France scored two tries in the first 10 minutes and held out South Africa 26-20 in a rugby international at Stade de France on Saturday.
Early tries by Dimitri Szarzewski and Frederic Michalak helped France lead 15-0 at half-time, though captain Jerome Thion left shortly afterward from an elbow in the face by South African counterpart John Smit.
The home side was 18-3 up soon after the interval, but South Africa closed to 26-20 with five minutes remaining.
France’s victory, only their ninth in 35 Tests with the Springboks, gave each side a win, loss and draw against each other this year. France toured South Africa in June.
The home side also completed a sweep of their home internationals this month, following wins over Australia, Canada and Tonga. France were the only northern-hemisphere host to beat two of the southern powers this month, a major boost to their Six Nations hopes this winter.
France couldn’t have asked for a better start. Flanker Yannick Nyanga broke three tackles, and prop Szarzewski finished off in the fourth minute.
Five minutes later, the Springboks crumbled under pressure when flyhalf Michalak intercepted a wayward pass in midfield, ran 60m and held off a tackle. His momentum took him over the line.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde couldn’t convert, but he put over the penalty for the foul on Thion to make it 15-0.
France’s backs cut through the South African defence with ease at times and, following a darting run and pass from fullback Thomas Castaignede, centre Yannick Jauzion appeared certain to score but fumbled.
The Springboks exerted little pressure despite Victor Matfield pinching four French line-out throw-ins, and their only points of the half came from a Percy Montgomery penalty in front of the posts in the 37th minute.
Michalak’s second drop-goal attempt of three hit the post and the teams went to the dressing rooms with France 15-3 ahead.
Another Elissalde penalty put France further ahead at 18-3 before South Africa finally found some slack home defence. Lock Bakkies Botha found space down the right touch and he rode one tackle for a converted try, pulling South Africa back to 18-10.
Then a wonderful moment of inspiration from Elissalde created France’s third try in the 48th. About 10m from the line, he dummied and deftly kicked the ball between two South African players, allowing right winger Aurelien Rougerie to gather and score for 23-10.
After Montgomery missed an easy penalty kick, flyhalf Meyer Bosman hit a long-range shot to reduce the deficit to 10.
A Michalak penalty restored the gap to 13 going into the last quarter, and South Africa spurned penalty chances to set up attacking line-outs for tries. It finally worked when Bosman fed an angling Jaque Fourie, who crossed untouched for a converted try.
Scores:
France 26 (Dimitri Szarzewski, Frederic Michalak, Aurelien Rougerie tries; Jean-Baptiste Elissalde conversion, 2 penalties, Michalak penalty).
South Africa 20 (Bakkies Botha, Jaque Fourie tries; Percy Montgomery conversion, penalty; Meyer Bosman conversion, penalty).