South Africa and France played to a thrilling 30-30 draw in an epic first Test at King’s Park Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon that leaves the two-Test series up for grabs in Port Elizabeth next weekend.
The teams were level 13-13 at the break.
The Boks maintained their unbeaten record against France in Durban, but only just, as the teams drew for the third time in six matches here.
The result sets up a mouth-watering second Test with everything to play for.
Although the teams shared the spoils on the scoreboard, France had the ascendancy in the scrums and looked extremely dangerous when the ball got to their backs.
It was a match of fierce intensity with neither side ever being further ahead than seven points at any stage. No quarter was given in any facet of play throughout the 80 minutes.
The Boks delivered on their promise of physicality, especially at the breakdowns, as they refused to be bullied by the aggressive French approach.
France was full of enterprise and only a committed defensive effort managed to keep them at bay at times.
France outscored South Africa by four tries to three, two of which went to right wing Bryan Habana. Others to shine for the Boks were scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
The Tricolors made their attacking intentions known very early on when a routine goal-able penalty was turned down in favour of a lineout. The Boks did well to repel the concerted drives from a pumped up French pack, but then gifted them the first try of the match in the sixth minute.
A moment of madness by Van der Westhuyzen — when he inexplicably tossed the ball into the grateful hands of centre Florian Fritz — saw the Boks concede when a score at the other end was possible.
Fritz offloaded to flank Yannick Nyanga who galloped in virtually unimpeded for Jean-Baptiste Elissalde to convert.
Percy Montgomery reduced the gap in the 12th minute with a sweetly struck penalty from 40m before the Boks produced a try of irresistible flair to take the lead.
Jean de Villiers superbly fielded a high ball, before it was quickly recycled. Montgomery joined the line at the precise moment, slicing the French defence to shreds, before giving the ball to Bryan Habana.
The Bok right wing still had two men to beat and with little space, he did brilliantly to make it look so simple. Montgomery’s touchline conversion gave the Boks a 10-7 lead.
The match was being played at a furious pace, with South Africa employing quick throws at lineout time that kept the tempo high throughout the first 40 minutes.
Frederic Michalak slotted a drop goal midway through the half to draw the teams level and it stayed that way until he and Montgomery traded penalties late in the half that saw the teams head into the break locked at 13-all.
France was giving the Boks plenty of trouble at scrum time in the first half, but it was the backlines of both outfits that were providing the entertainment.
And as if not to disappoint, it was the turn of Habana at the start of the second stanza to bolster his burgeoning reputation with his and South Africa’s second try under the poles.
The lead did not last long as the visitors replied with two scintillating tries through lock Pascal Pape and No 8 Julien Bonnaire within three minutes of each other that seemed to take the wind out of the home side’s sails.
Bonnaire’s effort was particularly impressive and involved several phases and virtually every player on the park.
But in this topsy-turvy match, the Boks were next on the scoreboard when De Villiers finished a length of the field move to restore the lead in his team’s favour. Montgomery kicked the difficult conversion and added a sweetly-struck drop-goal to give the Boks a 30-25 advantage with 15 minutes remaining.
The French though had the last say as right wing Julien Candelon dotted down to level matters for the last time with six minutes on the clock.
Replacement scrumhalf Dimitri Ychvili’s conversion attempt clattered against the left hand upright to leave the teams on equal terms.
Next Saturday’s return match in Port Elizabeth promises to be just as fierce, especially considering that Laporte can call on a full, rested squad.
Point-scorers:
SOUTH AFRICA 30 (13): Tries: Bryan Habana (2), Jean de Villiers. Conversions: Percy Montgomery (3). Penalties: Montgomery (2). Drop-goals: Montgomery (1)
FRANCE 30 (13): Tries: Yannick Nyanga, Pascal Pape, Julien Bonnaire, Julien Candelon. Conversions: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (2). Penalties: Elissalde (1). Drop-goals: Frederic Michalak (1).
Teams:
SOUTH AFRICA: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Jean de Villiers, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Jaco van der Wetshuyzen, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jacques Cronje, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Albert van den Berg, 3 Eddie Andrews, John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Juan Smith, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Enrico Januarie, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Brent Russell.
FRANCE: 15 Julien Laharrague, 14 Julien Candelon, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cedric Heymans, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (captain), 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Olivier Magne, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Olivier Milloud.
Replacements: 16 William Servat, 17 Pieter De Villiers, 18 Gregory Lamboley, 19 Remy Martin, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Benoit Baby, 22 Nicolas Brusque.
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).
Touch-judges: Donal Courtney (Ireland) and George Ayoub (Australia).
TMO: Brett Bowden (Australia).
Crowd: 50,420.
Conditions: Sunny and warm with a slight breeze and pitch hard underfoot. – Sapa