The Springboks will have a tough task on their hands looking to deal France their first defeat in 12 Test matches at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday.
France 49/100, Draw 20/1, South Africa 7/4
Handicap
France (-4.5) 9/10, South Africa (+4.5) 9/10
In what has become something of a recurring theme for this Bok side, an inability to capitalise on the chances they create for themselves again saw them lose out, this time in a 16-19 defeat in Dublin a week ago.
On top of that, the decision to play without a proven goalkicker was a gamble that didn’t pay off, with misses from first Damian Willemse, and then Cheslin Kolbe letting Ireland off the hook on a number of occasions. Kolbe will again be taking up the kicking tee here where he will look for a much-improved showing in front of poles.
The 29-year-old Toulon man moves to his familiar right wing position for this one, with Willie Le Roux reclaiming the No 15 shirt and Makazole Mapimpi dropping to the bench. Kurt-Lee Arendse moves to the left wing, with the idea being that he and Kolbe’s counter-attacking game will overcome France’s long kicking game.
In the second row, the injury-enforced absence of Lood de Jager is a blow but try-scorer last week Franco Mostert is a more than capable deputy. Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Faf de Klerk also come into the starting XV and replace Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx and Jaden Hendrikse respectively.
🍿Coming this weekend: A Clash of Styles 🇫🇷🇿🇦#FRAvRSA #AutumnNationsSeries #WeGoAgainSA pic.twitter.com/TQanLnTiow
— MTN Rugby (@MTN_Rugby) November 7, 2022
France, like Ireland, boast a pack capable of matching the Boks at the contact point. Jacques Nienaber’s men have battled to overcome teams that can do that so far this season and much will depend on how well they can contain the French heavies, who play a lot off Le Petit General Antoine Dupont.
Much has been made of France’s strategy of kicking long and then strangling opposition deep in their own territory with their Shaun Edwards-inspired defensive system. If the Bok back three can counteract this method, they may have found a winning formula to use at the World Cup with both sides likely to meet at some stage during the tournament.
France’s one-point win over the Wallabies in Paris last week was their 11th in succession, but they haven’t beaten South Africa in seven Tests since 2009. That should change this weekend though. Get on the hosts to clear the handicap by a small margin.
Teams
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Makazole Mapimpi
France
15-Thomas Ramos, 14-Damian Penaud, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Jonathan Danty, 11-Yoram Moefana, 10-Romain Ntamack, 9-Antoine Dupont, 8-Gregory Alldritt, 7-Charles Ollivon, 6-Anthony Jelonch, 5-Thibaud Flament, 4-Cameron Woki, 3-Uini Atonio, 2-Julien Marchand, 1-Cyril Baille
Subs: 16-Peato Mauvaka, 17-Reda Wardi, 18-Sipili Falatea, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Bastien Chalureau, 21-Sekou Macalou, 22-Maxime Lucu, 23-Matthieu Jalibert
