International Rugby: Springbox Arrive in France

13.11.2009
South Africa v France in Toulouse

Venue: Stadium de Toulouse

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Preview
This is a huge test match and definitely the pick of the weekend's test rugby. The mighty South Africans arrive in France as champions of the Southern hemisphere. They have swept the All Black and the Wallabies before them as they took the Tri Nations Trophy. Just what sort of a French team will they meet?

South Africa defeated Australia and New Zealand to become Southern Hemisphere Champions. Image thanks to www.sarugby.net

The French are, well, the French. At the moment, hot stuff one match and very ordinary the next. They were consistently up and down when they toured Australia and New Zealand in June, and were the same during the 6 Nations at the beginning of the year. The French coach Marc Lièvremont has been gradually building this side and could well dominate the South Africans up front with their huge pack.

French coach Marc Lièvremont may well have finally settled upon a winning combination.

South Africa has come a long way since they last played France. They have won the Rugby World Cup and now the Tri Nations. Coach Peter de Villiers can best be described as colourful and unorthodox in his coaching and his dealings with the media. But he too has built this Springbox side up into a world championship team which, at present, holds number 1 spot in the GWC Rugby Rankings. Can they stay there? France will certainly challenge them.

Last Five Encounters
24.06.2006 France 36-26 in Capetown
26.11.2005 France 26-10 in Paris
25.06.2005 South Africa 27-13 in Port Elizabeth
18.06.2005 Drawn 30-30 in Durban
09.11.2002 France 30-10 in Marseilles

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-South Africa 1st, France 4th

Prediction: South Africa's record is not good in France. France to upset, and win by 6 points

Teams

France
15 Damien Traille
14 Vincent Clerc
13 Yann David
12 Maxime Mermoz
11 Cédric Heymans
10 Francois Trinh-Duc
9 Julien Dupuy
8 Louis Picamoles
7 Imanol Harinordoquy
6 Thierry Dusautoir, Capt.
5 Romain Millo-Chluski
4 Lionel Nallet
3 Nicolas Mas
2 William Servat
1 Fabien Barcella
Replacements
16 Dimitri Szarzewski
17 Sylvain Marconnet
18 Sébastien Chabal
19 Julien Bonnaire
20 Morgan Parra
21 David Marty
22 Maxime Médard
Head Coach: Marc Lièvremont

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5691863,00.html

South Africa
15 Zane Kirchner
14 JP Pietersen
13 Jaque Fourie
12 Adi Jacobs
11 Bryan Habana
10 Morné Steyn
9 Fourie du Preez
8 Ryan Kankowski
7 Schalk Burger
6 Heinrich Brüssow
5 Victor Matfield
4 Bakkies Botha
3 John Smit, Capt.
2 Bismarck du Plessis
1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16 Adriaan Strauss
17 Wian du Preez
18 CJ van der Linde,
19 Andries Bekker
20 Danie Rossouw
21 Ruan Pienaar
22 Wynand Olivier
Head Coach Peter de Villiers

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5691863,00.html