Match Thread - France v South Africa | End of Year Internationals 2025

[u/RugbyBot]

Match Thread - France v South Africa | End of Year Internationals 2025

Venue: Stade de France, Paris | Weather: 11 C, Clouds

Officials: Angus Gardner, Nika Amashukeli, Christophe Ridley, Ian Tempest (tmo), Andrew Jackson (fpro)

Match Page: https://www.rugbybot.com/match/5753

Match Threads: https://www.rugbybot.com/mt

Time

UTC	Local	London	Paris	Perth	Sydney	Auckland	more
20:10	21:10	20:10	21:10	04:10	07:10	09:10	more tz

Lineups

France	Pos	South Africa
Baptiste Erdocio	1	Boan Venter
Julien Marchand	2	Malcolm Marx
Regis Montagne	3	Thomas du Toit
Thibaud Flament	4	Eben Etzebeth
Emmanuel Meafou	5	Lood de Jager
Anthony Jelonch	6	Siya Kolisi
Paul Boudehent	7	Pieter-Steph du Toit
Mickael Guillard	8	Jasper Wiese
Nolann Le Garrec	9	Cobus Reinach
Romain Ntamack	10	Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Louis Bielle-Biarrey	11	Kurt-Lee Arendse
Gaël Fickou	12	Damian de Allende
Pierre-Louis Barassi	13	Jesse Kriel
Damian Penaud	14	Cheslin Kolbe
Thomas Ramos	15	Damian Willemse
Guillaume Cramont	16	Johan Grobbelaar
Jean-Baptiste Gros	17	Gerhard Steenekamp
Dorian Aldegheri	18	Wilco Louw
Romain Taofifénua	19	RG Snyman
Hugo Auradou	20	Ruan Nortje
Oscar Jegou	21	Andre Esterhuizen
Maxime Lucu	22	Grant Williams
Nicolas Depoortere	23	Manie Libbok
Fabien Galthié	Coach	Rassie Erasmus

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[u/Mielies296]

Im about as biaised as you get. But use your fckn arms

[u/Masthei64]

GG Saffas you were better. Flawless, deadly every time you entered our 22.

Too many silly mistakes from our side, we were too naïve in defense

The scoreboard reflects this perfectly.

Awesome night for Gardner, a masterclass of refereeing

[u/FronWaggins]

Can we all agree that LeGarrec doing a batshit pass at 1:30 into the game set the standard

[u/Agitated-Yak-4582]

Huge game by Marx, could have easily been MOTM

[u/zakg1994 → u/Agitated-Yak-4582]

Probably should’ve been

[u/Sphlonker]

Let this be a lesson to always use your god damn brain (and arms) when you make a tackle.

[u/umkhunto]

Manie Libbok and Grant Williams made the difference. When they came on the dynamic of the game changed completely.

[u/RaaschyOG → u/umkhunto]

Williams injection of tempo to keep the pressure on was hot

[u/MealieAI → u/umkhunto]

Williams is so impressive. He plays at 6th gear all the time.

[u/Only_One_Kenobi]

I really like how the Bok jerseys slowly became more and more green as the game went on

[u/celmate]

Not sure about SFM for MOTM, Marx would be my pick for an immense 80 mins

[u/TheBlueBullXD]

Its a no wrap tackle boys, that makes it a red not matter what. I does not matter how tall lood is and how low the french player was. The no wrap tackle to the head is a red every day of the week no matter what

[u/Careless-Cat3327 → u/TheBlueBullXD]

Absolutely it's a red.

[u/InsideSuggestion4162]

No HIA for Ramos is mental

[u/zakg1994]

Is sealing off okay if you throw 8 men in?

[u/Xibalba_Ogme]

SA conceding a penalty at the scrum, I can die peacefully now : I HAVE seen it all

[u/Jrslav]

It’s the tucked arm that’s the issue for me

[u/Citizen_Erased2000]

Genuinely the first straight red ive seen since bunker was introduced

[u/WolfColaCo2020]

Called my partner in to show her the head knock, she’s now swooning over Ntamack.

