Heroic 14-man Springboks outclass France in second half to spoil Paris payback

For the better part of 60 minutes, it looked like France would get the revenge they had been waiting for so long. The French pack was fronting up superbly, while their backs were finding a way around the Bok defence. South Africa were peppering them with high kicks but getting precious little award for their efforts, steadily losing ground in both territory and possession.

To make matters worse, Lood de Jager was shown a straight red card just before half-time, seemingly putting the Boks in deep trouble for the second period and forcing Rassie Erasmus to withdraw Siya Kolisi early on his 100th cap.

But the Boks hung in there and never allowed France to get away from them on the scoreboard. They continued to show massive heart and fight, and eventually they regained the upper hand through sheer willpower and physical dominance - and a timely boost from their stellar bench.

By the end of the match, they had completely turned the tables, as French resistance crumbled in the face of three Bok tries in the final quarter.

It was another unforgettable performance from Rassie Erasmus' Springboks - in an era already littered with them - as they continue to prove why they are currently the sport's ultimate benchmark.

Match Report

After a frantic start to the match, France drew first blood when winger Damian Penaud ran on to a perfectly weighted kick over the top from Tomas Ramos to race in for the opening try of the match.

It was a brutal battle up front, with a strong counter-ruck and turnover from France followed by a superb steal from the Boks shortly after, allowing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to get the Boks on the board from the penalty spot.

The Bok scrum started rumbling not long after, driving the French back and winning another penalty, which Feinberg-Mngomezulu duly converted to bring the visitors back to within one.

The Bok flyhalf missed two fairly challenging shots at goal in quick succession shortly after, as France escaped with their lead intact.

When the hosts were awarded a penalty of their own a few minutes later, they opted to kick for touch rather than take the points on offer, and the gamble paid off, as they created the overlap out wide for Penaud to score his second in the corner with a quality finish. Ramos nailed a superb conversion from out wide to give France a 14-6 lead.

But the Boks responded with their first try off another dominant scrum, as Cobus Reinach burst through under penalty advantage and chipped ahead before regathering and diving over. Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted the tricky conversion to cut France's lead to a single point once more.

When France won a scrum penalty of their own moments later, they opted to kick for the corner once again - but this time the decision backfired, as the Boks came away with the lineout steal.

Just before half-time, however, disaster struck as a TMO check spotted a high shoulder hit from Lood de Jager. The referees decided it met the red card threshold and that was all she wrote for the Bok lock, as the first half ended on a seriously deflating note for the men in green and gold, who were in for a real fight in the second stanza.

It was all defence for the Boks as the second half got underway, with France piling on the pressure but not finding the last pass they were looking for. The Boks were steadfastly kicking away any ball they got without much reward, keeping them on the back foot.

When Manie Libbok had a kick charged down shortly after coming onto the field, it led to a Bok penalty, handing France an easy shot at goal, which they gratefully accepted to move four points clear.

Shortly after the hour mark, the Boks won a kickable penalty but bravely opted to kick for touch to try and make their advantage count. Libbok flung a long pass out wide which was deliberately knocked down by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who got a yellow card for his troubles. There was a strong case to be made for a penalty try as Jesse Kriel looked to be in for a try, but France escaped without any further sanction.

Again, the Boks kicked for the corner and this time there was no stopping their rolling maul, as Andre Esterhuizen crashed over for a fantastic try behind a dominant pack. Feinberg-Mngomezulu couldn't add the extras, but the Boks were ahead for the first time in the match, leading 18-17.

The Boks had their tails up now, and another couple of penalties put them back on the front foot. Again they opted to kick for touch rather than take the points on offer, and again the Boks came up trumps, as replacement scrumhalf Grant Williams spotted a gap in the French defence and charged through for a fantastic try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu nailed the easy conversion as the Boks suddenly found themselves with a 25-17 lead.

With five minutes to play, the Boks won another scrum penalty, with the crowd now silent under the weight of this stunning Bok fightback.

All that was left was to deliver the killing blow - who else but Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who saved the best for last with a superb sniping break to complete the incredible turnaround as the Bok ran out comfortable 32-17 winners in the end.