France vs South Africa LIVE! Rugby World Cup 2023 match stream, latest score and updates today
The last of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals promises to be an absolute cracker. France and South Africa will duel in Paris for the right to play England in a week’s time, with tonight’s victor very likely to be pronounced the favourite to go all the way and lift the trophy later this month.
In the blue corner, Antoine Dupont has been passed fit to start only three weeks after requiring facial surgery in a big boost to Les Bleus as they look to win the World Cup for the first-ever time and, on home soil, many believe their time is now. However, they have often struggled to beat South Africa.
In the green and gold corner, a Springboks side determined to show they can still rule the world by successfully defending their trophy, despite coming off second-best in their pool-stage battle with Ireland. Follow France vs South Africa LIVE with Standard Sport’s match blog!
Live updates
The prize is set
The chance to return to the Stade de France in Paris for an 8pm kick-off next Saturday is on offer tonight.
France or South Africa will play England in the semi-finals after they beat Fiji earlier today.
The warm-ups are underway
We’re closing in on kick-off with the Stade de France practically already full!
Fabien Galthie’s unique fashion choice explained
One of the more curious factors about France is coach Fabien Galthie’s thick-rimmed glasses.
The 54-year-old has explained: “These are plastic sports glasses that allow you to run, to fall, because I broke all my glasses before.
“My eyesight deteriorated around 46-47 years old. I had to put on stronger glasses, but above all I had to stop breaking them.”
Les Bleus rock up at Stade de France
South Africa switch things up for a big finish
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber has accepted that his eyes were focused squarely on France when he picked his bench.
His recent inclination for hefty forwards has been discarded with some kick-and-run options such as Faf de Klerk primed for the latter stages.
“If it’s 8-0, 7-1, 6-2, 5-3, it falls under team selection. We have selected a team, irrespective of the bench, that we think will give us the best opportunity of a victory on Sunday,” Nienaber said of his bench.
“If we select Cobus [Reinach] or Faf, I don’t think there would be a lot of raised eyebrows. France have got a very interesting kicking game and we feel using those two guys will give us the best opportunity.”
France vs South Africa: Countdown to kick-off
The atmosphere is building at the Stade de France with kick-off in one hour!
Siya Kolisi fire Boks warning
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has called on his team to be prepared to go long and play every minute in the face of France’s fierce kicking game.
“There are not a lot of weaknesses in the French side, or all four teams playing [in Paris] this weekend,” Kolisi said.
“One thing a bit different is their kicking game. They make no bones about it – they prefer not to play with the ball. They pressurise you, try to suffocate you and force you into making errors, which is a very good system from Shaun [Edwards].
“We have had to talk to that with our team selection. If you look at their set-pieces, they win their ball and then they have some X-factor, So they are a well-rounded team who puts teams under pressure and don’t give up, they play for 80 minutes.”
Will Antoine Dupont turn the tide in France’s favour?
Antoine Dupont’s return may not be the game-changing factor some fans expect it to be, France’s ex-captain Thierry Dusautoir has said.
“He’s obviously a valuable addition for France,” Dusautoir told AFP.
“Does it change everything? I don’t think so because the team is strong.
“But obviously whatever team in the world would be better with Dupont, so he brings added value.”
France vs South Africa latest odds
France to win: 8/11
South Africa to win: 6/5
Draw: 18/1
Odds via Befair (subject to change).
Erasmus points finger at France as he admits to South Africa referee issues
Rassie Erasmus admitted South Africa’s past mistakes in criticising referees, then turned up the Rugby World Cup heat by accusing France of simulation.
He said: “For us the first word is respect, I think definitely we got it wrong in stages, especially when we had the year off with Covid and we went into the Lions series.
“Last year I had a phone call with Nigel Owens and I said, ‘We really want to get this right, we don’t want people not to like us. That is not the reason for us, maybe sometimes having differences and doing things in a way just to get a response’.”
But he added of Les Bleus: “What they do well is that, when they get close to the high hits, they really show that to the referee. I think they’re very clever at that, but they’re not a team that lives on the dangerous edge.
“I think they’re straight-up forward, they don’t play with tricks, they just physically man up, and that’s the kind of team that we respect.”
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