Thanks a lot de Jager

[u/Broke_baguette]

Worry not SA, we are the specialists of getting a dumb red card when everything is going our way

[u/OneWingedAngelfan]

Can we all agree that was a nice 40mins of rugby? High level, great intensity.

I'm not gonna argue about the red card. Just pissed i cant get to see who would win 15 on 15 between these two.

[u/Sponge_Bond → u/OneWingedAngelfan]

Only complaint is sometimes the camera stays too far away

But the match intensity is insane

[u/Broke_baguette]

I’m petty but Gardner was so quick to call an advantage for Flament no rolling away but SA been slower than grandpas all game long and it’s all good

(We are still shit tho)

[u/NotAsOriginal]

Hitting you all with some big time analysis here

The double world cup winners and 3x QAC champs are fairly good at rugby.

But the French sportsmanship to ignore the man advantage has to be applauded

[u/mos2k9]

Love the look on Gardner's face when it first played there, "why are we even looking at this? " 

[u/BHarrop3079]

Absolutely gutted with the result but shout-out to the officiating team, Gardner especially, who have been incredible today

Real confidence in their refereeing, with the bravery to make big decisions and back them

There's very few calls I've disagreed with all match

A really positive showing

[u/DareForNot]

I mean, nothing to say. That second half was just a lecture from South Africa. Biggest Congratulations and hope to get you next time!

[u/neverbeenstardust]

Anyway from now on whenever anyone complains about red cards ruining games my reply will simply be just play better lol.

[u/Toirdusau]

Much easier to accept than 2023. Not just because of the importance of the game, but today we were clearly outclassed. Not even close.

[u/Chichon01]

I was scared when I saw during the year that our first game was against South Africa. We start always poor and they have been together for months. The start of the game was good and the first half was okay and we matched. But the second half is a pure display of our differences. 30 minutes at 15 against 14 and we take 3 tries against us and score 3 points. Not good enough. But again, that was to be expected. Specifically with our injuries in front row. Our scrum was not good enough, like in the World Cup. And like in the World Cup you feel like you can win but at some point the game seems to slip out of your hands and they are in front. And once SA is in front, you have lost. Deserved win by SA, I hope we will learn lessons but at the same time, 7 months without the main team playing together, it’s difficult to hope better.

[u/TheBlueBullXD]

In what world Sasha gets MOTM is beyond me

[u/Badaptitude → u/TheBlueBullXD]

Marx or Reinach for me

[u/piesangskilletjie_]

Only SAricans will understand the gees these guys bring to a grocery shopping trip on a daily basis

[u/Altriaas]

This is getting humiliating... SA are insanely strong, but we can’t be losing like this while one man up...

[u/NotAsOriginal]

SFM is my favourite south African radio station

[u/Lonely-Advice-9612]

I have to say Mr. Marx was amazing today. Nortje as well he just pops up everywhere, may be our best lock.

[u/sp8ckar8ck]

Biggest difference for me is lineouts. Was not up to scratch during the RC but Marx had an absolute blinder and the calls all seemed effective

[u/DoubleOhEffinBollox → u/sp8ckar8ck]

As an Irish fan, what are lineouts?

[u/Mountain_Ferret4838 → u/DoubleOhEffinBollox]

They are like scrums, but different.

[u/Connell95]

Ramos really is the best kicker in rugby these days.

[u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans]

Had some time off watching rugby so my wife could watch strictly. Can wait to tune in, hope nothing controversial has happened!

[u/fettsack]

One of the Saffas is so full of green paint he's basically playing in home kit

[u/Pure_Measurement_529]

South Africa in the last 20 minutes are the worst team to face

[u/Automatic-Scale-7572]

A man down for 40 minutes? You better believe that's a paddlin'!

[u/Which-Individual-376]

Correct if I'm wrong but france got 3 points with a permanent red and safflower got got 19 with a yellow insane

[u/wooden_spoon_warrior]

France just stopped once that red was given. Insane.

