France vs South Africa rugby test at Stade de France, Digi Mart USA News (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France): Some observers had dared to describe the South African side as ageing after a defeat to New Zealand this summer, in what both teams had labeled “the greatest rivalry in rugby history.” The Springboks, however, went on to win the next three meetings against the All Blacks.
It remains unclear what will happen at the next World Cup, where South Africa and New Zealand could meet in the quarterfinals. Still, the world champions are widely regarded as the dominant nation in rugby at present, and the fourth round of this new competition confirmed that view.
Italy, which had put up a respectable showing in the Six Nations in recent seasons, was left reeling after the South African onslaught. South Africa scored 38 points in the first twenty-five minutes and finished with 66, with 26 points from new star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada was both stunned and admiring. “Their domination was total.
They produced an incredible, crazy first half, constantly putting us under pressure. We played against the best team in the world.”
Given the flow of the match, head coach Rassie Erasmus took the decision to bring several senior players off early, including Kolisi, Wiese, Toit, Nche and Marx, to keep them fresh ahead of the match against France, which will exceptionally be played on a Friday. Eben Etzebeth, who had initially been ruled out of all four matches of the Championship of Nations, has also returned to the squad.
On the French side, the injury list keeps growing. Already weakened by a large number of absentees, the XV de France has lost Romain Ntamack, who had been eagerly anticipated for his duel with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Head coach Fabien Galthié is now without four of his fly-halves: Ntamack, Jalibert, Ramos and Hastoy.
France’s Fiji win was comfortable but not convincing. Galthié acknowledged the shortcomings: “It’s true we cannot say we are fully satisfied with our performance, but at the same time, we are restarting.
We were a bit hesitant, and at times we were reciting our lines.” He quickly turned his attention to Friday’s match against South Africa: “I think the context will help us go and find things together. The French team knows how to do that.
We have managed it in the past, and we will try to make the team achieve something we no longer expect from it. We have six days from tonight to do something unimaginable.
That is how I feel. With the players and the staff, we will prepare to go and get something that is not expected of us.”
