South Africa showcased all their “world champions’ resilience” on Saturday, staging an incredible comeback with 14 men to defeat France 32-17 in a bruising Paris test. After losing lock Lood de Jager to a red card just before half-time, the Springboks “absorbed early pressure before overwhelming Les Bleus” in a stunning second-half display of power and clinical finishing.
The match did not start well for the visitors. France, desperate for revenge after their World Cup defeat, came out firing. Winger Damian Penaud was in sublime form, scoring two quick tries to become France’s all-time leading try-scorer. When De Jager was sent off for a dangerous tackle, the Springboks looked to be on the ropes, trailing on the scoreboard and down a man.
But the second half was a different beast. The Springboks’ “sheer physicality” began to take its toll on the French side. France, even with the man advantage, started to “crack,” committing a “succession of reckless infringements.” The pressure finally boiled over when French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey was yellow-carded, leveling the playing field.
This was the opening the world champions needed. They were ruthless. André Esterhuizen powered over from a maul, and Grant Williams sniped through a “splintered” French defence to score two quick tries, turning the game on its head. The rattled French side had no answer to the Boks’ controlled aggression.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who also kicked two penalties and three conversions, rounded out the scoring with a try of his own. Coach Rassie Erasmus praised his team’s “calm” and “wise” performance, a fitting description for a side that proved, once again, why they are the world’s best.
