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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Luke Baker

France v South Africa live: 14-man Springboks notch remarkable win in heavyweight grudge match

France Springboks Siya Kolisi South Africa Harry LathamCoyle Rugby World Cup Antoine Dupont Maxime Lucu Paris

World champions South Africa recovered from 14-6 down and the sending off of powerhouse lock Lood de Jager to overpower France 32-17 in a bruising autumn international.

France cracked completely under pressure as their discipline disintegrated, throwing away an early lead despite the Springboks being reduced to 14 men on the stroke of half-time.

Two years after their agonising 29-28 World Cup quarter-final loss to the Springboks on home soil, Les Bleus appeared poised for revenge. Still without injured captain Antoine Dupont, France looked irresistible early on as winger Damian Penaud scored twice to become his country’s all-time leading try scorer with 40, surpassing Serge Blanco’s long-standing record.

A succession of reckless infringements and a costly yellow card, however, handed the initiative to the Springboks who punished every mistake. South Africa fought back with tries from Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who also slotted two penalties and three conversions.

Relive all the Stade de France action with our live blog below:

France vs South Africa live

  • South Africa brilliantly beat France 32-17 in Paris despite Lood de Jager red card
  • EXPLAINER: Why was Lood de Jager shown a red card against France?
  • 77' - TRY! Feinberg-Mngomezulu slides through a gap for the cherry on top (FRA 17-32 SA)
  • 72' - TRY! Williams darts over the line with a snipe to put Boks in control (FRA 17-25 SA)
  • 65' - TRY! Springboks maul over the line and Esterhuizen touches down for the lead (FRA 17-18 SA)
  • 40' - RED CARD! De Jager permanently sent off for reckless high hit on Ramos (FRA 14-13 SA)
  • 34' - TRY! Reinach with a sublime solo score, collecting his own chip kick (FRA 14-13 SA)
  • 28' - TRY! Penaud scores again in the corner to extend the French lead (FRA 14-6 SA)
  • 5' - TRY! Penaud latches on to Ramos's glorious chip for the first try (FRA 7-0 SA)

Siya Kolisi grateful to win 100th cap

22:44 , Luke Baker

Siya Kolisi won his 100th cap for the Boks today and he was in typically philosophical form in his post-match interview.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu reflects on impressive win

22:33 , Luke Baker

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was named man of the match today and here’s what he had to say about the win.

“That was what we thought it was going to be against France,” he told TNT Sports. “We were doing well in contestable kicks but were not getting points on the board but we stuck in there and it was great to win for Siya [Kolisi on his 100th cap].

“It is good fun playing in this team. I am part of an incredible team and it is a dream to play for the Springboks.

“I got injured on the 28 December for the Stormers against the Sharks and Siya told me to hold tight and we would win together. He has done so much for me and this country.”

(AFP via Getty Images)

WATCH: Springboks beat France in style

22:23 , Luke Baker

Here’s the highlights from the Springboks win

FULL-TIME! France 17-32 South Africa

22:08 , Luke Baker

AND THAT’S IT! All over in Paris. The Springboks have come to town and delivered a lesson to France on their own turf.

Lood de Jager’s red card just before half-time only spurred them on and a sublime second half means South Africa win in style.

Les Bleus can’t get revenge for that World Cup quarter-final defeat in 2023 and Rassie Erasmus’s are the undisputed best in the world by some distance

(Getty Images)

France 17-32 South Africa, 79 mins

22:05 , Luke Baker

The Springboks enjoying themselves now! Kolbe dances forward as they look for one final score

TRY! France 17-32 South Africa (Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 77 mins)

22:03 , Luke Baker

AND THEY DO! The Springboks have turned it on in this second half. Another try and that is very much game, sett and match.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu drifts right, drifts right and then dummies before sliding through a gap and cruising over the line.

We have a TMO review to see if Pieter-Steph du Toit’s clearout of Ntamack is too much but Angus Gardner rightly says the French No 10 is part of the ruck and is fine to be cleaned out. Good decision. Conversion added and what a victory this will be

France 17-25 South Africa, 76 mins

21:59 , Luke Baker

The Boks are turning the screw now. They win another scrum penalty and kick to touch. They’re in the French 22 with the clock ticking towards 76 minutes.

