In a game where both teams saw a key man sent off, France rallied from a remarkable Springbok surge to claim the win through their replacement tighthead prop.
South Africa lost Pieter Steph du Toit to a red card in the first half for a dangerous clearout, while Antoine Dupont followed him in the second for tackling Cheslin Kolbe in the air.
The win means that France have now beaten every team in the Guinness Six Nations and the Rugby Championship since Fabien Galthié took charge in 2020 – in fact they have done so over the space of 12 months and one week.
Away from the cards, it was South Africa’s physicality that looked to have made the difference, as they seized control of the game through their rolling maul and just kept crashing over the gain line with increasing ease.
Cyril Baille’s first-half try put France into a commanding 13-0 lead before South Africa came back, Siya Kolisi getting their try as Les Bleus went in 16-10 up at the break.
The loss of Dupont coincided with a South African recovery, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, combined with a Faf de Klerk conversion, gave the visitors the lead for the first time.
But just as it seemed they had broken the French spirit, France came back. Thomas Ramos kept knocking over penalties and Falatea forced his way over from close range for what proved to be the match-winner.
The French had made a fast start as South Africa tried to target Dupont. They were over-eager, De Klerk doing so from an offside position and giving Ramos a first shot at goal. He happily obliged from 45 metres out to make it 3-0 after two minutes.
Against the home team’s rush defence, South Africa showed a willingness to go wide early, twice going for cross-kicks in the opening seven minutes, although neither quite came off.
THE FIRST RED
The first big moment came on 12 minutes when Du Toit saw red. Danty was trying to turn the ball over in a ruck and the 2019 World Player of the Year flew into try to stop him. He lost control though and made head on head contact with the France centre, and was sent off as a result.
Danty, meanwhile, departed with a suspected fractured eye socket. That meant a reshuffle as Yoram Moefana shifted to centre and Sekou Macalou, usually a centre, came onto the wing.
South Africa had already lost one lineout and it was starting to become a problem when France managed to disrupt the next two. One of those led to a penalty which Ramos slotted for a 6-0 lead after 17 minutes.
Then, France scored the first try of the game through Baille. It all stemmed from a set play off a lineout where Damian Penaud came off his wing and got around Damian de Allende. While Arendse did well to deny Macalou, France kept the ball and eventually Baille reached over.
Ramos converted and at 13-0, it felt like a long way back for the Springboks. Finally though, they started to find their jumpers in the lineout and their maul did real damage.
From one such drive, Kolbe stepped up and slotted a brilliant penalty from 50 metres wide on the left.
Then, a penalty allowed them to get into the 22 and from there, with the Springbok pack rumbling, Kolisi peeled away and raced over untouched. Suddenly it was 13-10 and South Africa were right back in it.
France had been hit hard by injuries, Baille and Uini Atonio both departing, the latter did then return after passing a HIA.
Galthié also made the big call to remove Thibaud Flament and bring on Romain Taofifenua as he looked for a solution to the Springbok maul.
They ended the half on a high note though, South Africa slow to roll away from a breakdown and Ramos adding his third penalty of the half for a 16-10 lead at the break.
South Africa started the second half by cutting the deficit to three points through a Kolbe penalty, quickly cancelled out by Ramos.
14 ON 14
Then came the second big moment. After a quick tap penalty from De Klerk, South Africa got into the 22 and Willie le Roux spotted Atonio on his own on the wing. He went for the cross-kick and Dupont raced across to try to get to the ball but collided with his former Toulouse teammate and saw red.
Again, South Africa went to their maul and got the reward, opening up space for Arendse to get over in the corner. De Klerk, taking over kicking duties from Kolbe, converted from the touchline to give South Africa the lead for the first time, 20-19.
The momentum was all with the visitors and another turnover from a counter-ruck led to more South African points, De Klerk with the penalty.
France needed a reaction, and good pressure from Woki forced Damian Willemse into a hurried clearance. The French maul was stopped illegally by the visitors, and Ramos knocked over three more for the home side.
South Africa almost hit straight back, Arendse put into space on the wing, but Macalou did brilliantly to force him into touch after Lucu’s initial tackle.
He was penalised shortly afterwards though, breaking away brilliantly from his own 22 but deemed to have been held by Arendse’s tackle as he bounced up and tried run again.
FRANCE FIGHT BACK
France’s own maul was making ground, one huge drive hauled down just short of the line. Deon Fourie saw yellow and France tried to take advantage but overthrew the lineout at the crucial moment.
Still, the momentum was back with them. Matthieu Jalibert, freshly on, made an impact with one break that saw Macalou get away down the left. He was denied and South Africa infringed again. This time France’s lineout functioned and after going away from the maul, they hammered away at the line. Falatea got over, and after a long discussion with the TMO, the try was awarded. Ramos missed the conversion and France led by one.
France dealt with the restart, and then won a big scrum penalty to push the lead to four points. And from there, they were able to see it out to the delight of a packed out Stade Vélodrome.
