Talisman Antoine Dupont vows to unleash French flair against Springboks

A flyhalf crisis has forced France coach Fabien Galthie to name the prodigious talent at No.10  for the blockbuster clash. Dupont is well aware the Boks have won nine out of their last ten matches against the Les Blues and despite being in Paris, the hosts wear the underdog tag.

But with that comes freedom, and the superstar is eager to lean into the flair French rugby is known for.

"We have to pull out the right match at the right time to get out of this spiral," Dupont told the press.

"We will have to surprise ourselves and them. We're not in the most favourable situation, but we have nothing to lose. We have to play without complex."

The Boks have placed much emphasis on defence this season. Their defensive line shoots out of the blocks to close down any attacking space quickly. But Dupont believes the right combination of tactics and skill can breach the brutal Bok defence.

"I've played against them in different contexts, but recently they have had a lot of bulk and a very clear and effective strategy," added the 29-year-old.

"Even though they push up very quickly and bring a lot of intensity, you can still break their lines, like with every team.

"We will try to exploit those gaps by playing our own game. There are possible solutions against them, but you must first meet the physical challenge and win the collisions.

"And then, we have to take our chances, because there won't be many."