just under a year after being frozen out and could quite easily have been player of the match. Lucu and Dupont are playing as well as anyone in the world game while Bielle-Biarrey, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, born in Bromley, and Théo Attissogbe looked lethal behind. France can blow hot and cold but when it is the former they scold.
France were rocked pre-kick-off by the late withdrawal of Julien Marchand, the Toulouse hooker; thankfully, his clubmate Peato Mauvaka is not half bad.
But the hosts put the disruption behind them. After De Jager’s yellow card for a clumsy tackle, Lucu and Dupont beat France’s drum. Grandidier-Nkanang opened the scoring for France from a sweet Lucu pass, with his fourth try in as many caps. Dupont’s 50:22, after a calamity from Kurt-Lee Arendse, led to Attissogbe adding a French second, admittedly with a fluky deflection off the head of Kalvin Gourgues. That said, France had numbers over.
The Springboks fought back in their customary fashion as Jan-Hendrik Wessels, one of the late additions, marched over from a rolling maul.
Dupont kicked the classiest chip to Bielle-Biarrey as France hit back but, just before the interval, Lucu was also sin-binned for a high shot on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The area of contact was tight but France were let off by Arendse’s try on the stroke of half-time being ruled out for offside.
Lucu was followed by Wiese – with an eventual upgrading – and Grandidier-Nkanang, for a deliberate knock-on, into the bin, before Cobus Reinach dived over in his first act on the field to cut the deficit to seven. Régis Montagne was then shown a yellow card after South African scrum pressure and Malcolm Marx crossed from another Springboks maul.
But France, with Bielle-Biarrey’s beastly hit on Jesse Kriel, held on to put the cat among the pigeons – not just this year, but next, too.
Match details
France T Attissogbe; A Grandidier-Nkanang, K Gourgues (E Gailleton 56), Y Moefana, L Bielle-Biarrey; A Dupont, M Lucu; J-B Gros (R Neti 49), P Mauvaka (M Lamothe 49), S Falatea (R Montagne 49), F Verhaeghe (C Ollivon 56), M Guillard (T Staniforth 49), F Cros, C Woki (Falatea 69, Woki 78), G Alldritt (E Capilla 49).Replacements unused A Desperes.Sin-bin Lucu, Montagne.South Africa D Willemse; K-L Arendse, J Kriel, D de Allende, E Hooker (Feinberg-Mngomezulu 76); S Feinberg-Mngomezulu (M Libbok 66), M van den Berg (C Reinach 49); G Steenekamp (O Nche 35), J-H Wessels (M Marx 35), T du Toit (W Louw 35), L de Jager (F Mostert 56) R Nortje, P-S du Toit, S Kolisi (P de Villiers 56), J Wiese (C Hanekom 64).Sin-bin De Jager.Red card (20min) Wiese.Referee A Piardi (Italy).
10:30pm
Man of the match Antoine Dupont
“I feel tired. It has been really hard today with the yellow cards. It was very intense and we kept our intensity for 80 minutes, which was important for us.”
10:29pm
The tackle that arguably won France the game
Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s brilliant tackle on Jesse Kriel - Getty Images/David Rogers
10:28pm
Benjamin Kayser on ITV
10:27pm
What it means to France to beat South Africa
Will these sides meet in the World Cup semi-finals next year? - Reuters/Catherine Steenkeste
France did not score a second-half point but held on to win - Getty Images/David Rogers
10:24pm
Their final games
France take on Argentina next weekend whilst South Africa play Ireland. If France beat Argentina with a bonus point, they will be guaranteed a spot in the grand final. For South Africa, it does feel like it is advantage New Zealand in the southern hemisphere standings. The All Blacks would go above South Africa with a win over Wales tomorrow, which you would have to say is quite likely, and would mean it is advantage New Zealand going into the final round of group fixtures next weekend.
10:21pm
This weekend’s fixtures
Tonight:France 21 South Africa 19
Saturday:Italy vs ArgentinaWales vs New ZealandEngland vs JapanIreland vs Fiji
Sunday:Scotland vs Australia
10:16pm Video
Full time
A huge hit from Bielle-Biarrey forces the ball to come loose and Dupont dives on it. Lucu then boots the ball out to bring a thriller to an end. France win it 21-19 and Stade de France is roaring. These two heavyweights deliver yet another classic. The final unbeaten side in this year’s Nations Championship falls.
