France and South Africa collide in a mighty meeting of rugby heavyweights as the Nations Championship continues.
The world champions come to Paris vying with New Zealand for top spot in their pool having dismantled Italy in a frightening first-half performance last weekend. The Springboks showcased their depth of talent and skillset in that encounter, and Rassie Erasmus, despite some late tomfoolery, sticks with a settled side for this huge Test.
His French counterpart Fabien Galthie would love to have that luxury. An injury to Romain Ntamack deepened France’s fly half problems and Galthie is forced to deploy skipper Antoine Dupont as an emergency No 10, gambling on a playmaking partnership with fellow scrum half Maxime Lucu. Can Dupont unlock the South Africa defence and lead the hosts to a statement success? With a year to the World Cup, this meeting of two contenders feels very significant indeed.
Follow all of the latest from the Stade de France with our live blog below:
Read MoreFrance make bold fly half call for Springboks clash as Antoine Dupont handed new role
Nations Championship schedule, results, kick-off times and how to watch
France v South Africa LIVE
- France host South Africa in huge Nations Championship clash | Live on ITV, kick off 8.10pm GMT
- Springboks vying with New Zealand for top spot in southern hemisphere pool
- 16' – France strike first after Springboks reduced to 14 men in hectic start (FRA 7-0 RSA)
- 40' – South Africa try chalked off as France lead after electric half (FRA 21-7 RSA)
- 52' – Jasper Wiese sent off but Cobus Reinach try gives Springboks hope (FRA 21-14 RSA)
France 21-14 South Africa, 63 minutes
21:54 , Harry Latham-CoylePenalty to South Africa...but no card. Harsh on France, you’d say, having kept it steady, and the scrum pivoted on its axis. Andrea Piardi blows his whistle eventually when South Africa lose control at the base, but does not go to his pocket.
They go again. Obviously.
France 21-14 South Africa, 63 minutes
21:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleTwo attempts to set the scrum fail to form. Andrea Piardi swaps sides for a closer look at Neti and Louw, and moves the scrum to a better patch of turf.
France 21-14 South Africa, 61 minutes
21:51 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother warning for France! This time for scrum infringements. Pieter-Steph du Toit commands his pack go again.
Rodrigue Neti the man penalised there for collapsing under pressure from Wilco Louw. Another such incident and he’ll be shown yellow.
France 21-14 South Africa, 61 minutes
21:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleAntoine Dupont is called over for a chat about persistent penalties against his France side. Pieter-Steph du Toit, who has replaced Siya Kolisi as Springboks skipper with the flanker now off, wonders if the yellow card should have come already. Referee Andrea Piardi orders him away.
Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang returns from the sin bin – though will still be watching on for now as South Africa, unsurprisingly, opt for a scrum from one of those penalties.
France 21-14 South Africa, 60 minutes
21:48 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe one area of clear advantage for South Africa is at the scrum. Regis Montagne has replaced Sipili Falatea but is having no more luck against Ox Nche.
The Springboks kick towards the left corner.
France 21-14 South Africa, 58 minutes
21:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleTwo minutes left on the Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang yellow card; six before South Africa can replace Jasper Wiese. Emilien Gailleton has come on in the French midfield, I think for Kalvin Gourgues.
The French crowd lift the volume with another national anthem.
France 21-14 South Africa, 57 minutes
21:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleWhat a steal from Esteban Capilla! Sensational from the young flanker, so good for Bayonne in the last couple of seasons and with a picture-perfect jackal there to bail France out of bother. South Africa’s locks Ruan Nortje and Lood de Jager had combined rather nicely with Ethan Hooker to set up position, but when Nortje was dragged down, Capilla pounced!
France 21-14 South Africa, 55 minutes
21:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleA loose pass allows Kurt-Lee Arendse to hack ahead. There aren’t many who beat the Springboks flyer in a foot race in world rugby; the trouble for him is that Theo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey are two of them, and both with a headstart on him here. Attissogbe gets to it first and Bielle-Biarrey resources the ruck well.
Both teams down to 14, of course. Loads of space on the pitch.
