Watch live: France vs South Africa
When: Monday, 8am; Where: Stade de France, Paris; Coverage: Watch live on , Sky Sport 1 and Sky Open from 7:30am.
While Antoine Dupont returns, the masterful halfback will not expect an easy ride against the brutal Boks.
Few defences are as tough as South Africa’s unit of massive men. How they handle France’s red-hot attack might be the decisive factor in this monumental quarterfinal clash.
France topped pool A with four wins. They downed the All Blacks 27-13 before victories over Uruguay (27-12), Namibia (96-0) and Italy (60-7). The weight of an expectant nation is behind them.
Whether Les Bleus can win the World Cup for the first time, after losing three finals in 1987, 1999 and 2011, will be seriously tested by the reigning world champions.
The Springboks are three-time winners (1995, 2007 and 2019) and look nonetheless formidable despite their 13-8 pool defeat to Ireland, the epic encounter in Paris they might have won had they converted more shots at goal. Their reliable kicking boots, oddly, deserted them.
Runners-up in pool B after defeating Scotland (18-3), Romania (76-0) and Tonga (59-16), they will not fear the wall of noise from the vociferous French crowd, whose whistles and jeers will hail down on the South African players.
Who wins? Who knows.
TEAMS
France: Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (capt); Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, Anthony Delonch, Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki, Uini Atonio, Peato Mauvaka, Cyril Baille. Reserves: Pierre Bourgarit, Reda Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Francois Cros, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana.
South Africa: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok, Cobus Reinach; Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Willie le Roux.
TAB odds: France $1.77, South Africa $2.05
OFFICIALS
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, James Doleman (both New Zealand)
Television match official: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