10:15pm
80 mins: France 21 South Africa 19
We are now into the red.
10:14pm
79 mins: France 21 South Africa 19
South Africa have the ball on halfway as we tick into the final minute.
10:12pm
78 mins: France 21 South Africa 19
There is a knock-on from France on their own 10-metre line to give South Africa the scrum with two minutes remaining. If South Africa’s scrum dominance continues, they could win a penalty, which would be kickable.
10:10pm
76 mins: France 21 South Africa 19
France are at the right end of the pitch, in possession just inside the South Africa 22, but are penalised at the breakdown for going off their feet. That is a big kick and suddenly, France have gone from attacking on the Springbok 22 to defending near their own 22.
10:06pm
74 mins: France 21 South Africa 19
France have not scored a point in over 40 minutes and the hosts, down a man, are holding on. The home crowd are trying to will their team to victory with a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise.
10:04pm Tries • Video
TRY! Marx rolls all the way over
South Africa have their third try of the night and will have the chance with the conversion to level the game up at 21-21. The Springboks win the lineout and set the maul. It gets rolling and there is absolutely no stopping the maul as South Africa race to the line, with Marx dotting down. However, Libbok misses the conversion so France just about remain in the lead by two points.
10:03pm
70 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
This is complete and utter domination from the South African forwards at scrum time. They win another penalty and Libbok will put it towards the corner.
09:59pm Video
68 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
South Africa are awarded yet another penalty at the scrum and this time the referee has had enough, sending Montagne to the bin. Another card in this game.
09:58pm
67 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
How big a moment could that be? Lucu’s effort slides wide of the right post and France spurn the chance to make it a two-score game.
South Africa have made a change at fly-half as Libbok replaces Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
09:56pm
66 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
France win a penalty on the South Africa 10-metre line and surely they should go for goal. They do...
09:56pm
65 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
That is superb defence from France, who manage to hold PS du Toit up over the line. I do have to say though that France got away with bringing down the scrum and how they still have 15 men on the pitch is beyond me.
South Africa now have 15 men as Wiese’s 20-minute red is over and he has been replaced by Hanekom.
09:54pm
63 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
South Africa win another scrum penalty but for whatever reason a yellow card is not shown to France. The question I have is why. The referee has given Dupont numerous warnings yet France still have 15 men on the pitch. I cannot understand why he has not gone to his pocket.
09:51pm
61 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
Once more, South Africa’s pack dominates and wins the scrum penalty. The referee is kind that he does not go to his pocket but France really on their last warning in so many ways.
09:49pm
60 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
Another scrum penalty goes the way of South Africa, this time on the French 10-metre line. Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicks into the French 22.
South Africa then have numerous penalty advantages inside the French 22. Nothing comes from the advantage so we go back for the numerous penalties. France would be very lucky to escape without a yellow card here. Dupont is given a warning and told the next one will go to the bin. South Africa sensibly opt for the scrum.
Grandidier-Nkanang is back from his time in the bin.
09:44pm
56 mins: France 21 South Africa 14
The momentum is with South Africa at the moment. Currently, both sides are down to 14 men with Grandidier-Nkanang still in the bin and Wiese off for his 20-minuted red cad.
09:38pm Tries • Video
TRY! Reinach dots down
The former Northampton scrum-half has only just come on and he has his 21st international try as he dots down right under the sticks. The extras are added and this is now a seven-point game.
09:37pm Key moments • Video
RED CARD! Wiese sent off
This is not a surprise. We have news from the bunker and Wiese’s night is done. His yellow card is upgraded to a red card and he can have no complaints. It was a terrible clear-out and it will be a 20-minute red. There are around 14 minutes remaining on that one.
09:35pm Video
50 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
That must have been a deliberate knock-on. South Africa are on the attack inside the France 22 and have numbers out to the left. Grandidier-Nkanang clearly deliberately slaps it down and he is definitely going to the bin. The question now will be whether a probably try would have been scored and thus is a penalty try the right call? The yellow is guaranteed but is there cover? They decide that there is cover but Grandidier-Nkanang is sent to the bin.
South Africa go to the corner.
09:33pm
48 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
This is enthralling end-to-end rugby as we go from one end to the other. There is no respite and the lings must be burning.
09:31pm
47 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
France are back up to 15 men as Lucu returns.
