France ended a five-match losing streak against South Africa with a narrow 21-19 win at Stade de France on Saturday, denting the world champions’ hopes of reaching the Nations Championship final. The hosts took control early, scoring three tries in the first half, while South Africa fought back in the second, setting up a tense finish.
France’s tries came from Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Theo Attissogbe, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, all crossing in the first 40 minutes. South Africa’s Jan-Hendrik Wessels responded with a try from a maul, but a late first-half effort by Kurt-Lee Arendse was disallowed for a marginal offside. France’s captain Antoine Dupont, playing at fly-half for the first time due to injuries to key fly-halves Matthieu Jalibert, Romain Ntamack, and Antoine Hastoy, orchestrated much of the home side’s attacking play and was named player of the match.
South Africa’s comeback in the second half was marked by their physical dominance, despite losing Jasper Wiese to a 20-minute red card for a shoulder charge early after the break. Replacement scrum-half Cobus Reinach and hooker Malcolm Marx crossed for tries that brought the visitors within two points. However, Manie Libbok missed the conversion after Marx’s try, which would have tied the game.
The game grew chaotic with four cards shown in total. France’s Grandidier-Nkanang received a sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on, and replacement prop Regis Montagne was yellow-carded late on. South Africa’s Lood de Jager was also sin-binned for a high tackle in the first half. Despite the pressure and their scrum faltering, France’s defence held firm in the closing minutes.
Bielle-Biarrey made a crucial tackle to force the ball loose as South Africa pushed for a winning score. Dupont gathered the ball and helped secure the victory for France, who now lead the northern hemisphere standings by six points. Their next match is against Argentina on Saturday, leaving them well placed to reach the Nations Championship final at Allianz Stadium on 29 November.
South Africa, meanwhile, face Ireland next Saturday in Dublin and will likely depend on England’s result against New Zealand earlier that day to reclaim the top spot in the southern hemisphere. The defeat will be a setback for the Springboks, who have won every knockout game at the last World Cup by a single point.
France’s back three of Grandidier-Nkanang, Attissogbe, and Bielle-Biarrey were central to the first-half attacking display, with Dupont’s clever kicking and playmaking creating opportunities. A 50:22 kick from Dupont while de Jager was in the sin-bin gave France valuable field position, leading to Attissogbe’s try after the ball ricocheted off Kalvin Gourgues’ head.
South Africa’s coach Rassie Erasmus made multiple front-row changes during the match, trying to disrupt France’s rhythm. Despite the disruptions and the physical demands, France maintained intensity and discipline when it mattered, particularly in their defence over the final 10 minutes.
The match echoed the intensity and style of their epic 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris, with both sides showing creativity and physicality. But France’s ability to hold on under pressure and capitalize on South Africa’s missed chances gave them the narrow victory.
Referee Andrea Piardi from Italy oversaw the match, assisted by Christophe Ridley and Gianluca Gnecchi. The Television Match Official was Matteo Liperini, with Andrew Jackson serving as the Foul Play Review Officer.
According to Yahoo Sports.
