France coach Bernard Laporte has a simple plan to counter South Africa: keep hold of the ball.
Laporte says that because of the Springboks’ counter-attacking speed, along with their physical strength, Les Tricolores must keep possession at the Stade de France on Saturday.
”We will need to be very wary and make sure we keep hold of the ball,” Laporte said on Thursday at the French training camp. ”They are very dangerous on the break. If we lose the ball, things can turn very nasty, very quickly.”
Laporte cites France’s 27-13 loss to South Africa at Port Elizabeth in June as an example.
Twice France lost possession in midfield and twice the Springboks scored tries.
”Two tries, two gifts,” Laporte said of the scores from Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana.
France will be looking to burly flanker Remy Martin to cope with the strength of the Springboks. Martin scored a try and had a standout game in the 26-16 win over Australia on November 5.
”We will try and avoid direct contact,” Laporte said. ”But at one moment or another it will happen, and in that area or that zone we will need to conserve the ball.”
Laporte said if France can retain a high percentage of possession then the ‘Boks will struggle.
”If we manage to keep the ball and recycle it then our movement will cause them problems,” he said.
France beat Canada 50-6 and Tonga 43-8 in the past two weeks, but Laporte knows South Africa will provide a real test.
”The Australians play a more fluid game, but the South Africans are more aggressive, more intense at every moment in a match,” Laporte said.
Coach Jake White’s South Africa is the only side to have beaten New Zealand this season.
”The South Africans have the ability to make their physical presence tell,” France scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde said.
Laporte says France has improved from when it was beaten 45-6 by New Zealand last season.
”We have more depth now,” Laporte said.
”We will need to be strong. But what I saw against Australia was encouraging. We got on top of them physically and we could have scored 40 points.” – Sapa-AP