France dig deep to beat South Africa 21-19 in Paris

France’s first win over the Springboks since 2022, ground out in defence against a side who had the ball 81% of the time in the last ten minutes.

21-7, then forty minutes of defence

The scoring was done by the 32nd minute. Without Julien Marchand, ruled out in the warm-up, France scored three tries: Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (14th) while Lodewyk de Jager was in the sin bin, Théo Attissogbe (23rd) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey (31st), all converted by Maxime Lucu. Jan-Hendrik Wessels had replied for the Springboks (29th): 21-7.

The rest was played without the ball. After the break South Africa had 64% of possession and 59% of territory. In the last ten minutes they had the ball 81% of the time. Cobus Reinach (50th) and Malcolm Marx (71st) brought the Springboks within two points, but France did not give way again.

175 tackles, 19 for Cros

According to the official match statistics, France made 175 tackles to South Africa’s 140. François Cros made 19, a total he had bettered only once, with 22 in the Top 14 in 2018. Louis Bielle-Biarrey made 8, on top of his try: in his previous 99 matches with detailed statistics he averaged 3.4, and had reached 8 or more only seven times. France also made four try-saving tackles.

Average and best over matches with detailed statistics: Top 14, Champions Cup, 2023 World Cup and Nations Championship.

The rest favoured the Springboks: 568 metres gained to 303, 10 clean breaks to 5, and 8 scrum penalties conceded by France out of 14 in total.

Thirty minutes with fourteen

France held on despite three yellow cards: Lucu in the 38th minute, Grandidier-Nkanang in the 49th and Régis Montagne in the 68th. They played thirty minutes a man down. For South Africa, Jasper Wiese was shown a 20-minute red card in the 43rd minute for a clear-out on Kalvin Gourgues, and the Springboks finished with fifteen.

A first since 2022

It is France’s first win over South Africa since 12 November 2022 (30-26), after the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat (28-29) and the November 2025 Test (17-32). In 48 meetings, France have 13 wins, 6 draws and 29 defeats.

In this Nations Championship, France have won four of their five matches, their only defeat coming in New Zealand (32-34). South Africa, who had won their first four matches, lose for the first time.