It is often said that the best should be saved for last, and that is exactly what we have in the final match of the quarter-finals in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with France taking on South Africa at Stade de France on Sunday evening.
With a place in the semi-final against England or Fiji up for grabs, France will be hoping to do what no other Northern Hemisphere side has ever done, and that is finding a way to beat South Africa in the knockout stages of a Rugby World Cup.
Match preview
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France came into the 2023 RWC as the favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time in their history despite losing their Six Nations crown to the world number one Ireland earlier this year.
Nevertheless, Les Bleus have lived up to the expectations so far as they claimed the top spot in Pool A, starting with a solid 27-13 win over New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament last month.
Since then, Fabien Galthie's side have taken on all comers, beating Uruguay 27-12 with a second-string side before recording the biggest win of the competition to date, pummeling Namibia 96-0 in their third match.
That win also secured their spot in the last eight, but it did not stop them from dropping the hammer on Italy in their final group stage match, which they won by a very impressive scoreline of 60-7 and sent the Azzurri home as a result.
Les Bleus have all the momentum behind them coming into this match and will be confident they can overcome this opponent, having brought an end to a seven-match losing streak when they beat the Springboks last November at Stade Velodrome in a Test match.
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While France had to settle for the runners-up medal in the Northern Hemisphere's Six Nations this year, South Africa suffered the same fate in the South when they were beaten to the Rugby Championship title by New Zealand.
However, they did not have to wait too long to get their revenge on the All Blacks as the two nations met in a warm-up match at Twickenham a few weeks later, and the Springboks delivered a record-setting 35-7 win over their adversaries.
Jacques Nienaber's side carried that momentum into this competition and got their World Cup campaign started very promisingly, beating Scotland 18-3 in their first match of the competition and followed up with a 76-0 demolition of Romania in game two.
However, South Africa met their match in their third group stage fixture when they went up against Ireland, who claimed a hard-fought 13-8 victory in what many consider the game of the tournament so far.
The Springboks got over the line with a 49-18 win over Tonga in the final match of the group, but it was a nervy final week as Scotland pushed all the way up to their last game against the Shamrocks.
South Africa will have fond memories of this venue as it was the exact place where they lifted their second World Cup title back in 2007 when they beat England in the final, and while they may be the underdogs in this one, one can never write off the three-time champs, no matter who they come up against.
France Rugby World Cup form:
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France form (all competitions):
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South Africa Rugby World Cup form:
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Team News
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France received a huge boost in the week as their star player and captain Antoine Dupont is set to return after sustaining a facial fracture against Namibia a couple of weeks ago.
Dupont is the only change to the side that beat Italy last week, and he will slot back into the halves pairing alongside Matthieu Jalibert, who has been an ever-present in this tournament.
Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou continue their partnership in the centres for the third consecutive match, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, the latter in pursuit of the Rugby World Cup's most tries record, secure the winger positions.
It is probably fair to say that predicting Nienaber's selections has been almost impossible, and the Springbok head coach has sprung another few surprises on his opponents in this one.
His changes include Manie Libbok and Cobus Reinach being chosen over Handre Pollard and Faf de Klerk as the starting half-backs, while in the forwards, Duane Vermeulen gets the number eight jersey, replacing Jasper Wiese.
Steven Kitshoff, Bongi Mbonambi, and Frans Malherbe are set to begin in the front row, Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert will form the engine room, and Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit will complete the back row.
France starting lineup: 15. Thomas Ramos, 14. Damian Penaud, 13. Gael Fickou, 12. Jonathan Danty, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Antoine Dupont (c), 8. Gregory Alldritt, 7. Charles Ollivon, 6. Anthony Jelonch, 5. Thibaud Flmanet, 4. Cameron Woki, 3. Uini Atonio, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 1. Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16. Pierre Bourgarit, 17. Reda Wardi, 18. Dorian Aldegheri, 19. Romain Taofifenua, 20. Francois Cros, 21. Sekou Macalou, 22. Maxime Lucu, 23. Yoram Moefana
South Africa starting lineup: 15. Damian Willemse, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Ox Nche, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. RG Snyman, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Faf de Klerk, 22. Handre Pollard, 23. Willie le Roux
Head To Head
These rugby powerhouses have met 39 times in the past, and South Africa have won 27 times while France have won 12 and six matches have ended in a draw. France won the last meeting just under a year ago to bring an end to a seven-match losing streak. These sides have only met once before in World Cup competition back in 1995, and South Africa won that encounter.
We say: France 18-24 South Africa
This is not the type of game where you would place too many of your chips on one side or the other, as both teams have the capability and personnel to go on to win this match. France will have the crowd on their side, which will be a huge plus, but South Africa are no strangers to pulling off big results in hostile atmospheres.
This could have been a completely different matchup if South Africa's kicking game was better against Ireland in the group stages, and if they can correct that here, we feel that the side from the Southern Hemisphere can come away with the victory.
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Devesh Jaganath