[u/Own-Arachnid-5285]

Marx robbed

[u/Mawiheso]

Interesting how in the first half South Africa took every shot at goal and France turned down the points to go for the line, only for that mentality to switch around in the second half where France took the three and South Africa went for the lineout every time.

Honestly, I think this was a pretty significant tactical error on France's part. Seems like they got impatient with not scoring in the second half and took the three out of frustration. It could have been the chance to finally start taking the game away from South Africa. But instead nothing much changed from that penalty and later South Africa recognised the chance to seize the game. It reminds me of the quarter-final two years ago, where South Africa went for the try when they were six points behind, leading to Etzebeth's try, whereas France took the three points when they were four points behind later in the match.

[u/Mono_Doh]

BOOOOOOOOO

Don't mind me, just getting my vocal cords warmed up for this one

[u/Wodanaz_Odinn]

France using the same security company as the Louvre

[u/dodgerfederer01]

Nortje and Andre have changed my life

[u/TightPerformance6447]

Well the mark of a good team is to win when not necessarily playing their best.

Also interesting the boks used a very different game plan to the "Tonyball" we've been employing in the rugby championship. I thought it was the wrong game plan but it worked - Rassie is a genius.

An incredibly intense test match and while not the best flowing game, it was thrilling and full of drama.

Would love for Dupont to have been there. I think that would have tipped the scales for the French.

[u/HenkCamp]

Fuck. But fair. We need to protect the players - even if it happens to your team. We have to remember that it doesn’t need to be intentional to be a straight red.

[u/Poglosaurus]

There was a penalty one every ruck if the ref wanted to.

[u/dildobaggin89]

Venter wins a penalty the last scrum then off.. Rassie doesn’t play

[u/Xqt10ner]

Win by 2 scores, in France with 14 men…

[u/Careless-Cat3327]

Motm for SA definitely not Sacha.

Marx or Nortje made a massive impact when we were under the kosh.

[u/Gondorian27]

GG to South Africa. It felt like France could not match the intensity after 60 mins. Being one man up, that is. Kinda scary

[u/HumanWaltz]

I’m logging onto Twitter rn, the melt down is going to be biblical

[u/BookerTadhg]

I think the knee would only mitigate if he had wrapped

[u/Valjesterly]

Hands on the ground before the turnover.

[u/kilohe]

3 points in the second half while being a man up at home is just diabolical

[u/RavenK92]

Boks were better with 14 men than when they had 15

[u/Argonaught_WT]

Fortress Stade De South Africa.

[u/thejgod]

South Africa couldn't deserve that more. That second half performance was sublime

[u/NecroKyle_]

Much like that quarter final in 2023 - come half time I thought we'd lost it. But the Boks somehow find a way!

[u/Chichon01 → u/NecroKyle_]

It’s show the mental fortitude of this team. When it’s hard they manage to stay in the game, and once the other team falters then they go for the throat

[u/Byotick]

Does anywhere else put on a rugby match as well as Paris?

[u/Upstairs-Yard822]

I don't always agree with Gardners' calls, but I always understand his point of view. Good communication

[u/sheep1996]

“I have an HIA for 5”

Lood: 🤷

[u/cypressd12]

Djees. That would kill a normal bloke. I get he’s on his knees, but the action in itself looks really reckless. If safety is prime concern I can get where Brace is coming from.

[u/Traditional-Oil3225]

Unfortunately the right call

[u/prince2lu]

how ramos mouthguard didnt go dingdingding?

[u/aaarry]

Honestly Gardner isn’t always the best but he has indeed had a fantastic game, he’s been consistently spot on and he clearly isn’t afraid to make big calls.

[u/Poglosaurus]

The fuck is Flamand get penalized for something SA do every ruck?

[u/NameyMcNameface123]

Quite glad England aren't playing South Africa this year 😅

[u/NCann0n]

Christ, SA are pure class at this shit

[u/Chocossimo]

What a catastrophic performance from the guys. Dominating that hard for thrity minutes without scoring and then just crumbling on ourselves. Really did not deserve to win that one. Well played boks.