09:30pm
46 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
South Africa’s discipline is letting them down as Marx is penalised for going off his feet at a breakdown on their 10-metre line. France are going to the corner. However, for the third time tonight, the kick goes dead. This time it is Gourgues, who throws his hands up in frustration, but the camera clearly showed it going dead.
09:28pm
45 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
That is fantastic from PS du Toit. France have the lineout five metres out from the Springbok line but PS du Toit reads the throw brilliantly and steals it.
09:27pm Video
44 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
South Africa heroically defend near their own line and appear to have stolen possession but the officials need to check two possible incidents. Was there a deliberate knock-on from Hooker and was there wan illegal clear-out from Wiese?
Hooker does stick out his arm but did it go backwards? It did. Now we need to take a look at the clear-out which, in real time, looked bad. Wiese tucks his arm and he could be in serious trouble. There is clear head contact and Wiese is sent to the bin. There will be an off-field review and I suspect that it will be upgraded to a red card.
09:23pm
42 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
South Africa gift a penalty away inside the first minute of the second half and France kick to the Springbok 22.
Dupont attempts to finds Grandidier-Nkanang with a crossfield kick but it goes into touch. However, South Africa were offside beforehand so France have the penalty, which they put into the corner.
09:20pm
Second half
We are back under way in Paris. What a test lies ahead for the back-to-back world champions, being 14 points down with 40 minutes to play. France are though down to 14 men for the first eight minutes of the second half with Lucu still in the bin.
09:13pm
This weekend’s fixtures
Tonight:France 21 South Africa 7 HT
Saturday:Italy vs ArgentinaWales vs New ZealandEngland vs JapanIreland vs Fiji
Sunday:Scotland vs Australia
09:05pm
Half-time
Dupont boots the ball out to bring the first half to an end. France hold a commanding 14-point lead at the break.
09:05pm
NO TRY! Arendse effort ruled out
The officials decide that Arendse was offside and not 10 metres back when the throw came in so the try is chalked off.
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09:03pm Tries
TRY! Arendse scores straight off lineout
Exactly the finish to the half South Africa were after. Marx’s throw is over the top and perfectly picks out Arendse, who goes straight through a gap to go over untouched. The extras are added.
However, the officials are going to check to see if there was an offside in the build-up. Was Arendse 10 metres back when the lineout was thrown?
09:02pm Video
39 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
Feinberg-Mngomezulu makes a great break from inside his own half, showing great pace to get on the outside and he races towards the French 22. He then goes down after a tackle from Lucu that South Africa believe was high. The TMO is checking it and, unsurprisingly, we are not seeing replays from the French TV directors. I wonder why!
The TMO has confirmed that the tackle was high and South Africa are awarded a penalty. I am surprised that this is not more than a penalty. They are actually going to review it further to see if Lucu should be shown a yellow card. The contact is high but there is some mitigation as Feinberg-Mngomezulu does dip into the tackle. However, there is no doubt with the current laws that it is a yellow card. The home fans are not happy but they cannot disagree with that decision. If the shoe was on the other foot like it was earlier, they would be demanding a yellow.
08:58pm
38 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
France are caught holding on just outside their own 22 to gift South Africa the chance to pump it into the corner and maybe get a try just before the break.
However, Feinberg-Mngomezulu commits the same offence as Lucu did earlier as the Springbok fly-half’s kick goes dead.
08:55pm
35 mins: France 21 South Africa 7
Nortje thinks he is in for a try for the visitors but a knock-on is given against Wessels before Nortje raced away.
South Africa are going to dip into their Bomb Squad as the initial front-row that was supposed to start now come on off the bench in the form of Nche, Marx and Louw.
08:50pm Key moments • Tries • Video
TRY! Bielle-Biarrey finishes off stunning French move
That is a fantastic try from the home side. From just inside the South African half, Mauvaka makes the initial break from a ruck and offloads to Dupont, who spots Bielle-Biarrey in space racing down the left wing. Dupont dribbles a lovely kick across to perfectly pick out Bielle-Biarrey, who scores in the left corner. Lucu makes it three from three from the tee.
08:48pm Tries • Video
TRY! Wessels powers over
South Africa needed to score the next try and they do so. France are powerless to stop that maul as the South Africa pack rolls over the line, with Wessels the man to dot down. Had he not scored, South Africa may have been awarded a penalty try anyway. Feinberg-Mngomezulu adds the conversion and the gap is down to seven.
