This week’s choice match-up features the volatile French against the mighty Bokke, with the two combatants going head-to-head in a battle between two of the heavyweights in the IRB rankings.
FRANCE vs SOUTH AFRICA
Saturday, November 23, 20:00 GMT, Paris
Les Bleus were far from spectacular against the Tongans in Le Havre, coming away victorious and yet losing a little momentum from their stirring match with the All Blacks. The Springboks on the other hand were clinical against a middling Scottish side, completely overwhelming their hosts with a dominant performance up front. France proved against New Zealand that their own forwards were no pushovers, but can they back that up against the bigger South Africans?
Philippe Saint-Andre has made five changes to the lineup this week, rotating Benjamin Kayser and Pascal Pape back into the starting side, with Wenceslas Lauret recalled in place of injured Fulgence Ouedraogo on the flank. Yoann Huget replaces his club mate Maxime Medard on the left wing, and Florian Fritz is preferred in the centres to Gael Fickou. Yoann Maestri has been spared suspension by the disciplinary committee after being red carded in the punch-up with Sona Taumalolo early in the second half of last week’s game.
The Springboks have swapped in a new front row, with Coenie Oosthuizen handed his first test start at tighthead in place of injured Frans Malherbe. He is joined by regulars Tendai Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis, while Eben Etzebeth returns at lock at the expense of Bakkies Botha. Veteran halfbacks Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn will team up once again, and Francois Louw has been passed fit despite being stretchered off against Scotland with a head knock.
This should be a great game of rugby, with the power of the South African forwards sure to feature once more. Les Bleus tend to pull out all the stops at home, and the Springboks have not won in France since 1997, so that certainly suggests that France have a real shot to win. The overall class of this group however, and its extraordinary level of experience, should be enough to earn the win for South Africa. Take the visitors to win via the boot of Steyn by 6.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistants: Glen Jackson (NZRU) & Leighton Hodges (WRU)
TMO: Iain Ramage (SRU)
