The Springboks outlasted and outplayed France to claim a commanding 32-17 victory at the Stade de France.
Rassie Erasmus’ troops delivered a second-half masterclass despite playing the entire final stanza with 14 men.
The clash was billed as a rematch of the unforgettable 2023 World Cup quarter-final, and France arrived desperate to settle that score.
They edged ahead by half-time, buoyed by the energy of a home crowd and the momentum gained after Lood de Jager’s red card late in the first half.
Read SA Rugby’s digi-mag for FREE!
What followed, however, stunned Paris.
Rather than retreat, the Springboks surged.
They shut France down after the break, outscoring the hosts 19-3 in a relentless display of composure and physical authority.
HABANA: Rassie’s Boks simply the best
Bok hybrid André Esterhuizen crashed over to swing momentum, before Grant Williams injected pace and precision.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu then put the result beyond doubt, sealing a victory forged in grit and belief.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post 2025 Boks: 14-man world champions silence Paris appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.