08:47pm
28 mins: France 14 South Africa 0
After a knock-on from France just outside their 22, South Africa dominate at the scrum and win themselves a penalty, which Feinberg-Mngomezulu puts into the corner.
France illegally bring down the maul and South Africa win the penalty. The hosts are a touch fortunate that they do not receive a yellow card for that offence.
Another lineout incoming...
08:42pm
24 mins: France 14 South Africa 0
South Africa are back up to 15 men as De Jager returns from the bin.
08:41pm Tries • Video
TRY! Attissogbe over for France’s second
It comes about in strange circumstances but the home fans will not care one little bit. With multiple penalty advantages in hand deep inside the 22, a pass comes off the face of Gourgues and Attissogbe races onto the loose ball and dots down. No knock-on from Gourgues and the try is good. Lucu adds the extras and the back-to-back world champions are under big pressure, 14 points down.
08:40pm
23 mins: France 7 South Africa 0
That is superb from France. A high kick is taken brilliantly by lock Verhaeghe on halfway before Dupont’s superb kick from inside his own half rolls into touch inside the Springbok 22 for a 50:22. To make matters worse, Arendse is penalised for stopping France from taking a quick lineout so France go to the corner.
France then earn themselves multiple penalty advantages deep inside the Springbok 22 before the hosts think they have scored...
08:35pm
18 mins: France 7 South Africa 0
Kolisi takes South Africa into the French 22 and suddenly the Springboks have momentum. However, the attack is ended after a knock-on.
We have news from the off-field review and unsurprisingly De Jager’s yellow card will not be upgraded to a red as there was not a high degree of danger.
08:31pm Key moments • Tries • Video
TRY! Grandidier-Nkanang puts France in front
The first points of the night go the way of the hosts. Their patience inside the Springbok 22 is rewarded as they finally find their way to the line. They come down the shortside and have numbers on South Africa. Lucu’s flat pass finds Grandidier-Nkanang in space on the right wing and the winger goes over. Lucu then adds the extras.
08:30pm
14 mins: France 0 South Africa 0
Gourgues makes a terrific break to take France into the South Africa 22. Dupont then finds Grandidier-Nkanang on the right wing with a crossfield kick and France are knocking on the door. They have gone through more than 10 phases inside the 22...
08:28pm Key moments • Video
13 mins: France 0 South Africa 0
South Africa win a scrum on the French 22 as the Springboks counter-ruck brilliantly. However, the TMO is going to be used for the first time tonight as the home fans are not too happy with what they feel is a high shot from De Jager on Lucu. In real time, it looked like a big hit and did not feel like it was illegal. However, after watching plenty of replays, it appears De Jager could be in a spot of bother. The French TV directors are making sure they show it over and over again in slow motion. The officials appear to be on the side of just giving a penalty but they have changed their mind and decided that it meets the yellow-card threshold. That will now to go an off-field review but I would be stunned if it was upgraded to a red card.
08:24pm
11 mins: France 0 South Africa 0
South Africa have had to do plenty of defending in these early stages and thus far have done so without conceding. As you would expect, the Springboks have done so with plenty of physicality. No points yet but it has been an engaging start.
08:21pm
9 mins: France 0 South Africa 0
France have a lineout inside the South Africa 22. The Springboks do enough to stop the maul so the French are forced into the hands of the backs. However, an offence by the Springboks was spotted at the maul so we go back for a French penalty, which the hosts put into the corner.
However, De Jager does superbly to get up high to steal the lineout before South Africa clear.
08:19pm
6 mins: France 0 South Africa 0
France are on the attack inside the South African half. They come down their right and work the ball down the line to Grandidier-Nkanang, who bursts down the right wing into the South Africa 22 but is taken into touch within 10 metres of the try line.
08:16pm
4 mins: France 0 South Africa 0
The first scrum of the game is on South Africa’s feed and the visitors absolutely dominate to win the penalty. The Springboks swapped their front-rows around about 90 minutes before kick-off and their “new” starting front-row, still with replacement-numbered shirts, dominate the first scrum.
From the lineout, Hooker makes a great break for South Africa to enter the French 22 but moments later the Springboks knock on.