Well-taken lineout and they’ll try to pierce the blue wall once more

WATCH: South Africa take control

21:58 , Luke Baker

Those two Springbok tries may just have finished off France. Incredible from South Africa

France 17-25 South Africa, 74 mins

21:56 , Luke Baker

Can France conjure some magic to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat? It’s a huge ask

TRY! France 17-25 South Africa (Grant Williams, 72 mins)

21:55 , Luke Baker

Nortje claims the lineout and the maul is stopped initially, then again, so the Boks spread it.

AND IT’S A TRY! Scrum half Grant Williams steps to his left, half-dummies and zips through a gap, diving over for the score. Magic!

Easy conversion and suddenly the lead is eight points with eight minutes left

France 17-18 South Africa, 70 mins

21:51 , Luke Baker

Here we go again from the lineout. Snyman catches the low throw and France drag the maul down illegally - Cramont in from the side.

Another lineout coming.

France 17-18 South Africa, 69 mins

21:49 , Luke Baker

Feinberg-Mngomezulu shows a flash of his quality with a quick step and dart through a gap to earn a few extra metres.

Another South African penalty as France are pinged at the breakdown. It’s kickable but the Boks want to go for the throat. They kick to the corner.

France 17-18 South Africa, 67 mins

21:48 , Luke Baker

Everything coming up Springbok now! France in good position from the kick-off but Marx superbly gets over the ball and wins the penalty. Crucial turnover.

TRY! France 17-18 South Africa (Andre Esterhuizen, 65 mins)

21:46 , Luke Baker

Nortje catches the lineout and the maul rolls to the line. THIS TIME THEY’RE OVER!

Brute strength, raw power from the Boks and they score the try through Andre Esterhuizen. France have dominated this second half but now trail!

Crucial conversion for Feinberg-Mngomezulu and he hits the post! Another miss, so the lead is just one. How costly will these misses from the tee be?

SIN-BIN! France 17-13 South Africa (Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 64 mins)

21:44 , Luke Baker

It IS a yellow card for Louis Bielle-Biarrey but no penalty try as there was enough cover outside. It will still be 14 vs 14 for the next 10 minutes though.

The Boks go back to the corner from the penalty...

France 17-13 South Africa, 63 mins

21:43 , Luke Baker

Nortje takes in the ball and the maul gets rolling towards the line. Stopped a metre short, they then try to go wide right to finish it off but the ball is loose.

We’re coming back for a potential deliberate knock-on from Bielle-Biarrey... He tries to make the intercept but goes with one hand and that will be a penalty.

Will it be a penalty try and/or a yellow card?

France 17-13 South Africa, 62 mins

21:40 , Luke Baker

South Africa build in the French half - their first spell of sustained possession in opposition territory in the second half.

They run the phases and win a penalty deep in the 22. They kick to touch and will try to maul over the line for the try

PENALTY! France 17-13 South Africa (Thomas Ramos, 60 mins)

21:38 , Luke Baker

Is Thomas Ramos the best goal-kicker in world rugby? He might well be.

He slots this one from long distance with no fuss anyway.

France 14-13 South Africa, 58 mins

21:37 , Luke Baker

Oscar Jegou take a bow! France smothering South Africa on the rare occasion the visitors have the ball. Libbok is hurried and his kick clear is blocked before Feinberg-Ngomezulu is caught in possession and Jegou forces the penalty.

A big kick at goal upcoming.

France 14-13 South Africa, 57 mins

21:35 , Luke Baker

Snyman getting through his work with two tackles in the space of five seconds as France keep probing but can’t yet pierce the South African wall.

Manie Libbok on for Damian Willemse. It will be interesting to see if he takes over kicking duties from Feinberg-Mngomezulu but Libbok will certainly take over the fly half role, with the youner man switching from No 10 to 15. Interesting call from Rassie Erasmus

(REUTERS)

France 14-13 South Africa, 54 mins

21:33 , Luke Baker

Another mistake from Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who is a young superstar but whose fundamentals have let him down just a little today. He misses touch from the penalty and that means the Boks can’t relieve the pressure.

A Ramos dink then sends Penaud in pursuit but the ball just bounces into touch. The Boks clear from the defensive lineout.

