French Hearts Broken Again: Boks Snatch Win Despite Red Card

French hearts were broken once again by South Africa as the Springboks snatched a 32-17 victory, despite playing the entire second half with 14 men. Hopes of avenging their agonizing World Cup quarter-final loss were high, especially after Lood de Jager’s red card, but Les Bleus “cracked under pressure” and “disintegrated,” allowing the “wiser, calmer” Boks to take control.
The afternoon at the Stade de France started perfectly for the hosts. Damian Penaud was in electric form, scoring two tries to surpass Serge Blanco as France’s all-time leading try-scorer. With a man advantage and a lead, France seemed destined to end their four-match losing streak.
However, the Springboks showcased their champion DNA. They weathered the storm and then imposed their “sheer physicality,” forcing a “succession of reckless infringements” from a rattled French side. The pressure became too much, and a yellow card for Louis Bielle-Biarrey for a deliberate knock-on proved fatal.
The Boks were ruthless. André Esterhuizen powered over from a maul after they bravely went for the corner. Grant Williams then darted through a “splintered” defence to score again, silencing the home crowd. The momentum had swung, and French hopes evaporated.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who didn’t miss a kick, rounded out the “remarkable comeback” with a try of his own. The win, South Africa’s ninth in ten games against France, leaves Fabien Galthié to rue his team’s missed chances and inability to handle the pressure.