By Marcus Moloko
The Springboks overcame adversity and a hostile Stade de France to defeat France 32 – 17 on Saturday night.
The victory, which also marked Siya Kolisi’s 100th test cap, was a testament to the lineup’s grit and champion pedigree.
Trailing 14 – 6 and reduced to 14 men after lock Lood de Jager was sent off for a dangerous tackle just before halftime, South Africa exemplified an electrifying second-half comeback.
The world champions outscored France 19 – 3 in the final 40 minutes, silencing a crowd that was thirsty for revenge after their heartbreak in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
While France started convincingly with winger Damian Penaud scoring twice to become his country’s all-time leading try scorer, surpassing Serg Blanci’s record,
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