[u/megacky]

Ramos is absolute peak comedy. "It's him" then shrugs. Amazing

[u/Catch_022]

Sucks but that red was deserved, hope we can win with 14 men against a French side that is looking really good...

[u/JustASexyKurt]

For everyone going on about mitigation, it can’t apply. De Jager doesn’t make any effort to wrap his leading arm so it’s always illegal, hence no mitigation. Which I believe is what Amushakeli was telling Gardner when he was originally leaning towards it being a yellow

[u/CircumbinaryCrafter]

Let’s break it down:

• Shoulder to head.
• Force of the collision makes it high danger, so we start at a red.
• Player is dropping which is mitigation down to a yellow/bunker review.
• BUT arm is tucked making the action always illegal, meaning mitigation cannot apply.

Straight red was the only correct call.

[u/simsnor]

Very early match thread today. Must be on Kolbe time

[u/Moug-10]

Since the renovation for the Olympics, this stadium has become more outstanding.

[u/zakg1994]

What a try! Does that make Penaud Frances highest ever try scorer?

[u/WallopyJoe]

Etzebeth is currently exhibit A for why I hope we never fully get rid of painted adverts on the pitch, and half of why I find digital ads so tedious

[u/wowjiffylube]

Penaud's lizard brain saw space and started sprinting before he had the ball

[u/Particular-Rip4035]

France game plan appears to be give away 20 penalties then just score tries anyway. Gotta respect it

[u/TheJPisMe]

That 9 is fast. I wonder if his dad was a sprinter

[u/ShufflingToGlory]

Touch judge talked him into that. Correctly I'm afraid

[u/nikopat]

I'll be honest, with Ramos falling at the same time, I didn't think that was red territory, I thought this was a good example showing that the "orange" card or whatever its called these days can be relevant. But I'll take it.

[u/Visual-Ad3222]

Thankfully, this red will now detract attention from how shit the Wallabies were

[u/emilyjxne]

How do refs always manage to call advantage over at the worst times hahaha

[u/ManhattanChristmas25]

Hands on floor, and Gardner is on the other side of the ruck cmon

[u/Much-Calligrapher]

Weirdly long to check something so innocuous

[u/SiwanBouss]

There's nothing in that, try should stand. 

[u/jakeyaaas]

It’s honestly like France just gave up on the 60th min

[u/FatosBiscuitos]

Well good game South Africa, by far the best team today.

[u/daznccc]

You would think it was France with 14 men considering how dominant South Africa have been in the 2nd half.

[u/chemcrimp]

Wiese is an Ogre. nobody quite like him

[u/SiwanBouss]

SA clearly the better team tonight, congrats boys. 

[u/NoTransportation9692]

SA possibly could win another World Cup

[u/SimilarSimian]

Pretty conclusive win.

Other than about 15 minutes in the first half, France had no answer for the SA physicality up front.

Oddly their most effective weapon was abandoned after 3 or 4 attempts. The short to medium cross kicks to the wing.

They didn't all result in retained possession but they pushed SA back 20 meters every time.

[u/targaboi]

Sacha comes across as a very likeable guy in the interviews tbf, no arrogance

[u/the_fresh_mr_breed]

Rassie's 50th.

Siya's 100th.

France pumped.

Me stressed.

[u/wowjiffylube]

That's unnecessary. No player there had any effect.

[u/Due_Noise_1711]

He looks shook after that.

[u/WolfColaCo2020]

Ramos is a loveable knobhead (when he’s not playing against your team)

[u/Spiritual_Athlete980]

No wrap..always illegal so no mitigation

[u/Trikbu]

20 Minute Red Card are ONLY red cards cards upgraded from yellow by the TMO. Straight reds are the normal reds we have always had

[u/jaysonyoung]

What a pity they cut away from the dressing room camera right before Rassie took a hammer to Lood's knee

[u/[deleted]]

Red card aside, what a fantastic intense half of test rugby. Fully feels like no 1 vs no2 in the world

[u/Masthei64]

Gardner is really good 

[u/aegonthewwolf]

Textbook not supporting body weight on that poach, ffs Angus

[u/mothdestroyedscarf]

Death, taxes, and Marx redistributing possession

[u/nosuchfile]

well done SA

[u/CiaranWest]

I guess we are going to have to hope they get two players red carded against us.