France 21-14 South Africa, 53 minutes
21:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere’s loads happening. France have brought on a handful of forward replacements: Maxime Lamothe, Rodrigue Neti, Regis Montagne, Tom Staniforth and Esteban Capilla are all out there. They combine to help turn an accurate Lamothe throw to Capilla into a maul penalty.
TRY! France 21-14 SOUTH AFRICA (Cobus Reinach, 52 minutes)
21:39 , Harry Latham-CoyleYou bet they can! Sharp sniping from Cobus Reinach to dart the ball down close to the post after his Springbok forwards had done the heavy sledding.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion brings South Africa within a score.
France 21-7 South Africa, 51 minutes
21:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleChaos. Carnage. Can South Africa strike back from this lineout?
RED CARD! France 21-7 South Africa, 50 minutes
21:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleBut...South Africa are losing Jasper Wiese! It’s a RED CARD for the No 8, as it always looked like being – they’ll be able to replace him after 20 minutes, but he’s night is over.
YELLOW CARD! France 21-7 South Africa, 49 minutes
21:37 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt is a yellow card for Grandidier-Nkanang, shooting out of the line and deliberately knocking on. He can have little complaint.
France 21-7 South Africa, 49 minutes
21:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother TMO review! Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang may have slapped the ball down deliberately.
France 21-7 South Africa, 49 minutes
21:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis is scintillating stuff! France flip the field via an Antoine Dupont kick, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Kalvin Gourgues leading the charge. But South Africa play from deep, attacking the left edge and sending Damian Willemse rampaging away.
A kick ahead tumbles into touch but France throw quickly, with Peato Mauvaka only just clung on to as he attempts to break away. How has the hooker got back there? And how was he caught? South Africa drag him down and restore a semblance of clam, with France kicking long.
France 21-7 South Africa, 46 minutes
21:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleMaxime Lucu returns from the sin bin. We still await news on Jasper Wiese’s bunker review.
France 21-7 South Africa, 44 minutes
21:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother missed touch! Kalvin Gourgues is the third player guilty tonight, slicing his punt the wrong side of the corner flag after France had won a breakdown penalty. Huge.
France 21-7 South Africa, 44 minutes
21:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleA vital steal! South African hands pinch another French lineout in close attention to the line. They clear their lines, and cling on for now.
YELLOW CARD! France 21-7 South Africa, 44 minutes
21:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleBut it is ugly from Wiese. It is a yellow card, at least – foul play review officer Andrew Jackson will have eight minutes to consider whether to upgrade it.
His shoulder was tucked, and there looks to be head contact. He’s in trouble.
France 21-7 South Africa, 44 minutes
21:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleNo knock-on! Hooker’s tap went backwards. An outstanding intervention, much like Eben Etzebeth in the quarter final in 2023.
France 21-7 South Africa, 44 minutes
21:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleOh dear oh dear. Jasper Wiese might be in real bother here. There might be a deliberate knock-on from South Africa, too, but the No 8 then goes flying in to clear a ruck and makes a pretty ugly challenge.
We’ll look at the potential knock-on from Ethan Hooker first.
France 21-7 South Africa, 44 minutes
21:24 , Harry Latham-CoyleHuge defence from South Africa. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ethan Hooker put in tonking hits as France drive for the line, hurling home bodies back. Yoram Moefana goes close! Jean-Baptiste Gros too!
Onwards France plough.
France 21-7 South Africa, 42 minutes
21:23 , Harry Latham-CoyleFrance fancy this. A meaty enough maul and then three thumping close-in carries drawn an offside penalty. Kicked to the corner.
France 21-7 South Africa, 41 minutes
21:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleStill seven minutes or so left to run on Maxime Lucu’s yellow card, so Kalvin Gourgues takes the restart. It’s a goodie, too, high and hanging, but superbly claimed by Pieter-Steph du Toit.
That, though, is sloppy. A sliced box kick from Morne van den Berg and his forwards fail to get out the way, conceding a penalty. France kick down into advanced territory.
Second half...
21:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleA Gallagher Prem director of rugby was recently moaning about that law that Kurt-Lee Arendse breached, believing that defensive offside at lineouts (and scrums, for that matter) Is much more harshly policed than the attacking team – who are basically allowed to do what they want. We probably won’t see another penalty for it this weekend, mind, unless it leads directly to a try.
France, then, could perhaps be termed to have had some luck, with the Theo Attissogbe score as well. Their variety in attack, kicking game and defensive intensity mean they merit their advantage, though. This is the fifth game in the row they’ve led the Springboks at half time, interestingly.
Back underway.
HT: France 21-7 South Africa
21:11 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s not been at fly half, with Maxime Lucu operating there, but Antoine Dupont was supreme in that first 40.
DUPONT ➡️ LBB 🔥
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) November 13, 2026
France hit back straight away 🇫🇷#ITVRugby pic.twitter.com/5WBW4mTkHf
HT: France 21-7 South Africa
21:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleWow. An electric half of rugby, lit up largely by France, who have played some breathtaking stuff. A card each way, and more than a dose of contention within there, too – plenty to get stuck into, and plenty more to come.
HALF TIME! France 21-7 South Africa
21:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle
NO TRY! France 21-7 South Africa, 41 minutes
21:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleWow! A huge moment. Fair play to the officials for even looking at it, but Kurt-Lee Arendse was within 10 metres of the lineout at the time of Malcolm Marx’s toss.
Penalty to France, which is tapped and booted high into the stands. Some half, some moment, and a 14-point advantage at the interval.
TRY! France 21-14 SOUTH AFRICA (Kurt-Lee Arendse, 41 minutes)
21:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleBeautifully conceived, beautifully executed! We saw the Springboks attack the seam at the tail of the lineout earlier and they do so to devastating effect here, aided by France’s backline being down a man.
Kurt-Lee Arendse takes and goes in untouched. But was he onside at the time of the throw? That is a law that is seldom refereed, much to some coaches’ frustration, but will be looked at closely here...
YELLOW CARD! France 21-7 South Africa, 40 minutes
21:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd it’ll be the same result. Wearing nine, playing at 10, and Maxime Lucu will be off for that long at least.
I can’t see that being upgraded, but South Africa probably need to score before the interval regardless.
France 21-7 South Africa, 39 minutes
21:01 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere is head contact...but it’s just a penalty. Both men were relatively low, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu dipping into the tackle.
Hang on – referee Andrea Piardi would actually like a longer look. “It looks similar to the first one,” the Italian explains, referring to Lood de Jager’s tackle.
France 21-7 South Africa, 39 minutes
21:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleUntil now! That’s what Feinberg-Mngomezulu can do, stepping to the outside and then searing the edges like steak in the pan.
Eesh! Was that tackle from Maxime Lucu to halt him high? The Springboks fumble at the ruck, which will allow time for the officials to consider the footage. Captain Siya Kolisi has been in Andrea Piardi’s ear throughout this half, which is rather a sign of how his side have struggled.
France 21-7 South Africa, 37 minutes
20:58 , Harry Latham-CoyleExcellent defence from France. That unit is now drilled by Geoffrey Doumayrou after the departure of Shaun Edwards, the former centre having stepped up after doing a sterling job with Montpellier. South Africa eventually go to the air but Louis Bielle-Biarrey has it handled.
He taps quickly and sets off, but scavenging Springbok hands draw a turnover penalty. But that’s poor from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – like Maxime Lucu earlier, he misses touch. The South Africa fly half has been quiet.
France 21-7 South Africa, 35 minutes
20:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleOoh, nearly a headed assist for South Africa! Jan-Hendrik Wessels had just used his arm first, though, before Ruan Nortje raced on to his flick on.
Here they come. Enter Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw; exit Gerhard Steenekamp, Wessels and Thomas du Toit. A frightening sight for a French front row already under pressure...and a quivering Peato Mauvaka withdraws his brake foot, conceding a free kick.
France 21-7 South Africa, 34 minutes
20:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis is mega. A mighty rendition of La Marseillaise. The French public are loving this.
Hang on, though: South Africa are readying changes. The front row initially named to start before that late switcharoo may soon be with us...