08:14pm
2 mins: France 0 South Africa 0
Dupont has 10 on his back tonight but, after France receive the kick-off, it is Dupont who plays as scrum-half and box kicks. Perhaps it was a dummy call from France to name Dupont at 10 and Lucu at nine as, thus far, they have started the opposite way around. Both sides playing mind games with their team selections seeemingly!
The first penalty of the night goes the way of the home side as South Africa are penalised for offside following a knock-on near their own 10-metre line. France could go for goal but instead go to the corner. However, Lucu makes an absolute mess of his kick and the ball goes dead. A massive wasted opportunity from the home side. Should have gone for three!
08:11pm Analysis
Kick-off
We are under way in Paris. Will these sides delivery another thriller? Almost definitely.
There has been a late change for the hosts, with Peato Mauvaka replacing Julien Marchand at hooker in the French starting XV. Maxime Lemothe has come onto the bench for the home side.
More drama! In the warm-up, Julien Marchand, the great Toulouse hooker, has limped out for France; replaced by that other great Toulouse hooker, Peato Mauvaka. Maxime Lamothe of Bordeaux comes onto the bench. The difference to South Africa? Marchand will play no part tonight...
08:07pm
Reminder of the teams
France starting XV: 15 Theo Attissogbe, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Antoine Dupont, 9 Maxime Lucu, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Sipili Falatea, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 5 Mickael Guillard, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: 16 Maxime Lemothe, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla, 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
South Africa starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg; 1 Gerhard Steenekamp, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Lood de Jager, 5 Ruan Nortje, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
08:05pm
Anthem time
Both sides emerge from the tunnel at Stade de France into an electric atmosphere. You can feel the anticipation ahead of a blockbuster clash. Before the sides came out, Stade de France paid tribute to those who were killed in the terror attacks in Paris 11 years ago today.
Now it is time for the national anthems. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika followed by La Marseillaise. I have to say these are two of the best anthems going in the world.
08:01pm
Pre-match thoughts of Rassie Erasmus
07:59pm
A lot of eyes on this man
There always are on Antoine Dupont but especially tonight as he starts at 10.
Antoine Dupont starts at fly-half for the home side this evening - Reuters/Catherine Steenkeste
07:56pm
Last five meetings
November 2025: France 17 South Africa 32October 2023: France 28 South Africa 29 (World Cup)November 2022: France 30 South Africa 26November 2018: France 26 South Africa 29November 2017: France 17 South Africa 18
07:49pm
Late Springbok alterations
07:46pm
One of the best games ever three years ago?
07:44pm
South Africa prop Ox Nche on scrums
“The Italians put a lot of pressure on us. We have reviewed the game, and there is quite a bit of work we have to do because we fell a bit out of system and we just were not on the same page as a pack. They were definitely more determined than we were, and I think we were just a bit loose. But we have solutions for that, and we will certainly look to fix it and put in a performance that matches our standards when this weekend.
“They [France] love the scrum. They have a lot of big and heavy boys, who want to scrum, and that French team is a good example of rugby being a game for all shapes and sizes. They are really good at scrummaging, and you can see they have been very consistent throughout the Six Nations, and even with their teams in the European competitions, so they definitely bring a challenge similar to playing a local derby. It is very personal for the guy you are coming up against, and that is probably the difference.”
07:41pm
South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick on France’s half-back pairing tonight
“When it comes to physicality, we know one thing for sure, France will always bring it. They have got very good physical players, especially among their forwards, but No 9 and No 10 is where it is going to get tricky. I have no doubt that even though [Antoine] Dupont will be wearing the No 10 jersey, he is going to have licence to do whatever he wants between the two positions.
“Remember that [Maxime] Lucu has also covered 10 in the past, so between the two of them there will be freedom to keep swapping in general play. You will probably see Dupont at the breakdowns at No 9, and Lucu at first receiver at times. So, we know what they want to achieve. That said if we allow that halfback combination time and space with ball in hand, they have the potential to punish us, so our main focus point is to make sure we do not allow that. They also have very dangerous outside backs, and they have selected very quick players.”
07:34pm
How will Dupont go at fly-half?
07:30pm
“Expect the unexpected”
It was Fabien Galthié, the France coach, who had put South Africa on guard. “Expect the unexpected,” he told the back-to-back world champions, but it is his wily adversary, Rassie Erasmus, who has pulled off the coup de théâtre.
