Springboks prove their mettle yet again with defiant 14-man Paris victory

When it’s your captain Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test and he’s forced to leave the field at halftime to accommodate a red card, you dig deeper to get the victory — for him, and for South Africa. 

That’s exactly what the Springboks did on Saturday night in Paris, standing tall against a fired-up French side seeking revenge, a hostile crowd at the Stade de France, and a highly questionable red card decision against lock Lood de Jager. 

In the face of adversity, the world champions once again showed their grit, determination, and unbreakable South African spirit, winning the contest 32–17 to seal another famous victory on their November tour.

The Boks found themselves in a familiar and frustrating position — battling with 14 men, just as they did in 2022 when another sending-off proved costly in their narrow defeat to Les Bleus. 

However, in this rematch of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final — and on Kolisi’s milestone day — the Boks were defiant, producing a second-half masterclass to claim a commanding win despite being a man down. 

Three tries in the final forty minutes, with France only managing three points despite their numerical advantage, underlined the gulf between the world’s No 1-ranked side and their hosts. 

Centre-turned-loose forward André Esterhuizen sparked the Boks’ fightback after they trailed 13–14 at halftime, scoring from a powerful maul to shift the momentum. Replacement scrumhalf Grant Williams then delivered the match-sealing moment, sniping off the back of another rolling maul to dive over under the posts.

Player of the Match Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu rounded off a superb team performance with a late try following slick build-up play

Head coach Rassie Erasmus was forced to tear up his carefully laid plans in the second half as De Jager’s red card completely altered the flow of the game. The dismissal disrupted South Africa’s rhythm and balance, prompting Erasmus to make several tactical substitutions he likely wouldn’t have considered otherwise. 

Apart from Kolisi, he also withdrew enforcer Eben Etzebeth and midfield powerhouse Damian de Allende early in the second half — decisions that, under normal circumstances, would have deprived the Boks of both physicality and experience.

But the Springboks adapted superbly, proving once again that they can think and fight their way through pressure situations. Their defence was immense, keeping one of the world’s most dangerous attacking teams try-less in the second half after winger Damian Penaud’s two brilliant first-half scores. 

The bench delivered when it mattered, the scrum remained solid throughout, and the lineout and maul continued to provide a lethal platform that gradually wore down the French resistance. South African rugby is in a strong position, and this victory has set the Springboks up to start dreaming of another unbeaten run on their year-end tour. 

Points scorers

Springboks 32 (13): Tries: Cobus Reinach, André Esterhuizen, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). France 17 (14): Tries: Damian Penaud (2). Conversions: Thomas Ramos (2). Penalty: Ramos.