/file/attachments/3000/TL_2650331_982516.jpg "France Beat Springboks by Two Points at Stade de France")
Springboks Fall in Paris
France edged the Springboks by two points in a raucous encounter on Friday 13 November at the Stade de France, halting South Africa’s second-half comeback. The two-point margin marked France’s first victory in Paris over the Springboks since 2005.
Les Bleus survived three yellow cards and played 28 minutes of the second half with 14 men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the hosts shut out South Africa in the second half to secure only their second win in their last 11 matches against the world champions.
The outcome leaves the Springboks in danger of missing out on the Nations Championship final. Rassie Erasmus’s men still lead the southern hemisphere standings on 21 points, but the undefeated All Blacks have upcoming matches against Wales and England, while the Springboks travel to face Ireland in Dublin.
Springboks concede penalties and suffer disciplinary cards in first half
The Springboks conceded a raft of penalties in the opening half hour and suffered two disciplinary cards. Lock Lood de Jager received a yellow card for a high tackle on Maxime Lucu, while Jasper Wiese received a red card for a dangerous clean and shoulder to the head on French centre Kalvin Gourgues.
By halftime, the visitors were in a deep hole after conceding three tries, two of which came while De Jager was in the sin bin. Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang scored the opening try following a sustained period of French pressure, before fullback Théo Attissogbe pounced on a ricochet off Gourgues’ head to beat Damian Willemse.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels briefly answered for South Africa with a try from the back of a rolling maul. France responded almost instantly through a break by hooker Peato Mauvaka, a grubber from Antoine Dupont, and the pace of wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
French halfback experiment meets South African second half comeback
France’s tactical experiment of pairing Maxime Lucu and Antoine Dupont as interchangeable halfbacks created persistent problems in the first half. The dual-playmaker approach kept the Springboks guessing and enabled the hosts to manufacture tries from turnover ball, compounded by six South African knock-ons.
The second half belonged almost entirely to South Africa, driven by a sensational display from flank Pieter-Steph du Toit. Cobus Reinach burrowed over from close range, and Malcolm Marx added a rolling maul try.
Replacement Manie Libbok missed a conversion that would have leveled the scores with seven minutes remaining. Small margins also marked the contest, including a television match official review that chalked off a Kurt-Lee Arendse try just before halftime for a narrow offside ruling, alongside an unawarded penalty try when Grandidier-Nkanang was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.
Match Statistics and Scorers
- France Tries: Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Théo Attissogbe, Louis Bielle-Biarrey
- France Conversions: Maxime Lucu (3)
- South Africa Tries: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Reinach, Malcolm Marx
- South Africa Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2)
Questions about France's past victories, match sanctions and upcoming fixtures
When did France last defeat the Springboks in Paris prior to this match?
France’s previous victory over South Africa in Paris took place in 2005.
What disciplinary sanctions did South Africa receive during the match?
Lood de Jager received a yellow card for a high tackle, and Jasper Wiese received a red card for a dangerous shoulder-to-head clean.
Who are the Springboks scheduled to play next?
The Springboks travel to Dublin to face Ireland in their next fixture.
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