Man-down Springboks adapt and dominate in second half to defeat France

WITH the match being broadcast on DStv Open Time, Springbok fans had a feast on Saturday night as they witnessed the Springboks claim a 32-17 victory over France at the Stade de France.

The team, thanks to the “gees” from the home supporters, produced a memorable performance on Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test. The win came despite a red card to lock Lood de Jager at half-time, forcing the Boks to play with 14 men for the remainder of the match.

The first half was closely contested. France started strongly, with Damian Penaud scoring two tries and Thomas Ramos contributing points with the boot, giving the hosts a 14-6 lead by the 30-minute mark. South Africa responded through Cobus Reinach, but the dismissal of De Jager before half-time created a significant challenge for the defending world champions.

Adaptation under pressure

Playing a man down, the Springboks displayed resilience and tactical discipline. 

Wiley head coach Rassie Erasmus adjusted his line-up, bringing off key players including Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, and Damian de Allende. These decisions, while reducing physicality and experience on the field, allowed the team to maintain structure and execute their game plan under pressure.

South Africa’s maul became a key weapon in the second half. André Esterhuizen scored from a rolling maul in the 64th minute, shifting momentum decisively. Grant Williams added another try following similar forward-driven play, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu sealed the victory with a late score after accurate distribution from the backline.

Set-piece and defence stand out

Despite being a man down, the Springboks’ forwards held strong. The scrum won all six own feeds, while the lineout remained at 100% success, providing a stable platform for attack. The defensive line adapted well, keeping France try-less in the second half and challenging their possession with disciplined ruck work. 

Ball recycling remained rapid, with over 60% of the ball returned within three seconds, allowing South Africa to maintain attacking rhythm.

It has to be said that South Africa were outstanding in their set-piece, maul execution, and defensive resilience. The backline demonstrated composure under pressure, particularly in adjusting to numerical disadvantage. The team’s ability to adapt after the red card and maintain cohesion was a highlight.

Areas that could be considered ordinary were limited. The first-half handling errors and reliance on the forwards for scoring underlined the challenge of playing a man short. The team’s response, however, turned any early shortcomings into a structured, dominating second-half performance.

In the end, the victory was a testament to South Africa’s tactical intelligence, mental toughness, and bench depth. Against one of the world’s top teams and in front of a hostile crowd, the Springboks produced a performance that reinforced their status as reigning world champions and set the tone for the rest of their November tour.

Points Scorers:

Springboks 32 (13): Tries: Cobus Reinach, André Esterhuizen, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2).

France 17 (14): Tries: Damian Penaud (2). Conversions: Thomas Ramos (2). Penalty: Ramos.