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:
France 3-0 South Africa, 15 mins
Sekou Macalou comes on for Danty, I can’t imagine he’ll return from that blow to the head. Macalou goes on the wing and Moefana into the centres. This will be an interesting test for Les Bleus.
Meanwhile, the Springboks try to reset as they prepare for 70 minutes with 14 men. They go through the phases and win a penalty in midfield, Du Klerk kicks to touch and this is a decent platform.
RED CARD! France 3-0 SOUTH AFRICA (Du Toit, 11 mins)
Right, Danty is on the floor at the breakdown. And Du Toit basically targets his head with his own head. Ref Wayne Barnes discusses it with the TMO, there’s no mitigation and comes to the conclusion it’s a red card.
Simply had to be. Dangerous play from Du Toit. It’s a lonely walk off for him to the jeers of the crowd. He looks distraught on the bench. Danty off for a HIA
France 3-0 South Africa, 11 mins
Ollivon steals the Springboks’ lineout on his own 22, prompting a roar from the crowd, and France can clear.
South Africa having more of the possession here and it’s been a physical encounter. Kolbe gets the ball on the right wing and runs across the field, probing for a whole, but Les Bleus stay firm.
A big defensive set and they win the penalty. Danty now receiving treatment after getting a blow to the head from Pieter-Steph du Toit at the breakdown. He could be in trouble here...
France 3-0 South Africa, 8 mins
Nice kick across from Willemse lands in the hands of Kriel but he doesn’t have enough room on the left wing to make good ground. A break in play as a French player receives treatment but we’re good to go again.
The noise the French fans in the Stade Velodrome are making is immense by the way.
France 3-0 South Africa, 6 mins
Penaud makes decent yards down the right and his clever kick nearly works but well covered by South Africa as Le Roux finds space. France get the ball back but they’re forced into touch on the left as Ntamack is dragged down by Willemse.
The Boks then clear their lines into the France half
France 3-0 South Africa, 4 mins
A rare mistake from Alldritt as he drops the ball from the kick-off and that gives the Boks ball in the France 22. But the ball is stripped and France can clear. A missed opportunity.
Another drop, this time from South Africa as Moster spills it, with the ball proving slightly slippy early on. Scrum to France
PEN! FRANCE 3-0 South Africa (Ramos, 2 mins)
Relatively long range but fairly straight and Thomas Ramos makes no mistake. The full-back ensures it’s first blood to France
KICK-OFF! France 0-0 South Africa, 1 mins
Underway in Marseille. The noise in the Stade Velodrome is deafening. What an atmosphere!
France win an early penalty in the Springboks half. Shot at the posts?
France vs South Africa
Anthems completed and it’s almost kick-off time in Marseille.
France vs South Africa team news
France opt for the same team who edged Australia last weekend, looking to extend their unbeaten record to 12 matches.
Centre Jonathan Danty will start again after being a doubt following the birth of his child overnight on Tuesday, which saw him skip a couple of training sessions, while Yoram Moefana will again be on the wing.
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber makes five changes following last Saturday’s 19-16 loss to Ireland in Dublin.
Willie le Roux is recalled at full-back and Faf de Klerk at scrum-half. He also includes uncapped fly-half Manie Libbok on the bench after struggling to find a consistent replacement at No. 10 for the injured Handre Pollard. Although Damian Williemse struggled against Ireland he is retained at fly-half.
Cheslin Kolbe goes back to the right wing and Kurt-Lee Arendse shifts to the left wing. Prop Ox Nche and hooker Bongi Mbonambi both start while Mostert is at lock after an injury to Lood de Jager.
Startling line-ups
France: 15 Thomas Ramos; 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana; 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain); 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch; 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki; 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Bastien Chalureau, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Matthieu Jalibert
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Albertus Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Makazole Mapimpi
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