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:
Siya Kolisi grateful to win 100th cap
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
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.”
WATCH: Springboks beat France in style
Here’s the highlights from the Springboks win
FULL-TIME! France 17-32 South Africa
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
France 17-32 South Africa, 79 mins
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)
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
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
Those two Springbok tries may just have finished off France. Incredible from South Africa
France 17-25 South Africa, 74 mins
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)
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
