Autumn Internationals 2013 - France v South Africa

One of International rugby’s top recent rivalries ignites again when South Africa travel to France for the blockbuster game of the day and probably the weekend and the Springboks can underline their World Cup credentials with a win over opposition who have head the better of them in recent times in no uncertain terms.

South Africa won the last meetings between the two 22-17 in Cape Town but lost the last three on the bounce and have won just three of the last 10 meetings 0 France have won 6.

There’s no doubting who’s had the more impressive record this year. South Africa have found the best balance under Henyke Meyer since he took the job and they’ve won 13 of their last 17 tests – the four losses coming against New Zealand, where they were within distance of winning both games before being undone late in the game – and the All Blacks are the only side to have beaten the Springboks this season.

Comfortable winners of their own quadrangular tournament in the summer before the Rugby Championship, a side known for being sometimes stale and conservative have cut loose on several occasions this season – having never failed to score less than 22 points and scoring 56 against Samoa, 73 against Ireland, 38 against Australia, and even 27 against New Zealand before their winter tour, which has seen two wins over Wales and Scotland.

France have won just twice this year, but under Phillipe Saint Andre have peaked massively in the end of year tests. A fourth place finish in the 6 Nations was followed with destructions of Australia and Argentina before a convincing win against Samoa and the way they pushed New Zealand to the limit – coming within 7 points and being unlucky to get pinged with a late try on the All Blacks’ line –followed up with a convincing win against Tonga last week.

A key factor in those performances have been the French scrum, which will be a key focus point of the game, but in Tendai Mtawarira, and Bismarck Du Plessis the Springboks have two of the world’s premier scummagers on hand and while Coenie Oosthuizen has been an impact sub there has to be a worry that Tomas Domingo might not be at peak form when coming on for Forisiter and the Springboks don’t look likely to be moved around at the set piece.

On those performances a handicap of 7 points is very generous for the home side, who have never lost to South Africa here, but Australia had never lost in Brisbane to them before this year’s Rugby Championship and Meyer’s men can create another first. Take an away win by 1-12 and 1-5 points.

Advice

1 pt South Africa to win by 1-12 points (6/4 general)

1 pt South Africa to win by 1-5 points (5/1 general)