FOURTEEN-MAN SPRINGBOKS CRUSH FRANCE IN PARIS POWER SHOW
The Springboks stunned France 32–17 in Paris on Saturday night, defying the odds after losing Lood de Jager to a red card just before halftime.
Down to 14 men, the world champions dominated the second half 19 - 3, outmuscling Les Bleus with trademark power and precision.
Captain Siya Kolisi, celebrating his 100th Test, said the team had trained for such a scenario. “We knew it could happen with the intensity we play at. If it does, so what? We keep moving,” he said.
France led 17–13 at the breakthrough, two Damien Penaud tries, but South Africa’s response was ruthless. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored 17 points with the boot, while Andre Esterhuizen and Grant Williams crossed for tries to seal a statement win.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Boks’ tactical control suffocated the hosts. Rassie Erasmus’s men adapted brilliantly, using forward dominance and disciplined defence to silence the Stade de France crowd.
It’s another brutal reminder that South Africa’s system doesn’t crack under pressure; if anything, it thrives on it. At full-time, Kolisi’s teammates surrounded him in celebration of a century of Tests and another victory built on grit, unity, and ruthless execution.
Image credit: The South African