France 20 South Africa 13: TWO PLAYED, two lost: so much for these world champions on their tour of the north.

South Africa’s second team were walloped by pretty much the Leicester academy last week and now their first team were rocked back on their behinds by a fired-up France in this wonderful rugby hotbed.

It was not until the 78th minute that France opened up a seven-point lead when another annihilated South Africa scrum coughed up a simple penalty, but in truth France could have had at least a couple more tries before then with a little less excitement. But it is hard to contain yourself when you smell Springbok blood.

France started the livelier of the two sides – there is nothing they like more down here than a juicy plate of world champion. Julien Dupuy did well to land a long-ish penalty into the swirling wind for an early lead, but then came the usual mixture of Gallic brilliance and madness.

The madness won out to begin with. A penalty and a drop goal from Morne Steyn had South Africa in the lead before John Smit scored the game’s first try. Bryan Habana had just been beaten to the corner by Steyn’s chip ahead, following the mischievous Heinrich Brussow’s umpteenth turnover. William Servat threw the ball long at the resultant line-out – five metres from his line in this wind, utter madness – and Smit duly collected and scored virtually without obstacle.

Then came the brilliance, or at least the latest instalment of it.

Fabien Barcella went charging through a hole, and a sweeping French move was continued by Lionel Nallet, Maxime Mermoz and Yann David, among others, before Vincent Clerc finished in the corner to bring the score back to 13-8. Clerc was then tripped by Steyn as the game approached the interval, and Dupuy slotted his second penalty to get France to within two at half time. Steyn saw yellow for his pains. While he was gone, France took advantage of a seven-man South Africa scrum and Dupuy kicked his third penalty. France had the lead and the wind and crowd at their backs.

Steyn missed a simple kick at goal a few minutes later, and when Dupuy slotted his fourth on the hour France had a grip on the game more secure than a four-point lead would suggest. It should have been seven, eight minutes later when Morgan Parra, Dupuy’s replacement, missed from in front of the posts but France were now in the driving seat. Ryan Kankowski had seen yellow for the penalty Parra missed, and his absence helped France turn the screw in the final 10 minutes. South Africa failed to score at all in the second half and they now have a reputation to attend to.

FRANCE: Traille; Clerc, David (Marty, 50) Mermoz, Heymans (Medard, 77); Trinh-Duc, Dupuy (Parra, 67); Barcella, Servat, (Szarsewki, 56), Mas (Marconnet, 49) Nallet (Chabal, 55) Millo-Chluski, Dusautoir (capt), Picamoles, Harinordoquy (Bonnaire, 57).

SOUTH AFRICA: Kirchner; Pietersen, Fourie, Jacobs (Olivier 69), Habana; Steyn, F Du Preez; Mtawarira (Van der Linde, 54), Du Plessis (Strauss, 70) Smit (capt), Botha (Bekker, 7), Matfield, Brussow, Burger (Rossouw, 47), Kankowski. Sin-bin: Steyn 39, Kankowski 68

Referee: Wayne Barnes(England)

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