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:
PEN! France 22-23 South Africa (Ramos, 59 mins)
Easy enough for Ramos from the tee and we’re back to one point in it.
A slew of subs there as Cobus Reinach is on for Faf de Klerk at scrum-half, while Deon Fourie comes on in the back row for Kwagga Smith.
Peato Mauvaka also on for France
France 19-23 South Africa, 57 mins
And France do respond! They’re into the South Africa 22 and the crowd are back into it. Willemse make a mess of the kick and that allows Ntamack to spin out of a tackle and make ground.
Offloads from Moefana and Lucu sees Ollivon cut in from the wing and make more yards. They win a penalty and will go for the sticks.
PEN! France 19-23 SOUTH AFRICA (De Klerk, 55 mins)
The Boks are rolling now. De Klerk bangs the penalty through the sticks and lead by four.
France’s winning run is in severe danger and they need to respond.
France 19-20 South Africa, 54 mins
The tide has completely turned here! Dominant tackles by Kolisi and then Etzebeth enables Smith to get into the breakdown and win the turnover.
Then it’s surprisingly great hands by the bomb squad! Koch and Kitshoff with the delicate hands. Boks into the French half. And they win a penalty
France 19-20 South Africa, 53 mins
Maxime Lucu comes off the bench for France to ensure they have a scrum-half once more. How will they respond to going behind for the first time?
TRY! France 19-20 South Africa (Arendse, 50 mins)
And South Africa do score! They spread the ball wide to the right, a flat pass to Kurt-Lee Arendse who gets outside Anthony Jeloncha nd dives over for the try. Nice finish by the winger.
And De Klerk adds the tricky conversion. Straight through the middle and South Africa lead...
France 19-13 South Africa, 49 mins
South Africa win a couple of penalties and they’re in the France 22. Set up for the lineout.
The bomb squad of the replacement front row also on in the form of Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch. Not a bad group.
RED CARD! France 19-13 South Africa (Dupont, 47 mins)
WOW! It’s now 14 vs 14 as Antoine Dupont gets sent off.
South Africa put up a high ball that Kolbe leaps for, Dupont comes across, isn’t in a position to contest but takes Kolbe out in the air. Kolbe lands heavily on his head and after viewing replays, Dupont is shown a red card.
Huge moment as France lose their captain and it’s now 14 a side.
France 19-13 South Africa, 47 mins
An update on Danty. Apparently he suffered a fractured eye socket when Du Toit got sent off for going head to head on him. Ouch!
De Klerk takes a quick penalty and he bursts into the 22 as France are caught napping.
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