France beat world champions South Africa 21-19 in a Nations Championship clash at Stade de France on Friday. The hosts scored three tries in the first half but failed to add a point after the break. They still held off a strong second-half comeback from the Springboks.
According to Daily Maverick, it was France's first win over the Boks in Paris since 2005. It was also only their second win in their last 11 matches against South Africa. SuperSport said the result ended a 21-year drought in Paris for the hosts.
Discipline shaped the game. SuperSport counted four yellow cards and one red. Bok lock Lood de Jager was sin-binned in the 12th minute for a high tackle on Maxime Lucu. France scored two tries while he was off. Early in the second half, number eight Jasper Wiese received a 20-minute red card for a dangerous clean-out on centre Kalvin Gourgues. On the French side, Lucu, wing Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang and prop Régis Montagne were all carded. Daily Maverick said France played 28 minutes of the second half with 14 men.
Grandidier-Nkanang opened the scoring in the corner after a pass from captain Antoine Dupont. Fullback Théo Attissogbe then pounced on a ball that bounced off Gourgues' head. Hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels hit back from a rolling maul. Within seconds, a Dupont grubber sent wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey in for France's third try. Lucu converted all three.
The second half belonged to South Africa. Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach scored from close range, and hooker Malcolm Marx finished another maul late on. Replacement Manie Libbok missed the conversion that would have levelled the scores. Before half-time, a Kurt-Lee Arendse try had been ruled out for offside. Both outlets said referee Andrea Piardi denied the Boks key calls. These included a possible penalty try and a yellow card after four scrum penalties in a row. Daily Maverick said the Boks still made too many errors, including six knock-ons.
Coach Rassie Erasmus changed his entire front row before kick-off. Daily Maverick questioned whether such "mind games" were worth it. Both outlets praised Dupont, who switched between scrumhalf and flyhalf with Lucu.
South Africa took only a losing bonus point. Daily Maverick said they still lead the southern hemisphere standings on 21 points. SuperSport put their lead at one point. Unbeaten New Zealand play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and then England in London. The Boks face Ireland in Dublin next week, with the Finals Weekend two weeks away.