With just over an hour until kick-off, Erasmus has swapped his entire starting front row for those on the bench. Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw will all finish the game and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit will now start.
This is not the first time that Erasmus has pulled this stunt. In the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry in August, against New Zealand in Cape Town, the Springboks’ head coach did the same. That time, South Africa got away with it, as it was an independently regulated series. Telegraph Sport has approached the Nations Championship for clarity on where such a manoeuvre sits within its own regulations. If it is contrary, expect this saga to run.
07:23pm
South Africa fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
“It is a good confidence booster for the boys, but also a great reality check that we know we are not near where we need to be. I think it is a very special feeling to get to a changing room after a game and not be 100% happy with the performance we put out there, although the scoreline looked good. The nice thing with these back-to-back fixtures is your preparation from week to week all accumulates by the time you need it most. So, next week [Friday], we will be going in with two weeks of preparation, which is going to help us. I think we laid a good foundation.”
07:17pm
Serge Blanco interview: I smoked to keep myself at everyone else’s level
Biarritz already has a lighthouse. Built in 1834, the 47-metre watchtower surveys colossal waves as they plunge into the Atlantic coastline.
If that is Biarritz’s literal beacon, the human equivalent is sitting in the Town Hall’s marble office. One of France’s most famous sportsmen, Serge Blanco, is the incarnation of French flair, the “Pelé of rugby” and one of the sport’s earliest global icons.
Blanco is eight months into his term as mayor of the Basque town in south-west France, a move that would have seemed unlikely when the former full-back was building his reputation as one of rugby’s true troubadours.
07:10pm
This weekend’s fixtures
Tonight:France vs South Africa
Saturday:Italy vs ArgentinaWales vs New ZealandEngland vs JapanIreland vs Fiji
Sunday:Scotland vs Australia
07:05pm
Teams
France starting XV: 15 Theo Attissogbe, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Antoine Dupont, 9 Maxime Lucu, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Sipili Falatea, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 5 Mickael Guillard, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla, 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
South Africa starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg; 1 Gerhard Steenekamp, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Lood de Jager, 5 Ruan Nortje, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
07:00pm Key moments
Springboks up to old tricks?
06:55pm Key moments
Mouthwatering contest at Stade de France
The fifth round of fixtures in the Nations Championship kicks off in Paris with a heavyweight clash as France host back-to-back world champions South Africa. When these sides met in this stadium a year ago, South Africa won 32-17. The Springboks have dominated meetings between these nations, with France winning just once in the last 10 clashes.
France began the second half of their Nations Championship campaign with a comfortable 54-17 win over Fiji in Lyon last Saturday. That win means that they sit atop of the northern hemisphere standings with three wins from their first four games. However, the victory over Fiji came at a cost as fly-half Romain Ntamack dislocated his shoulder. France’s options at fly-half continue to be depleted, with Ntamack now joining Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy on the sidelines. As a result, Antoine Dupont shifts across from scrum-half to fly-half. The injury issues for the hosts do not stop there, with flanker Paul Boudehent also ruled out with a calf injury. Boudehent joins a long list of French forwards on the sidelines which also includes Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament and Anthony Jelonch.
Antoine Dupont starts in the 10 jersey for France tonight - AP/Thibault Camus
South Africa obliterated Italy last weekend, winning 66-7, although they could have won by even more. The Springboks have therefore won four from four thus far to top the southern hemisphere standings. 16 members of the Springbok matchday 23 tonight also featured when they beat France in Paris last year.
“We said from the outset that we would not rotate too much on this tour, so it was always our intention to select a settled squad for this game to build momentum in the competition,” South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus said. “Most of these players have faced France at home and know what to expect from them, and they have also experienced their passionate and vocal crowd first-hand.”
“Matches between us and France are always intense, and this week will be no different. Both teams have everything to play for, with France leading the northern hemisphere standings and the team being ranked fourth in the world, and we are in a similar situation trying to hold onto the top spots in the respective Nations Championship hemisphere tables, so this match is vital for both sides to try to advance to the final of the competition in a few weeks.”
South Africa come into tonight having thrashed Italy last weekend - PA/David Davies
Both teams currently sit atop their respective standings so could meet in the Nations Championship final at the end of this month. In addition to that possible encounter, they could well meet in the semi-finals at the World Cup next year. Kick-off from Stade de France is at 8.10pm GMT.
Source: “AOL Sports”