France 14-13 South Africa, 52 mins

21:31 , Luke Baker

France are trying to find a way through but the white Springbok wall manages to hold firm around the 22. They’re hanging on but only trail by a point - can they ride out this wave of pressure?

Now, South Africa win a scrum penalty as their pack does the business again. Aldegheri punished for a dodgy bind.

France 14-13 South Africa, 49 mins

21:25 , Luke Baker

Teams love bringing on their ‘Bomb Squad’ from the bench en masse now. The Springboks are trend-setters there.

Guillaume Cramont, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri Romain Taofifenua and Oscar Jegou all come in the French pack.

Quick hands by Les Bleus with a great pop pass from Flament but Taofifenua is stretching and juuust knocks on with his fingertops.

France 14-13 South Africa, 47 mins

21:23 , Luke Baker

France on the front foot again. Ntamack goes in, then Guillard churns his way into the 22.

They go left where Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey offload and slide through a gap but the final pass inside finds a Boks hand, so they survive for now.

France 14-13 South Africa, 43 mins

21:20 , Luke Baker

The intensity at the start of this second half is just as prominent as in the first 40 mins.

France showing their quick hands as they work the ball left and Fickou makes good ground. Up beyond the ten-metre line.

They go the other way to Penaud and his chip is collected by Bielle-Biarrey but the Boks pinch a scrum

KICK-OFF! France 14-13 South Africa

21:16 , Luke Baker

Back underway in Paris. A Bok reshuffle after that red card - Siya Kolisi is hooked at half-time in his 100th cap and Ruan Nortje comes on to ensure a full complement of locks. They’ll go one down in the back row.

Lood de Jager red card: Why was the South Africa lock sent off against France?

21:10 , Luke Baker

Confused about why/how Lood de Jager was sent off rather than just given a yellow card and a bunker review?

Allow us to explain:

Lood de Jager red card: Why was the South Africa lock sent off against France?

WATCH: Lood de Jager jeered off after red card

21:08 , Luke Baker

The French crowd gave Lood de Jager quite the serenade as he walked off after his red card...

HALF-TIME! France 14-13 South Africa

21:00 , Luke Baker

And that’s half-time. It’s been an enthralling opening 40 minutes and the biggest moment was that late Lood de Jager red card.

France lead by one at the break but the Springboks are now down to 14 for the rest of the match

(REUTERS)

RED CARD! France 14-13 South Africa (Lood de Jager, 40 mins)

20:58 , Luke Baker

This is bad news for De Jager... Ramos is falling, so he’s very low, but De Jager leads with the shoulder and there’s no attempt to wrap. That’s ‘always illegal’ and he clatters into the head of Ramos with his shoulder

Referee Angus Gardner asks if this meets the permanent red card threshold or just a yellow and bunker review.

And they decide it’s a RED CARD! Straight red, permanent not a 20-minute red, no bunker decision needed. Wow! It was really, really nasty from De Jager.

France 14-13 South Africa, 40 mins

20:55 , Luke Baker

Ramos and Reinach given a talking to by the ref. He starts by saying “it’s the second time” and, quick as flash, Ramos says “it’s him”, bringing a chuckle. Ramos gives a very Gallic shrug in response.

We’re going to a TMO check for a hit from Lood de Jager...

France 14-13 South Africa, 40 mins

20:53 , Luke Baker

This time France go for the sneaky lineout throw to the front and Le Garrec slips past the first man before being stopped. The French attack goes nowhere from there though.

Instead, the Boks can kick clear and Les Bleus try to go again from their own half.

France 14-13 South Africa, 38 mins

20:51 , Luke Baker

Lineout stolen by De Jager! Brilliant from the South African lock. He may have just saved his team in a crucial moment.

France 14-13 South Africa, 37 mins

20:51 , Luke Baker

Boudehent goes high to collect the ball and then wins a collision with Kriel. The latest French scrum looks under pressure as it wheels but the Boks front row are blamed and it’s a penalty for Les Bleus.

Ntamack kicks them down into the 22 for a proper shot before half-time.

