France beat South Africa 21-19 in Nations Championship thriller

Summarised from 5 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 14:44 · Archive

France defeated world champions South Africa 21-19 in a Nations Championship match at the Stade de France on Friday, securing only their second victory over the Springboks in their last eleven Tests and ending a five-match losing run against them.

The hosts dominated the opening half with a scintillating display. Tries from Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Théo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, all converted by Maxime Lucu, gave France a commanding 21-7 lead at half-time. France played without their preferred fly-half, with captain Antoine Dupont deployed at scrum-half instead due to injuries to four fly-halves: Matthieu Jalibert, Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy.

South Africa emerged transformed in the second half and mounted a furious comeback. Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored a try in the first half, and replacement scrum-half Cobus Reinach and hooker Malcolm Marx both crossed in the second half. South Africa's set-piece power proved formidable, with the hosts shipping nine penalties at the scrum. France conceded sin-bins to Maxime Lucu, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang and Régis Montagne, the latter for persistent collapsing offences. South Africa's number eight Jasper Wiese was shown a 20-minute red card for an illegal ruck clear-out.

With Marx's try bringing South Africa within two points with nine minutes remaining, the visitors looked favourites to snatch victory. However, Manie Libbok, South Africa's replacement fly-half, missed the crucial conversion that would have levelled the game.

In the final moments, Louis Bielle-Biarrey produced a decisive defensive play to force the ball loose. Dupont then gathered possession to help seal the victory. Dupont was named player of the match following his influential performance.

The result significantly impacts the Nations Championship standings. France, with four wins from five matches, now leads the Northern Hemisphere standings by six points ahead of their next fixture against Argentina. South Africa's defeat dents the world champions' hopes of reaching the final. France will face Argentina next Saturday, with the Nations Championship final scheduled for 29 November at Twickenham.

How it is being reported

• France fend off South African comeback to clinch long-awaited win in ParisTwenty-one years after last beating the Springboks in Paris, Les Bleus held out for a 21-19 win over the world champions on Friday after a nailbiting finale. Antoine Dupont and company are now one step away from reaching the Nations Championship final in London.France 24 · 14 Nov, 10:58
• France edge past South Africa after thriller in Nations ChampionshipFrance hold their nerve to beat South Africa by just two points, winning 21-19 at the Stade de France, to make it four wins from five in the Nations Championship and putting the home side in a strong position to top the northern hemisphere standings.BBC Sport · 13 Nov, 23:43
• How Antoine Dupont emerged from the chaos to inspire France to epic win over South AfricaFrance 21-19 South Africa: The French captain was a marvel as his side clung on in a captivating, card-ridden contest in ParisIndependent Sport · 13 Nov, 23:01
• France hold nerve to edge past South Africa in thrillerFrance hold on to end their five-match losing run against South Africa at Stade de France with an enthralling 21-19 victory in Paris.BBC News · 13 Nov, 22:47
• France hold on for thrilling Nations Championship win over South AfricaFrance smashed world champions South Africa's hopes of lifting the first Nations Championship trophy on Friday, in a 21-19 defeat for Les Bleus.France 24 · 13 Nov, 22:39
• France cling on for furious victory against South Africa after Dupont sizzlesFrance 21-19 South Africa Scrum-half key in thriller full of twists and turns Friday night at the Stade de France may just be the best show in sport. The French had laid on a full Cecil B DeMille production: fireworks, flamethrowers, floodlights, a multicoloured drone show involving a three-storey-tall cockerel that then reassembled itself into a beating red, blue and white heart before transforming into a vast tricolore along with 150 dancers carrying LEDs who performed to an ear-splitting choral rendition of Madonna’s Like a Prayer. Astonishingly enough, what came after actually lived up…Guardian Sport · 13 Nov, 22:35
• France put injuries behind them to stun SpringboksFrance put a raft of injuries behind them to withstand huge pressure and defeat South Africa 21-19 in a stunning Nations Championship victory in Paris.Sky Sports · 13 Nov, 22:28

In this story: France · South Africa · Antoine Dupont · Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang · Théo Attissogbe · Louis Bielle-Biarrey · Stade de France · Twickenham

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