Springboks win in Paris despite De Jager red card

Quilter Nations Series

France (14) 17

Tries: Penaud 2 Cons: Ramos 2 Pen: Ramos

South Africa (13) 32

Tries: Reinach, Esterhuizen, Williams, Feinberg-Mngomezulu Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 3 Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2

World champions South Africa completed another memorable victory over France in Paris despite playing for more than half of their autumn international at Stade de France with 14 men.

This was the first meeting between the two sides since the Springboks beat host nation France in a thrilling Rugby World Cup quarter-final at the same venue in October 2023.

Another close finish looked likely but South Africa gained momentum from Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s second-half yellow card and surged to victory.

France led 14-13 at the end of a breathless first half which included Damian Penaud becoming France’s all-time leading try-scorer with the first of his two scores, a brilliant individual reply by South Africa scrum-half Cobus Reinach and a red card for Springboks lock Lood de Jager.

De Jager made shoulder contact with the head of France full-back Thomas Ramos and was sent off by referee Angus Gardner just before half-time.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus responded by taking off his captain Siya Kolisi, on the occasion of his 100th cap, and bringing on Andre Esterhuizen to play a hybrid role alternating between the back row and centre.

Ramos, who had brilliantly created and converted both of Penaud’s tries, added a second-half penalty to stretch France’s lead to four points but, crucially, South Africa remained in touch.

Winger Bielle-Biarrey was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and, almost immediately, South Africa led for the first time when Esterhuizen touched down from a rolling maul.

With Kolisi barking encouragement to his team-mates from the touchline, late tries from Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu secured a superb victory, the Springboks’ ninth in 10 Tests against France.

«Our captain had to be taken off because we had to have Andre, who can play loose forward and centre, on the field,» said South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus.

«It was a tough call for the captain. When we said it to him he took it on the chin.

«The credit goes to the whole team. Some say they’re getting old. They’re getting wiser, calmer.»

Ramos said the difference was South Africa’s ability to turn pressure into points.

«We had far too many chances where we broke their line and didn’t score afterwards,» he said.

«In the first half, we gave them 13 points far too easily. They’re clinical — when they get within five metres, they score.

«A try, then they come back, and they score again. They’re not double world champions for nothing. Honestly, I think we played the match to beat this team.»

Earlier on Saturday, Italy completed their second consecutive win against Australia, having lost all previous 18 meetings between the two nations.

Louis Lynagh, the Italy-born son of Wallabies legend Michael Lynagh, and Australia-born Monty Ioane scored Italy’s tries as they fought back to win 26-19 victory in Udine.

The Wallabies have lost five of their last six matches and head coach Joe Schmidt acknowledged that fatigue was a factor.

«We’re going to have to manage the fuel in the tank,» he said. «I did think that we just didn’t look as sharp as we did earlier in the season, and we’ve got to get that sharpness, that energy back.»

Australia face Ireland next Saturday while Italy take on South Africa and France face Fiji.

France: Ramos; Penaud, Barassi, Fickou (capt), Bielle-Biarrey; Ntamack, Le Garrec; Erdocio, Marchand, Montagne, Flament, Meafou, Jelonch, Boudehent, Guillard.

Replacements: Cramont, Gros, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Auradou, Jegou, Lucu, Depoortere.

South Africa: Willemse; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Reinach; Venter, Marx, T du Toit, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (capt), PS du Toit, Wiese.

Replacements: Grobbelaar, Steenekamp, Louw, Snyman, Nortje, Esterhuizen, Williams, Libbok.