TRY! France 14-13 South Africa (Cobus Reinach, 34 mins)

20:48 , Luke Baker

They won’t need the advantage though! Cobus Reinach snipes from the base of the ruck and muscles between two French defenders.

He then chips over the top of the final man, Penaud, skirts round him and waits for the ball to sit up before diving on it over the line. A wonderful, wonderful try!

Conversion added and the gap is back down to one point

France 14-6 South Africa, 32 mins

20:47 , Luke Baker

The Boks won’t panic. They’ve been here before. But they do make an early change! Boan Venter - brought in at loosehead prop for the injured Ox Nche - is hooked by Rassie Erasmus, as Gerhard Steenekamp comes on. Tough on the Edinburgh man but Rassie clearly wants to send a message

The Springboks earn a scrum off the French lineout maul. It’s solid enough and, in fact, they earn penalty advantage for the collapse of it

France 14-6 South Africa, 30 mins

20:44 , Luke Baker

Could the kicking be the difference today? Ramos has nailed two tough conversions, while Feinberg-Ngomezulu has erred with two of his four penalties.

Les Bleus are currently giving the world champions everything they can handle anyway.

TRY! France 14-6 South Africa (Damian Penaud, 28 mins)

20:42 , Luke Baker

TRY TIME! Huge from France and it’s that man Damian Penaud again, adding to his try record.

France turn down the three points to kick to the corner. From the lineout they go all the way across the field. Through the hands, long final pass from Ramos makes it out to Penaud and he has enough acceleration to slide over in the corner, with two Springboks defenders trying to push him out.

Takes a hard hit from the LED advertising board as he slides and he is slow to get up but he’ll be fine. What a conversion from Ramos! From right on the touchline he moves the lead beyond one score

(Getty Images)

France 7-6 South Africa, 25 mins

20:38 , Luke Baker

Hard hits coming from everywhere in this match! Willemse then spills the ball backwards metres from his own line and the French defence buzzes around sniffing a turnover.

Pieter-Steph du Toit with a tough carry gives South Africa enough room to kick clear, although France come again.

France 7-6 South Africa, 23 mins

20:35 , Luke Baker

France make decent ground with a series of carries, including one from Barassi. Eventually Ntamack chips ahead for Penaud but it's straight into Willemse's hands.

Good news for the Boks as De Jager passes his HIA, so Nortje heads back off.

MISSED PENALTY! France 7-6 South Africa, 20 mins

20:33 , Luke Baker

But again, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu errs from long range. Jeers around the ground as his effort slips wide.

(AFP via Getty Images)

France 7-6 South Africa, 20 mins

20:32 , Luke Baker

An immediate chance for redemption for the South African fly half as he’ll have another shot at the posts after a penalty.

MISSED PENALTY! France 7-6 South Africa, 19 mins

20:31 , Luke Baker

Great contest by Willemse who chases his own kick and plucks it out of the ball. Boudehent then takes out Etzebeth off the ball and it’s a South African penalty on the halfway line.

The Boks go for the posts. This will be a test for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu... Has the distance but not the direction and it slips wide.

France 7-6 South Africa, 16 mins

20:28 , Luke Baker

Contestable kick-off from France but Barassi gets over-excited and clatters into Etzebeth illegally, so South Africa can immediately set a platform in enemy territory.

Well defended by Les Bleus to kick clear but a good return down the wing from Willemse and a back-of-the-hand offload to keep it alive. He was in trouble when he collected that ball in his 22.

(AP)

PENALTY! France 7-6 South Africa (Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 mins)

20:25 , Luke Baker

And the Springboks young No 10 makes no mistake. The lead cut to one.

France 7-3 South Africa, 13 mins

20:24 , Luke Baker

The latest scrum sees Les Bleus going backwards and the ferocious Boks pack win the penalty! Huge statement and Feinberg-Mngomezulu immediately points to the sticks.

France 7-3 South Africa, 11 mins

20:23 , Luke Baker

Blow for the Boks as Lood de Jager is off for a HIA and Ruan Nortje enters the fray. Not bad depth to have...

PENALTY! France 7-3 South Africa (Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 mins)

20:22 , Luke Baker

Good response by the Boks. Du Toit gets over the ball at the breakdown and French tighthead Montagne is caught out, so it’s a penalty.