TRY! FRANCE 21-7 South Africa (Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 33 minutes)
20:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleTwo moments of magic and Louis Bielle-Biarrey is the beneficiary!
Oh, that is superb from Peato Mauvaka and Antoine Dupont. It’s the hooker initially, bursting away from the breakdown with that trademark acceleration, and then keeping just out of the clutches of Ruan Nortje to get the offload away, There is no-one better to be on the end of it than le petit general, Dupont with such command of the situation and immediately spotting the space. A beautifully-judged diagonal grubber is perfect for Bielle-Biarrey to zoom onto.
Another touchline conversion from Maxime Lucu.
France 14-7 South Africa, 31 minutes
20:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleFrance were probably lucky there that Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored. Andrea Piardi had just called an advantage that might have drawn stiffer sanction. South Africa could probably count themselves fortunate after those offsides in the build-up to the Theo Attissogbe score, mind.
TRY! France 14-7 SOUTH AFRICA (Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 30 minutes)
20:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s just so hard to stop those mauls! It’s a frightening collision as two heavyweight packs pile their weight in initially, but Jan-Hendrik Wessels simply waits and waits at the back as the mass gets-a-rumbling. A nifty pivot as he spies white and he thumps the ball against the try line.
South Africa needed that.
France 14-0 South Africa, 29 minutes
20:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleDown the maul comes – that’s been collapsed, too. Francois Cros the man pinged, it seems. South Africa, unsurprisingly, fancy more of the same, kicking again to touch five metres out.
France 14-0 South Africa, 27 minutes
20:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleNo such luck for France’s under-pressure tighthead this time. Collapsing the call. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pokes his punt towards the right corner.
France 14-0 South Africa, 26 minutes
20:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe Stade de France turf is tearing up like a cheap carpet under a cat’s claws as the two sides pack down for scrum skirmish. Referee Andrea Piardi resets it – with Sipili Falatea both grateful and, perhaps, fortunate.
France 14-0 South Africa, 25 minutes
20:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa are returned to a full complement, Lood de Jager back from the bin. 14 points in those 10 minutes, and belief is coursing through the Stade de France.
The Springboks have looked shaky in this first half, struggling to hold on to the ball.
TRY! FRANCE 14-0 South Africa (Theo Attissogbe, 23 minutes)
20:42 , Harry Latham-CoyleUse your head! An unconventional assist from Kalvin Gourgues, with shades of Joe Marler against Japan for England during the 2023 World Cup.
He won’t thank Yoram Moefana for hurling the ball quite so squarely into his schnoz, but it is his try assist nonetheless! Great reactions from Theo Attissogbe, staying alive to dot it down. Maxime Lucu adds the extras.
TMO CHECK! France 7-0 South Africa, 23 minutes
20:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleThree offside penalties in quick succession against South Africa...could a card be coming?
Hang on, what’s happened here? A pass appears to have bounced off the bonce of a Frenchman and then Theo Attissogbe is fasted to react and ground in goal. We’ll have a look upstairs...
France 7-0 South Africa, 21 minutes
20:39 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa clearly feel there is a vulnerability in the French aerial backfield, as we expected. Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang does very well under pressure from Ethan Hooker to claim a mark.
That’s even better! Lock Florian Verhaeghe’s dextrous hands take a Springboks up-and-under...and Antoine Dupont flips the field with a quite magnificent 50:22. Off his left peg, too! Freak.
France 7-0 South Africa, 20 minutes
20:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleA bit of a gift for France after struggling at the first scrum, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels, the South Africa hooker, free kicked for withdrawing his brake foot. Referees have been told to be hot on that this November.
France kick upfield and set the blue wall up beyond halfway.
France 7-0 South Africa, 19 minutes
20:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa look like they want to come to the party, though. Damian de Allende’s stutter step opens space for Siya Kolisi to go for a gambol down the right, before the centre piles in to resource the ruck.
Ah, a knock-on, again, to quell the passage.
News from the bunker: Lood de Jager’s yellow card is NOT upgraded. Mitigation keeps it to a sin binning.
France 7-0 South Africa, 17 minutes
20:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleBlimey. Some start from the hosts. They’ve thrown everything at South Africa in this opening quarter and merit their lead.
Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang won Olympic sevens gold alongside Antoine Dupont in this stadium, of course.
TRY! FRANCE 7-0 South Africa (Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 16 minutes)
20:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleUntil the dam bursts! Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang races into the corner!
At the 16th phase, France break through. It’s those two playmakers in partnership, Antoine Dupont back to the blindside to find Maxime Lucu, who cuts out two teammates to put Grandidier-Nkanang down the touchline.
Can Lucu convert? You bet he can! France strike against the Springboks’ 14 men.
France 0-0 South Africa, 15 minutes
20:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleOutstanding defence from South Africa in reply, holding firm as France play with patience through the phases. 12, 13, 14 – no fissures appear.
France 0-0 South Africa, 14 minutes
20:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleA huge chance for France then – and they want to exploit it! An irresistable line from Kalvin Gourgues, cutting halfway across Paris onto the shoulder of Antoine Dupont and then up into the South Africa 22.
A fine cross-kick from Dupont finds Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang. Pressure swelling.
YELLOW CARD! France 0-0 South Africa, 13 minutes
20:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleOoh – it’s tight. Lood de Jager was sent off in Paris last year, of course...and this will be at least a yellow card. Andrea Piardi seemed to be talked into that by television match official Matteo Liperini, having initially deemed the danger to be low.
Interesting. De Jager gone for 10 while foul play review officer Andrew Jackson studies the footage. You’d think it will remain a yellow, but...
France 0-0 South Africa, 13 minutes
20:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleA slight injury to Gregory Alldritt allows everyone a chance to pause and take stock. The No 8 soon joins his French mates.
France’s lineout already feels under pressure. Peato Mauvaka tries to work something with prop Jean-Baptiste Gros at the front, but can’t retain possession.
Crrrunch! Maxime Lucu has his upper chest detonated by Lood de Jager after collecting a bouncing ball. Was there head contact, though? Referee Andrea Piardi wants a look...
France 0-0 South Africa, 11 minutes
20:24 , Harry Latham-CoyleFrance looking lovely and lively. Louis Bielle-Biarrey jinks out of the tackle of Siya Kolisi on a meandering counter-attack, and the ambition to play to width is there again. Still Maxime Lucu at fly half..and he’s there to collect Antoine Dupont’s clever little left-footed lift over the line.
South Africa scrape away the ball on the floor. Breathless stuff.
France 0-0 South Africa, 9 minutes
20:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother missed opportunity. South Africa get up in the air and pat back possession their way.
Morne van den Berg gets himself into, and then out of, a spot of bother as referee Andrea Piardi rules the ball out of a resultant ruck. The scrum half recover very, very well, and clears to touch two phases later.
France 0-0 South Africa, 8 minutes
20:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa don’t clear their lines, and France draw a penalty at the maul. Maxime Lucu finds the corner on this occasion.
France 0-0 South Africa, 6 minutes
20:19 , Harry Latham-CoyleNearly! Bromley-born Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang tries to burn the South African defence down the right touchline, and gets the better of Jesse Kriel. Superb cover tackling from Morne van den Berg blasts him into touch.
France 0-0 South Africa, 6 minutes
20:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleAn electric start! The pace is extremely high, Gregory Aldritt winning a turnover and France accelerating away. Louis Bielle-Biarrey is sprung into space and tries to grubber ahead, but finds his kick blocked into touch.
France’s lineout 35 metres out.
France 0-0 South Africa, 5 minutes
20:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleLovely variation at the lineout from South Africa, throwing over the top to Morne van den Berg, who puts Ethan Hooker through a hole in the seam between the defensive jumpers and the backline.
But the Springboks spill it again! Hooker’s 20-metre gain deep into French territory is wasted and the hosts clear long.
France 0-0 South Africa, 4 minutes
20:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleA late switch of front rowers but it doesn’t matter for South Africa. Gerhard Steenekamp gets into Sipili Falatea and draws the first scrum penalty – which could be a sign of things to come.
France 0-0 South Africa, 3 minutes
20:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’ll frustrate Fabien Galthie hugely. The atmosphere had barely dipped from the start and there was a real chance for France to make an early statement, but Lucu skewed his punt dead.
