France vs South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Les Bleus snatch thrilling win from remarkable Test

France 30-26 South Africa: Les Bleus snatched victory as both teams had a man sent off in an incredible Test match

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France extended their impressive winning run to 12 games as they tamed South Africa 30-26 at the Stade Velodrome after a nail-biting contest.

Les Bleus had scrum-half Antoine Dupont sent off in the second half after the world champions were also reduced to 14 men following Pieter-Steph du Toit’s early exclusion.

But a strong finish, with a late try by forward Sipili Falatea and a last-gasp penalty by Thomas Ramos, earned Fabien Galthie’s side another win a week after they edged out Australia 30-29 in Paris.

South Africa were always close thanks to penalties by Cheslin Kolbe, as well as tries from Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse, but France were just a cut above, less than a year before they host the World Cup.

Relive all the action from France vs South Africa with our live blog below:

France vs South Africa updates

• FULL-TIME! France 30-26 South Africa
• 74’ - TRY! Falatea at the bottom of the pile for the try (FRA 27-26 RSA)
• 50’ - TRY! Arendse over in the corner (FRA 19-20 RSA)
• 47’ - RED CARD! Dupont sent off for taking out Kolbe in the air (FRA 19-13 RSA)
• 30’ - TRY! Kolisi sneaks over from the back of a maul (FRA 13-10 RSA)
• 20’ - TRY! Baille powers over from Dupont’s pass (FRA 13-0 RSA)
• 11’ - RED CARD! Du Toit sent off for a head to head hit on Danty (FRA 3-0 RSA)

[12 November 2022 15:57 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-6 Japan, 39 minutes

The English lineout malfunctions, and Japan kick again, this time with a bit more oomph. Freddie Steward gathers and releases an up-and-under...which the full-back claims imperiously!

[12 November 2022 15:56 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-6 Japan, 38 minutes

A penalty against England should allow Japan to advance up the left, but the visitors fail to find touch with their punt.

Another error from Japan, a dropped ball in midfield hacked through off the floor by Jonny Hill, forcing Gerhard van den Heever into brisk retreat. The sliding wing nearly makes a hash of his collection but just about smothers it. Japan clear.

[12 November 2022 15:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! England 17-6 JAPAN (Takuya Yamasawa penalty, 35 minutes)

Three more points for Takuya Yamasawa.

[12 November 2022 15:53 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

YELLOW CARD! Jonny May is sent to the sin bin! England 17-3 Japan, 34 minutes

But just like that, Japan nearly go the length! Michael Leitch takes an inside ball and shows remarkable gas, powering away from the English chasers.

Dylan Riley takes Leitch’s pass, which looks suspiciously close to forward, and toes beyond Jonny May - and out-pacing the England wing to the ball.

May jackals, but fails to show a clear release - off he is sent for a ten minute sit-down!

[12 November 2022 15:51 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-3 Japan, 33 minutes

Some predictably lively variation from Japan, even as they attack deep in their own territory. Gerhard van den Heever watches the bounce of a crossfield kick well, but finds support lacking, and has to kick away.

Jack van Poortvliet goes to the skies...and Jonny May claims it.

[12 November 2022 15:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! England 17-3 JAPAN (Takuya Yamasawa penalty, 32 minutes)

Takyua Yamasawa kicks Japan’s first points of the afternoon.

[12 November 2022 15:48 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-0 Japan, 30 minutes

An opening for Japan? England get their lineout wrong, and the visitors have the ball.

The livewire Nagare keeps the tempo up, but England do enough to stall Japan’s heavier lumberers.

A sharp blast of the whistle from the referee - England were offside.

[12 November 2022 15:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-0 Japan, 28 minutes

Deft from Gerhard van den Heever, the wing roaming off the left and producing a delicious little backhand flick for Yutaka Nagare to collect.

Japan do look a threat with ball in hand. Tevita Tatafu uses his rather large frame to make a bust up the centre, but Michael Leitch can’t keep his sizeable limbs in the field of play as he attempts to run over Joe Cokanasiga on the left.

[12 November 2022 15:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-0 Japan, 26 minutes

Twickenham, so flat for the Argentina game, is purring like a contented cat now - the home fans appear rather pleased by the attacking intent shown by their players.

Luke Cowan-Dickie claims the restart impressively above his head, showing rather more dexterity in the air than he did against Scotland at the start of the Six Nations. A high hoist comes down to earth via hands both English and Japanese - with the initial knock on from Joe Cokanasiga. Japan scrum.

[12 November 2022 15:40 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! ENGLAND 17-0 Japan (Marcus Smith try, 24 minutes)

A thing of beauty from England on the counter!

It’s Freddie Steward who sparks it. The full-back spies a slightly disjointed Japanese chase, evading one tackler as he moves infield to muscle through two more.

Steward gets his arms free and combines with Leicester mate Jack van Poortvliet, who asks an onrushing Joe Cokanasiga to do the hard charging. Cokanasiga briefly looks to be free but manages to keep the ball alive even as he is dragged to floor with Marcus Smith collecting a one-handed offload off the deck and scampering over in the right corner.

Owen Farrell draws his conversion through perfectly.

(Getty Images)