Kolisi reaches ton as Boks recover to overpower France with 14
South Africa's flanker Siya Kolisi waves at the end of the Autumn Nations Series international rugby union test match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris' suburb, on November 8, 2025. South Africa's history-making captain Siya Kolisi said it was "super special" to become a Test centurion and even more so as his children will be at the Stade de France Saturday when the Springboks play France. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
South Africa showed all their world champions resilience, storming back from 14-6 down and the first-half sending-off of lock Lood de Jager to crush France 32-17 in a bruising Autumn international on Saturday.
Down a man for the entire second half, the Springboks absorbed early pressure before overwhelming Les Bleus through sheer physicality and composure, silencing a raucous Stade de France crowd expecting revenge for France’s World Cup heartbreak.
Two years after their agonising 29-28 World Cup quarter-final loss to the Springboks on home soil, Les Bleus looked eager to make amends even without their injured captain Antoine Dupont.
But France, now on a four-match losing streak, cracked under pressure as their discipline disintegrated despite the Springboks being reduced to 14 men on the stroke of halftime.
Fabien Galthie's side looked irresistible early on as winger Damian Penaud scored twice to become his country’s all-time leading try scorer with 40, surpassing Serge Blanco’s long-standing record.
A succession of reckless infringements and a costly yellow card, however, handed the initiative to the Springboks who punished every mistake in ruthless fashion.
South Africa fought back with tries from Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who also slotted two penalties and three conversions.
It had all started brightly for France.
Fullback Thomas Ramos sent a perfectly-weighted chip over the defence after four minutes which Penaud gathered to score. The winger struck again soon after, diving into the corner to double the lead, and when De Jager was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Ramos France seemed in full control despite being only one point ahead.
Then came South Africa’s spectacular revival through a mixture of clinical attacking and iron discipline.
France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, and the world champions pounced.
Esterhuizen powered over from a maul after the visitors had chosen to go for the lineout after being awarded a penalty, before Williams darted through a splintered defence for another try as the momentum swung quickly.
With France rattled and conceding a succession of penalties, Feinberg-Mngomezulu sealed a remarkable comeback, rounding the defence on the outside and sliding over the line before converting his own try.
South Africa have now beaten France in nine of their last 10 meetings.
Captain Siya Kolisi became the ninth Springbok to play 100 tests and came off after the interval. At the end, Kolisi was cheering his teammates on from the touchline as they launched a superb comeback.
Man of the match Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu told TNT Sports: “That was what we thought it was going to be against France. We were doing well in contestable kicks but were not getting points on the board but we stuck in there and it was great to win for Siya.
“I got injured on the 28 December for the Stormers against the Sharks and Siya told me to hold tight and we would win together. He has done so much for me and this country.”
France 17 (14) – Tries: Damian Penaud (2). Conversions: Thomas Ramos (2). Penalty goal: Ramos.
Springboks 32 (13) – Tries: Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Grant Williams, Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty goals: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2).
Ramos; Penaud, Barassi, Fickou (capt), Bielle-Biarrey; Ntamack, Le Garrec; Erdocio, Marchand, Montagne, Flament, Meafou, Jelonch, Boudehent, Guillard.
Replacements: Cramont, Gros, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Auradou, Jegou, Lucu, Depoortere.
Willemse; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Reinach; Venter, Marx, T du Toit, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (capt), PS du Toit, Wiese.
Replacements: Grobbelaar, Steenekamp, Louw, Snyman, Nortje, Esterhuizen, Williams, Libbok.
Reuters
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