They’ll go for the posts. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will need to be great from the tee today and he is here. From long-range he splits the posts.

WATCH: Damian Penaud becomes France's all-time top try scorer

20:20 , Luke Baker

Here’s that Penaud try. Stunning

France 7-0 South Africa, 7 mins

20:19 , Luke Baker

Springboks with a great kick-off, win the turnover and will have the scrum.

They crash into the 22 and Etzebeth is stopped into his tracks, Ntamack gets over the ball and Les Bleus celebrate the turnover. Good stuff from Fabian Galthie’s side

TRY! France 7-0 South Africa (Damian Penaud, 5 mins)

20:17 , Luke Baker

And build they do! Simply world-class from Thomas Ramos! He’s pushed back inside by Jesse Kriel and dances across the pitch. It seems like he’s going nowhere but chips over the top of the defence and it sits up for Damian Penaud to race on to and run in. Simply sublime!

Penaud becomes France’s all-time top try scorer, clearing the great Serge Blanco. Ramos adds the conversion and that’s some start by Les Bleus

France 0-0 South Africa, 3 mins

20:15 , Luke Baker

South Africa get the shunt on at the opening scrum before De Allende’s cross-field chip just bounces into touch. France will have the lineout and look to build

France 0-0 South Africa, 2 mins

20:13 , Luke Baker

The crowd are raucous in Paris! France run from deep and they immediately roar in delight.

Le Garrec with a long-distance backdoor flick in his own 22 to Bielle-Biarrey. He loves doing that!

KICK-OFF! France v South Africa

20:12 , Luke Baker

We’re underway. Let’s do this!

Siya Kolisi belts out the anthem

20:07 , Luke Baker

Siya Kolisi absolutely belting out the South Africa national anthem with his usual gusto.

The skipper looks fired up on the occasion of his 100th cap.

France v South Africa

20:05 , Luke Baker

The wait is nearly over. We’re a little over five minutes from kick-off in Paris. This is going to be epic

(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

France vs South Africa match officials

19:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

One rather feels Angus Gardner may be in for a tough evening, every top Test match now bringing significant pressure and scrutiny on the officials. The Australian is a calm, experienced character, though, who is a deserved appointee for a match of this magnitude.

Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)

ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)

TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)

FPRO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)

Angus Gardner is in charge tonight (Getty Images)

100 up for Siya Kolisi

19:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It is strange to think that there was plenty of criticism when Rassie Erasmus first installed Siya Kolisi as Springboks skipper, but two World Cup wins and the best part of a decade in the role have rather changed perceptions both about the flanker and more widely in South Africa. Kolisi is as important as ever to his side - with Erasmus praising his humility this week.

"He's been on the tough side of being a South African and has grown to being a great leader in South Africa,” Erasmus said. “His humbleness is something that is a standout for me.”

(Action Images via Reuters)

Andre Esterhuizen continues back row development

19:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Andre Esterhuizen has again been named as back row cover for South Africa this evening, with the centre-cum-flanker slotting in to the pack off the bench against Japan last week - and snaring himself a score, too. He’s clearly got the stature for the role, and the hybridisation of the sport is a fascinating trend to track - of course, Oscar Jegou spent much of France’s win over Ireland in the Six Nations in the centres due to injuries.

Earl, Esterhuizen and what hybrid players tell us about the future of rugby

Tough test for new French props

19:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There were a few raised eyebrows in France when it became clear that Fabien Galthie would be going with a prop pairing of Baptiste Erdocio and Regis Montagne, who each made their international debut on the summer tour of New Zealand. An encounter with the Springboks is a mighty task for the pair, no doubt, but the absence of Ox Nche does perhaps slightly weaken South Africa’s considerable scrum threat.

“They are the two best props at the moment,” Galthie said. “They are eager to show what they can do against the best. We shouldn't question their selection. They have performed well at club level and in training with us. The challenge is enormous, but for the entire pack and the replacements.

As befitting a man with his name, Montagne is a giant, and his battle with Edinburgh’s Boan Venter could be crucial. Erdocio will grapple with Thomas du Toit on the opposite side.