The Bordeaux-Begles man has been exclusively at fly half so far. Antoine Dupont takes up station alongside the scrum as Morne van den Berg prepares to feed.
France 0-0 South Africa, 2 minutes
20:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleTwo early mistakes from the Springboks! A spillage in contact and then offside after a dropped high bomb.
France kick to the corner...or not! Maxime Lucu misses touch.
France 0-0 South Africa, 1 minute
20:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleGregory Alldritt takes the opening kick off and makes the opening carry, using his burl to knock back a Springbok. Andoine Dupont appears to have started at scrum half, kicking long and then defending just behind the line.
Maxime Lucu in the backfield, in that traditional fly half role.
Kick off!
20:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleNews of a late injury blow for France – Julien Marchand is OUT! A huge late absentee. Peato Mauvaka starts, with Maxime Lamothe onto the bench.
South Africa’s starting front row are still wearing their replacement shirts 16, 17 and 18. Carnage.
A blast of the whistle from Andrea Piardi and off we go!
Anthems
20:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleA healthy contingent of Springboks fans make themselves known during the South African national anthem – from what I’ve heard, there were plenty piling into the Eurostar at St Pancras this morning.
A deafening rendition of La Marseillaise follows. France might need every bit of that atmosphere and more.
France vs South Africa
20:04 , Harry Latham-CoylePeato Mauvaka leads France out of the tunnel as he wins his 50th cap, the hooker providing plenty of punch from the pine with Julien Marchand back to full fitness and able to start. Le Stade is hopping, as per.
France vs South Africa
20:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleRassie Erasmus admitted in his pre-match chat that he was a little bit nervous about tonight, in part because he had no idea what to expect from France with Antoine Dupont at 10. How much chopping and changing will we see between he and Maxime Lucu?
Match officials
19:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa won’t have particularly happy memories of Andrea Piardi’s last Test in charge of them, the poor Italian official rather farcically undone by technical issues in Perth that forced him to use his mobile phone to communicate with the television match official. He, and the teams, will hope for a smoother night.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
France vs South Africa
19:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe half-back dynamic for France tonight is fascinating. Do they play, as they tend to, quite narrowly and use their forwards on Maxime Lucu’s shoulder? Or does that limit the impact that Antoine Dupont can have from fly half? There are all sorts of questions about the shape of their defensive backfield, too. They’ll want their best player on the ball, obviously, but where does Dupont best fit? It could be a lot of fun.
France vs South Africa
19:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleFor what it is worth, we’ve sought clarity from the Nations Championship organisers on South Africa’s late switch, and it seems it is permitted within the tournament regulations – so long as it was more than an hour before kick off, which it was. After that point, any changes to the team have to be due to injury.
Can Springboks squeeze at the scrum?
19:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleItaly gave South Africa a few issues at the scrum in the first half last week, which makes those late switcheroos in the front row fascinating. I expect South Africa will be confident that they can get an advantage in that regard tonight – Sipili Falatea is good around the park but has had his scrummaging questioned, and can expect a tough test even with Ox Nche dropping to the bench.
France's reshaped back five
19:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleFrance are without a host of regulars in the back five of the pack, from Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament to Paul Boudehent and Oscar Jegou. Mickael Guillard has been used at No 8 regularly but without Meafou, he is required in the second row, which means a bit of a surprise recall for Gregory Alldritt.
The former France captain appeared totally out of favour when he was left out of Fabien Galthie’s Six Nations squad, but his leadership could be valuable tonight.
"He's a player who has battled to come back into the French team and the opportunity is there for him," Galthie said. "He's a player with a lot of experience, and who uses it.
"When he speaks he's listened to, he's followed, he has charisma. He's a great guy, he's an example of giving his all for the team."
Team news – South Africa
19:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s had looked a settled selection from Rassie Erasmus, with just two changes to the Springboks 23 that proved much too strong for Italy. That was before those front row changes, though, which take it up to three – Gerhard Steenekamp and Jan-Hendrik Wessels join Thomas du Toit in the starting unit.
