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
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:
TRY! IRELAND 14-7 Fiji (Nick Timoney try, 21 minutes)
And there is a certain score!
The lineout is smooth, the maul set-up secure and the drive inexorably marches to the line. Nick Timoney gets up from the collapsed mass with the ball as Joey Carbery again adds the extras.
No try! Ireland 7-7 Fiji, 20 minutes
Yep, the ball has not brushed a blade of grass. Try chalked off.
But Fiji will lose a man. Manasa Saulo is sin binned for the latest of what are becoming rather too regular infringements.
TRY? Ireland 7-7 Fiji, 20 minutes
Support act for the first, scorer of the second - Kieran Treadwell goes over!
Or does he? Fiji are furious and don’t think the lock has got it down. Upstairs for a look...
Ireland 7-7 Fiji, 19 minutes
Mathieu Raynal’s arm is out - another penalty coming for Ireland if they fail to make the most of the advantage...
Ireland 7-7 Fiji, 18 minutes
Fiji’s fringe defence is firm; their efforts to stall the maul rather less so. Another penalty to the hosts and into the corner Ireland go.
Ireland 7-7 Fiji, 17 minutes
And that’s not an ideal way to respond from Fiji, granting Ireland more easy progress into their half with the concession of another penalty.
TRY! IRELAND 7-7 Fiji (Nick Timoney try, 15 minutes)
And over crashes Nick Timoney!
Fiji twice get over the ball and appeal for a holding on call, but Mathieu Raynal keeps his whistle in his pocket, and the visitors struggle to slow Irish ball thereafter. Timoney gets a handy helping shunt from Kieran Treadwell and burrows over underneath the posts.
Joey Carbery’s conversion levels things up.
Ireland 0-7 Fiji, 14 minutes
Here come Ireland’s largest men, first Kieran Treadwell and then Tadhg Beirne making burly dents. Pressure building...
Ireland 0-7 Fiji, 13 minutes
Ireland need a bit of stability; Fiji’s efforts to deny them it at the lineout is penalised. Into the 22 go the hosts.
Ireland 0-7 Fiji, 12 minutes
Turnover for Fiji and off they go again! A remarkable offload from Setareki Tuicuvu puts Vinaya Habosi into more open acreage, with the Irish backfield doing well to bring the powerful wing down. Irish bodies get back in enough numbers to earn a holding on penalty, but they look vulnerable to the Fijian wide threat.
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