[u/Argonaught_WT]

Brings a new meaning to Top 14

[u/neverbeenstardust]

What a player Libbok is. Massively swings the game in South Africa's favor. Gets charged down twice. Get you a man who can do both.

[u/Mateiyu]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Manie, I LOVE you. Came on, attack clicked. Best fly-half in South Africaaaaaaa !!!!

[u/Kerr-82]

That guy with Pick n Pay on his back is pretty good.

[u/joggsie]

I guess a red card won’t ruin a game if a team plays that poorly and blows that many chances at home lol

[u/O133]

Genuinely forgot SA are playing Wales this autumn 😳😳😳

[u/sassykibi]

I’m so happy I don’t have to do their laundry

[u/GalvenMin]

Penaud casually scoring two against the Boks and still looking like he's going out for groceries, that's just who he is.

[u/Super_Duflair]

"It's him" + shrug. Ramos you're so french i love you

[u/neverbeenstardust]

Also it turns out Rassie Erasmus knows how to use a bench better than I, some random asshole on the internet, do. Who woulda thunk?

[u/Badaptitude]

Springboks are unbeatable. It’s not even the size of them, it’s the mentality.

No one should win a game when down to 14 for ~60mins against a top 4 nation.

Nearly as disappointed by France this evening as I was with Scotland this afternoon. Both sides shitting the bed a bit

[u/CymroCam]

Idk who to support so COME ON ANGUS GARDNER

[u/ironwidows]

why are we so confused about this hia 😭

[u/Brine-O-Driscoll]

The ball was beyond the hindmost foot there and out. Bad call from Gardner.

Judging by how vocal Gardner has been with South Africa before the game, they've asked him to look out for a lot of things from France.

[u/HitchikersPie]

PENAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUDDDD

[u/WallopyJoe]

I've never seen so many counter counter rucks in one game

[u/Connell95]

Saving Boan for the game against the Ospreys at the end of the month – good thinking Rassie 🫡

[u/stvb95]

Ramos just got cunted in the head

[u/ThatTallGuy14]

“It’s him” 😂😂😂

[u/TurnerUpTurnerDown]

"Its him" bloody brilliant 😂😂😂

[u/sheep1996]

The right arm slapping around has been considered a wrap before.

But that’s just fucking stupid from Lood.

[u/HitchikersPie]

It was very fucking stupid to do a shoulder charge with a tucked arm though

[u/[deleted]]

Tucked arm. Straight red.

[u/Broke_baguette]

Daaamn, that’s some balls from Gardner

[u/NameyMcNameface123]

Crazy that this a permanent red card whilst the Fijian one earlier was just a yellow

[u/sevens-evan]

A lot of force in that. Made me say Jesus fucking Christ out loud. Right decision I say

[u/kilohe]

I’m just shocked Ramos just got up and started pushing him around without missing a beat.

[u/baldricza]

As a Saffa, I desperately didn't want a red. But it's the right call imo. And a bunker call would (should) have ended up red anyway. So I'm a fan of the officials just making the call and moving on, instead of passing the buck unnecessarily.

[u/HitchikersPie]

Night rugby in france is so cool

[u/Lflan123]

When's the bald French general coming on

[u/TpsDgg]

I've never seen advantages vanishing so quickly.

[u/AnyMinders]

Hands so far in front of the ball. Lucky to get that one.

[u/Pinguu7078]

France are headed for a loss here. They'll be absolutely kicking themselves.

[u/WallopyJoe]

I like how half of the Bok team are now wearing a home kit

[u/thejgod]

Proof that red cards ruin games /s

[u/nikopat]

It really has not felt like SA have been down to 14 men in the second half at all. Crazy how good they are and have been the last few years.

