South Africa scored four unanswered tries in a stunning second-half display to crush France 32-17, overcoming a red card in a “bruising” Autumn international. The world champions, down to 14 men after Lood de Jager’s dismissal, stormed back from a 14-6 deficit thanks to tries from Cobus Reinach, André Esterhuizen, Grant Williams, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, silencing the Stade de France.
The match began with France looking “irresistible.” Damian Penaud scored twice to break the French try-scoring record, and the home crowd was euphoric. With De Jager sent off just before half-time for a dangerous tackle, France seemed to be in “full control” and on course to avenge their World Cup elimination.
However, the second half was a masterclass in power and resilience from the Springboks. They absorbed the initial French pressure and then began to impose their will. The French team, missing the leadership of the injured Antoine Dupont, started to “crack,” and their discipline “disintegrated” under the relentless physical assault.
A costly yellow card to Louis Bielle-Biarrey for a deliberate knock-on proved to be the final straw. The Springboks pounced. Esterhuizen was driven over from a lineout maul, and Williams darted through a “splintered” defence as the momentum swung completely. The Boks “punished every mistake in ruthless fashion.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who also slotted two penalties and three conversions, rounded out the scoring with a try of his own. The “remarkable comeback” was a showcase of the Springboks’ champion mentality, leaving Fabien Galthié to rue his team’s missed chances and defensive lapses.