France and South Africa are set to face each other in what promises to be an exciting encounter at the Stade de France on Friday, November 13.
Whenever these two mammoth rugby nations meet, there is usually plenty of drama, with this fixture no different.
Both teams will be looking to get an important victory in the Nations Championship, but there is also a lot of pride at stake.
With two of the strongest sides in world rugby going head-to-head, fans can expect a physical and entertaining game, writes Sports News Blitz’s Elliot Desage.
France aiming to put things right
France will be hoping to use their home advantage to get one over the Springboks.
There is still the disappointment of their narrow 29-28 defeat in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, which will give the French side extra motivation going into this match.
However, France have some problems to deal with before kick-off, particularly with injuries affecting their squad.
One of the biggest talking points is captain Antoine Dupont shifting to fly-half, with Maxime Lucu partnering him at nine.
Usually, France would play either Mathieu Jalibert or Romain Ntamack with Dupont, however both are currently injured.
Dupont remains one of the best players in the world and has the ability to make things happen from almost anywhere on the pitch.
However, playing in a different position against a team as strong as South Africa will be a big challenge.
France will also be relying on players such as Louis Bielle-Biarrey and his pace and finishing ability to provide attacking threats and make the most of any opportunities they get.
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South Africa ready for another battle
South Africa will travel to Paris full of confidence and will be looking to continue their strong performances against France.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus has kept the main core of his squad together, making only a couple of changes to the team that comprehensively defeated Italy.
This shows that he is happy with the players currently performing for him.
Captain Siya Kolisi will once again lead the Springboks, while players such as Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese will be important in the forward pack.
The scrum will be a massive talking point as the Springboks have been known to be one of the best in the business when it comes to scrummaging.
South Africa have always been known for their physical style of rugby, and this is likely to be a big part of their game plan.
They will want to put France under pressure early on and make it difficult for them to play their usual attacking style.
The battle that could decide the game
One of the most interesting parts of this match will be the battle between the two forward packs.
South Africa are particularly strong at scrum time and at the breakdown, so France will need to match their physicality if they want to come away with a win - with mauls from lineouts set to play a significant role as well.
There is also plenty of quality in the South African backline.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu brings creativity at fly-half, while Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel offer strength and experience in midfield.
France will need to defend well and avoid giving South Africa too much space, especially with their dangerous outside backs capable of scoring from almost anywhere.
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