Rassie Erasmus’s “wiser, calmer” Springboks out-thought and out-muscled France, securing a “remarkable” 32-17 triumph despite playing with 14 men for 40 minutes. The world champions overcame the red-carding of Lood de Jager by relying on “iron discipline” and “sheer physicality,” “overwhelming” a French side that “cracked under pressure” and “disintegrated.”
France, eager for World Cup revenge, started “irresistibly.” Damian Penaud became his country’s all-time leading try-scorer with two early tries. When De Jager was dismissed, the 80,000 fans at the Stade de France sensed a famous victory.
But the Springboks showcased their champion resilience. They absorbed the pressure and then pounced on French indiscipline. A “succession of reckless infringements” and a “costly yellow card” to Louis Bielle-Biarrey handed the initiative to the Boks.
The visitors were “ruthless.” Tries from André Esterhuizen and Grant Williams swung the momentum, as the Boks “punished every mistake.” The French defence, once solid, was now “splintered” and “rattled.”
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who kicked flawlessly, scored and converted his own try to seal the win. The victory, South Africa’s ninth in ten against France, was a masterclass in controlled, “bruising” rugby.