Baptiste Erdocio (right) has a tough task tonight (Getty Images)

Team news - South Africa

19:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Siya Kolisi brings up a century of Springboks caps as he skippers the South Africa side in Paris. Boan Venter takes the place of the injured Ox Nche at loosehead, while the return of Damian Willemse sees Cheslin Kolbe shift to his usual spot on the right wing.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is again backed at fly half ahead of Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard, while Andre Esterhuizen continues to provide both back row and centre cover among the replacements.

South Africa XV: 1 Boan Venter, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager; 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Damian Willemse.

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Ruan Nortje, 21 Andre Esterhuizen; 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.

Team news - France

19:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

France hand starts to inexperienced props Baptiste Erdocio and Regis Montagne, who made their debuts on the summer tour of New Zealand. Gael Fickou continues as captain in the absence of the injured Antoine Dupont while Mickael Guillard, a breakthrough star of 2025, is preferred to Gregory Alldritt at No 8.

Replacement hooker Guillaume Cramont is primed for a debut from a bench that includes six forwards.

France XV: 1 Baptiste Erdocio, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Regis Montagne; 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Emmanuel Meafou; 6 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Mickael Guillard; 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 10 Romain Ntamack; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Gael Fickou (capt.), 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 14 Damian Penaud; 15 Thomas Ramos.

Replacements: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Oscar Jegou; 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Nicolas Depoortere.

Team news...

19:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Right, with kick off little more than an hour away, let’s take a closer look at the two teams...

Autumn internationals 2025: Results, fixtures and schedule in full

19:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Want a rundown of all of the Quilter Nations Series action so far and the fixtures still to come this November? Here’s everything you need to know about an action-packed month of international rugby.

Autumn internationals 2025: Results, fixtures and schedule in full

Henry Pollock, Carter Gordon and 10 other international rugby players to watch in November

18:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

We’ll check in on the full matchday 23s in a little while, but Mickael Guillard gets another big chance in the No 8 shirt for France this evening. He was one of The Independent’s 12 players to watch this November - here’s who else we picked out.

Henry Pollock and 11 other international rugby players to watch in November

Fabien Galthie piles praise on Springboks

18:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

France head coach Fabien Galthie suggested this week that South Africa’s current crop might just be the best team ever as he piled praise on his side’s opponents.

“South Africa are the best team in the world, perhaps even the best that has ever existed,” Galthie effused. “They have fifteen players chasing us. On the ground and in the air, they're a team of hunters. How do we avoid being hunted and become hunters? That's what we've been working on, that's what's at stake on Saturday.”

Siya Kolisi to earn 100th cap as Springboks reveal team for colossal France clash

18:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Siya Kolisi will win his 100th cap this evening, skippering a settled Springboks side from the back row:

Siya Kolisi to earn 100th cap as Springboks reveal team for colossal France clash

France out for revenge?

18:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Some of the French squad have played down the revenge angle this week, but scrum half Maxime Lucu certainly remembers the feelings of 2023.

"It was our World Cup and they came and stole it off us. It was such a great game," Lucu told EPCR this week. "We can't wait to take them on. They're back-to-back world champions. Everything's set up perfectly for a great game."

France were beaten by South Africa on home soil (Getty Images)

Two years ago...

18:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s probably worth a look back to that night two years ago in Paris, and an instant classic of a quarter-final that punctured the hopes and dreams of the host nation. While I was in Marseille dealing with the fallout of England’s win over Fiji, Luke Baker was lucky enough to enjoy a magical evening at the Stade de France.

France suffer painful symmetry with Ireland as Springboks continue southern dominance

France vs South Africa is a battle of the best — and one factor could give the Springboks the edge

18:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Yes, this could, nay should, be very, very good indeed. By just about every metric you’d currently consider France and South Africa the two international men’s rugby teams in the world - let us hope it lives up to that billing:

The one factor that could give the Springboks an edge in France grudge match

France vs South Africa live

Friday 7 November 2025 13:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Well isn’t this rather tasty? Two years on from a captivating World Cup quarter-final, France and South Africa meet again at the Stade de France in a collision of Six Nations and Rugby Championship winners that could prove a colossal clash. Can the hosts get revenge on the Springboks?

Kick off is at 8.10pm GMT.

(Getty Images)
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Cinemablend
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