Elsewhere, Lood de Jager retains his second-row spot having been brought in late in Turin after Salmaan Moerat went down with back spasms in the warm-up. Among the replacements, Cobus Reinach takes the place of Grant Williams as the bench scrum-half cover.
South Africa XV: 1 Gerhard Steenekamp, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Lood de Jager, 5 Ruan Nortje; 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Morne van den Berg, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 11 Ethan Hooker, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 15 Damian Willemse.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers; 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
Team news – France
19:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleFrance are forced to install captain Antoine Dupont at fly half with all of Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy absent, with Maxime Lucu partnering his skipper in the halves. Gregory Alldritt is recalled for a first international appearance in nearly a year at No 8 as Francois Cros moves to the flank.
Julien Marchand is a welcome returnee at hooker as Peato Mauvaka drops to the bench. Among the replacements, a debut awaits young Pau playmaker Axel Desperes.
France XV: 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Sipili Falatea; 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 5 Mickael Guillard; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Gregory Alldritt; 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Antoine Dupont (capt.); 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang; 15 Theo Attissogbe.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla; 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
France vs South Africa
19:07 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s been a pleasant enough day in Paris but the temperature is dropping swiftly on a November night. It’s always a great occasion at the Stade de France, though these 9.10pm local time kick offs can be a bit of a horror – still, with the start drawing ever closer, let’s take a closer look at the two teams...
Springboks make late change!
19:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleAha – some late tomfoolery from the Springboks. A switch of front rows from Rassie Erasmus with kick off nearing...
They did that in the second Test against New Zealand, too. Hmm.
Late change to the #Springboks team: The front row of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Thomas du Toit will now start, with Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, and Wilco Louw coming off the bench 🔁#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/EBZmuk5gSV
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 13, 2026
The maul has become too powerful – but rugby’s tactical trend is more interesting than you might think
18:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleThese are two very good mauling teams, all the more important given how potent the lineout drive has become. The prominence of the maul is not to everyone’s taste, myself included, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t fun to be found in the details and variety that teams are utilising.
The maul has become too powerful – but that doesn’t mean it is boring
Key refereeing changes explained as rugby’s Nations Championship returns
18:42 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere’s plenty to keep an eye on officiating-wise tonight, from scrum set-ups to hip-drop tackles of the type that saw Australia’s Angus Bell sent to the sin bin last weekend. Here are all the key changes you need to know this November:
Key refereeing changes explained as rugby’s Nations Championship returns
Nations Championship fixtures and results
18:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleFinals weekend is now just a fortnight away, though it feels like we are still figuring out the Nations Championship format. South Africa and New Zealand are assured top-two finishes in the southern hemisphere pool, while what the Springboks do against France and Ireland will probably determine the northern shake-up.
Nations Championship schedule, results, kick-off times and how to watch
France’s Antoine Dupont gamble reveals the truth about clash with South Africa
18:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleCan France really beat South Africa with Antoine Dupont at fly half? It feels a tall task, even if tonight should be a thunderous occasion.
France’s Antoine Dupont gamble reveals the truth about clash with South Africa
Springboks make one change for crunch Nations Championship test against France
18:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa, meanwhile, make minimal changes after blowing away Italy.
Springboks make one change for crunch test against France
France make bold fly half call for Springboks clash as Antoine Dupont handed new role
18:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleFrance have turned to captain Antoine Dupont to solve their fly half crisis with the Toulouse playmaker wearing No 10 against South Africa.
Head coach Fabien Galthie saw Romain Ntamack go down with a shoulder injury in the Nations Championship win over Fiji, and is also without Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy.
That has meant he has made the bold call to hand Dupont a first international start at fly half, with Maxime Lucu brought into the starting side at scrum half.
France make bold fly half call for Springboks clash as Antoine Dupont handed new role
France v South Africa LIVE
Wednesday 11 November 2026 15:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe Nations Championship rolls on with perhaps the pick of the November fixtures as France welcome world champions South Africa to Paris. The two sides currently top their respective pools with finals weekend a fortnight away – but with the hosts in the grips of an injury crisis, can they really rise to meet the Springboks?
Kick off is at 8.10pm GMT.
