Rugby Test Preview: South Africa vs. France

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 10, 2010

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After a largely experimental Springboks downed a Welsh side that continues to frustrate their supporters, the World and Tri Nations champions host a French team that has the arsenal to inflict the South Africans first loss at home to a test nation since August 2008.

That year, the newly crowned World Cup holders fumbled their way through the Tri Nations with four losses despite recording their first win in New Zealand since 1999.

At this point many believed that Peter de Villiers and his men were not the real deal, with their enigmatic coach questioned at every turn, and many believing that their triumph over England in Paris to claim the William Webb Ellis Cup was just a mirage.

Now they are on top of the world. 

Still in the midst of their protected four year World title reign, they are holders of the Tri Nations, recent Lions conquerors, on a three match winning streak against the All Blacks, winners of the Super 14, and able to claim victory in Millennium Stadium 34-31 over Wales despite missing a galaxy of stars.

For now, the only thing missing from a gloriously full trophy cabinet is a recent scalp of Les Bleus.

And while the French are missing key players via injury and weary after a long test season, there is probably no stronger apparition of France that could arrive in Cape Town than this menacing beast that has finally awoken after a two year experiment by Coach Marc Lievremont.

France have won their last three matches against the Springboks, including their last encounter at the same ground they play at this weekend, winning 36-26 in 2006 with a dazzling four tries to one victory.

Their Grand Slam success in the Six Nations was very much the finishing stroke on a masterpiece Lievremont was convinced was waiting to happen, after using roughly 80 players in two years.

They now showcase a wonderful mix of brutality and class, and assuming Les Ble...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union

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