France 14-13 South Africa, 52 mins

France are trying to find a way through but the white Springbok wall manages to hold firm around the 22. They’re hanging on but only trail by a point – can they ride out this wave of pressure?

Now, South Africa win a scrum penalty as their pack does the business again. Aldegheri punished for a dodgy bind.

Luke Baker8 November 2025 21:31

France 14-13 South Africa, 49 mins

Teams love bringing on their ‘Bomb Squad’ from the bench en masse now. The Springboks are trend-setters there.

Guillaume Cramont, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri Romain Taofifenua and Oscar Jegou all come in the French pack.

Quick hands by Les Bleus with a great pop pass from Flament but Taofifenua is stretching and juuust knocks on with his fingertops.

Luke Baker8 November 2025 21:25

France 14-13 South Africa, 47 mins

France on the front foot again. Ntamack goes in, then Guillard churns his way into the 22.

They go left where Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey offload and slide through a gap but the final pass inside finds a Boks hand, so they survive for now.

Luke Baker8 November 2025 21:23

France 14-13 South Africa, 43 mins

The intensity at the start of this second half is just as prominent as in the first 40 mins.

France showing their quick hands as they work the ball left and Fickou makes good ground. Up beyond the ten-metre line.

They go the other way to Penaud and his chip is collected by Bielle-Biarrey but the Boks pinch a scrum

Luke Baker8 November 2025 21:20

KICK-OFF! France 14-13 South Africa

Back underway in Paris. A Bok reshuffle after that red card – Siya Kolisi is hooked at half-time in his 100th cap and Ruan Nortje comes on to ensure a full complement of locks. They’ll go one down in the back row.

Luke Baker8 November 2025 21:16

Lood de Jager red card: Why was the South Africa lock sent off against France?

Confused about why/how Lood de Jager was sent off rather than just given a yellow card and a bunker review?

Luke Baker8 November 2025 21:10

WATCH: Lood de Jager jeered off after red card

The French crowd gave Lood de Jager quite the serenade as he walked off after his red card…

Luke Baker8 November 2025 21:08

HALF-TIME! France 14-13 South Africa

And that’s half-time. It’s been an enthralling opening 40 minutes and the biggest moment was that late Lood de Jager red card.

France lead by one at the break but the Springboks are now down to 14 for the rest of the match

(REUTERS)

Luke Baker8 November 2025 21:00

RED CARD! France 14-13 South Africa (Lood de Jager, 40 mins)

This is bad news for De Jager… Ramos is falling, so he’s very low, but De Jager leads with the shoulder and there’s no attempt to wrap. That’s ‘always illegal’ and he clatters into the head of Ramos with his shoulder

Referee Angus Gardner asks if this meets the permanent red card threshold or just a yellow and bunker review.

And they decide it’s a RED CARD! Straight red, permanent not a 20-minute red, no bunker decision needed. Wow! It was really, really nasty from De Jager.

Luke Baker8 November 2025 20:58

France 14-13 South Africa, 40 mins

Ramos and Reinach given a talking to by the ref. He starts by saying “it’s the second time” and, quick as flash, Ramos says “it’s him”, bringing a chuckle. Ramos gives a very Gallic shrug in response.

We’re going to a TMO check for a hit from Lood de Jager…

Luke Baker8 November 2025 20:55