The Springboks face one of their biggest challenges of the Nations Championship when they take on France in Paris on Friday, 13 November.
The eagerly anticipated clash will bring together two of international rugby’s leading sides, with both teams looking to strengthen their positions in the competition.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has made two changes to his matchday 23. Wilco Louw moves into the starting XV, while experienced scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has been included among the replacements.
France, meanwhile, have made an interesting selection decision. With injuries affecting their flyhalf options, coach Fabien Galthié has moved regular scrumhalf Antoine Dupont into the number 10 jersey. Maxime Lucu will start at scrumhalf and captain the French side.
The match kicks off at 22:10 South African time and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Springboks vs France: Match information
- Match: France vs South Africa
- Date: Friday, 13 November 2026
- Kick-off: 22:10 (SAST)
- Venue: Stade de France, Paris
- Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
- Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England) and Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
- Television: SuperSport
France team to face the Springboks
France have opted for Dupont at flyhalf, with Lucu taking responsibility at scrumhalf and leading the team.
Starting XV:
15 Théo Attissogbe, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Antoine Dupont, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 François Cros, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Sipili Falatea, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements:
16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Régis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla, 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
Springboks team to face France
Erasmus has selected a powerful starting combination as South Africa prepare for a demanding Test in Paris.
Starting XV:
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements:
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
Springboks boast impressive record against France
The historical numbers offer plenty of encouragement for South African supporters.
Across 47 previous Tests between the nations, the Springboks have recorded 29 victories, while France have won 12. The remaining six matches ended in draws.
South Africa have scored 1,026 points and 115 tries in those encounters, compared with France’s 737 points and 66 tries.
The Springboks’ highest score against France is 52-10, while their biggest winning margin stands at 42 points.
South Africa have also enjoyed an impressive run in Paris, winning their last five matches against France in the French capital. Les Bleus last defeated the Boks in Paris in 2005.
Key Springbok milestones ahead of kick-off
Several individual achievements will add extra significance to Friday’s encounter.
Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx will both arrive with 95 Test caps. They will need five more appearances after this match to reach the 100-Test milestone.
Captain Siya Kolisi is set to lead South Africa for the 77th time. He also reached the landmark of 100 Test appearances in his previous match against France.
The matchday squad includes 10 players who featured in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France, while 16 were involved in the teams’ meeting last season.
The Springbok squad also carries considerable experience, with the supplied statistics showing average caps of 49 for the backline, 69 for the forwards and 34 for the replacements.
South Africa’s starting XV has accumulated 896 Test caps, including 344 among the backs and 552 among the forwards. The replacements add another 269 caps.
Nations Championship fixtures this weekend
The Springboks and France headline a busy weekend of international rugby, with six matches scheduled across the competition.
| Date | Match | Kick-off (SAST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 13 November | France vs South Africa | 22:10 | Stade de France, Paris |
| Saturday, 14 November | Italy vs Argentina | 13:40 | Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa |
| Saturday, 14 November | Wales vs New Zealand | 16:10 | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
| Saturday, 14 November | England vs Japan | 18:40 | Allianz Stadium, London |
| Saturday, 14 November | Ireland vs Fiji | 22:10 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
| Sunday, 15 November | Scotland vs Australia | 17:10 | Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh |
Nations Championship standings: Springboks and All Blacks level
After four rounds, South Africa and New Zealand are reportedly level on 20 points in the southern hemisphere standings.
France lead the northern hemisphere standings, sitting two points ahead of England and Ireland.
That makes Friday’s showdown particularly important for both teams as the Nations Championship progresses.
With home support behind France and the Springboks bringing their trademark physicality and depth, a compelling contest is expected in Paris.
Can the Springboks extend their winning run in Paris, or will France end their long wait for a victory over South Africa at home?