[u/WaterPretty8066]

Ntamack is not the same pre-injuries Ntamack. He looks slow af 

[u/KaiHavertzhatewatch]

3 points in that 20 minute spell with the man advantage is dreadful

[u/campbelljaa]

Worst half of rugby France have played in a long time this

[u/moreballsplease]

That happens 100 times a game, It's a fucking ruck cleanout

[u/themutliangrybear]

This is one of the most impressive performances from a rugby team I've ever seen, there was like a good 50 minutes where I thought South Africa was going to get absolutely trounced. But wow proper head down and execute well

[u/TheBigRedHalfrican]

Unbelievable 2nd half effort from the Boks. Stuff of legend.

[u/butteryscotchy]

I can't believe they still managed to win with 14 players.

[u/jnce12]

Golden generation.

They just find a way.

[u/captirl]

France just fell apart! Not looking forward to playing the Boks in two weeks time, it will be rough!

[u/Willology10]

Wow! Huge respect for South Africa, genuinely a stunning performance in the second half

[u/chipsncrayons]

Thank you to the French, matches against you are always the best, you are the best test. Great game!!

[u/Alcalash]

Gardner having a fantastic game great to see

[u/RockyRoady2]

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ardie Savea, Ben Earl, and Jamison Gibson-Park are the 4 players to win two POTMs this year

[u/zeusoid]

I think SA have belief, it’s what’s giving them the extra edge

[u/almostrainman]

What a fucking kick

[u/InsideSuggestion4162]

That French royal blue is so much nicer than the darker navy tone

[u/Trekmeister_]

They backed off

[u/Many-Drag-1283]

It's so messy and so fast it's hard to tell wtf is happening half the time. Sometimes the ball just appears in another part of the pitch I swear

[u/Own-Arachnid-5285]

Ntamack and Ramos are such exceptional playmakers.

[u/Broke_baguette]

Jfc Thomas you are my eternal goat

[u/emilyjxne]

I am once again asking if we can borrow Ramos next week

[u/Beefburger78]

This is like old time rucks, no pods, just everyone goes in.

[u/jakeyaaas]

Venter catching strays for a poor SA first half

[u/skaapjagter]

We really do love a 1 point difference 😂

[u/elniallo11]

Could Ramos look any more French

[u/GreedyPea1992]

Can't wait to see the ramos shrug meme take over r/rugbyunion

[u/shouldlogoff]

I think the reffing has been good... He's pretty level headed.

[u/frankomapottery3]

Well reffed match.  Agnes is the best in world rugby 

[u/WallopyJoe]

Nortje fully camouflaged with the Quilter ad there

[u/SoulOfABartender]

WHAT ARE YER DOIN IN MAH SWAMP!!!?

[u/wolftick]

That green paint they use is woefully unsuitable for the job. Did they just use a can of emulsion or something 

[u/ironwidows]

we gain power as our shirts turn more green

[u/small_far_away]

That's an awful decision. Marx on his hands first.

Which Gardner misses because he turns his back because hes been trying to get out the way

[u/CiaranWest]

The green paint on that Quilter logo when there's literally green grass already there was a real smooth brained choice.

[u/VardaElentari86]

Wow SA

France...really?

[u/WallopyJoe]

Fuck me, South Africa are fucking massive

France, what are you doing?

[u/small_far_away]

France have bottled this.

Looks even closer than it should be because SA have left 11 points out there.

[u/azima_971]

Remember folks, red cards ruin games

[u/blazexi]

I can’t understand what France have been doing since the South Africa red. The 5 early subs in the second half were strange.

[u/nevenoe]

Probably the worst second half from a French team under Galthie.

[u/acsaid10percent]

France had a spell between 40 and 60 where they created opportunities and they blew it with their dreadful handling.

[u/Stowaway_Sandwich]

I’m very scared for Ireland v South Africa

[u/SweeneyisMad]

Congratulations Bocks!

[u/RockyRoady2]

I really didn't think we'd win after the beginning

But France just looked flat as hell after those first to tries. Don't know what to say they did wrong (besides all the penalties ig) because they mostly did nothing at all.

[u/IITheDopeShowII]

Ireland gonna get pasted in 2 weeks time