France Halt Springboks Streak with Gritty Paris Win
Nations Championship
France (21) 21
Tries: Grandidier-Nkanang, Attissogbe, Bielle-Biarrey Cons: Lucu (3)
South Africa (7) 19
Tries: Wessels, Reinach, Marx Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2)
France ended their five-match losing run against South Africa with a compelling 21-19 victory over the world champions at Stade de France in Paris.
The result damages South Africa’s hopes of reaching the Nations Championship final and leaves Les Bleus well placed to finish top of the Northern Hemisphere standings.
Inspired by captain Antoine Dupont, the hosts produced class and skill to score three first-half tries.
France’s back three of Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Theo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey all crossed during a thrilling opening 40 minutes.
The Springboks’ try came before Bielle-Biarrey’s, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels scoring from the back of a maul.
Number eight Jasper Wiese was shown a 20-minute red card early in the second half for a tucked-shoulder charge, but it did not derail the world champions as might have been expected.
Replacement scrum-half Cobus Reinach and hooker Malcolm Marx scored to set up a tense finale, with South Africa’s set-piece power proving difficult to contain.
However, Manie Libbok missed the vital conversion of Marx’s try that would have levelled the game.
With South Africa pushing for a winning score, Bielle-Biarrey produced a huge defensive play to force the ball loose, before Dupont, named player of the match, gathered possession to help seal the victory.
The result will come as a blow to both England and Ireland, who are in direct competition with France for a place in the Nations Championship final at the end of the month.
Les Bleus, who are six points clear at the top of the Northern Hemisphere standings, now face Argentina next Saturday, putting them in a strong position to reach the final at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, 29 November.