France 26 South Africa 20: A host of errors by the young Springboks enabled France to remain undefeated this November, a record matched only by the All Blacks among the early favourites for the 2007 World Cup, which the French will host.
"We want to follow the example of England, who turned Twickenham into a fortress and went on to win the cup in 2003," said the France manager Jo Maso, "so we've set the target of winning all our games at home before the World Cup. This November, suddenly, I've felt the players are motivated, titillated by the World Cup, and it's now firmly set in their minds."
Significantly Maso believes there is still a "30 to 40 per cent margin of progression" in his side between now and 2007.
The principal area needing attention is the lineout, weak against Australia and a disaster on Saturday night, when Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield snaffled the France throw all evening.
France's touch-finding kicks in the second half were abysmal, apart from a couple of gems from Thomas Castaignede, and, though Frederic Michalak is a sidestepping handful going forward, his decision-making under pressure remains flaky.
There are no such doubts about his half-back partner Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who took over the captaincy after Jerome Thion departed early, John Smit's elbow sending him to hospital with a fractured larynx.
The France scrum creaked throughout - understandably, as they were a stone lighter per man than the Springbok pack - yet Elissalde kept his backs going forward as the eight in front of him were shoved every which way.
Since they were blown away here last year by the All Blacks, Maso and the coach Bernard Laporte have broadened and deepened their squad. Maso estimates France now have a core group of 35 to contest the 30 places for 2007.
"Look at the progress of Lionel Nallet; two years ago we wondered if he would fulfil his potential, now he has lost seven kilos, put on muscle and looks an international."
Maso also pointed to Yannick Nyanga and the hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, whose fleetness of foot in scoring their first try made up for a lack of finesse with his lineout throwing.
Ominously France were also lacking several senior players, such as the banned captain Fabien Pelous and the backrow stalwarts Serge Betsen, Olivier Magne and Imanol Harinordoquy.
South Africa never recovered from a terrible start, with Nyanga and Szarzewski running back Percy Montgomery's loose kick for a try inside five minutes, and Michalak intercepting Jacques Fourie's pass for an 80-metre try soon after.
"To win the World Cup we will have to beat France here, in the quarter-final, semi-final or final," said their coach Jake White.
"Not many sides come back and are in a position to beat France from 15-0 down, so I'm proud of my players. When you are young it's difficult always to take the right option."
FRANCE: Castaignede (Saracens); Rougerie (Clermont-Auvergne), Fritz (Toulouse), Jauzion (Toulouse), Heymans (Toulouse); Michalak (Toulouse), Elissalde (Toulouse); Milloud (Bourgoin), Szarzewski (Stade Francais), De Villliers (Stade Francais), Nallet (Castres), Thion (Biarritz, capt), Nyanga (Toulouse), Martin (Stade Francais), Bonnaire (Bourgoin). Replacements: Lamboley (Toulouse) for Thion (20 mins), Marconnet (Stade Francais) for Milloud (52 mins), Bruno (Sale) for Szarzewski (55 mins), Delaigue (Castres) for Michalak and Lievremont (Biarritz) for Nyanga (76 mins). Tries: Szarzewski, Michalak, Rougerie. Cons: Elissalde. Pens: Elissalde 2, Michalak.
SOUTH AFRICA: Montgomery (W Province); Paulse (Clermont-Auvergne), Fourie (Golden Lions), De Villiers (W Province), Habana (Blue Bulls); Bosman (Free State), Claassens (Free State); Du Randt (Free State), Smit (Natal, capt), Van der Linde (Free State), B Botha (Blue Bulls), Matfield (Blue Bulls), Burger (W Province), Smith (Lions), Cronje (Blue Bulls). Replacements: Andrews (W Province for Du Randt and Rossouw (Blue Bulls) for B Botha (67 mins), Van der Berg (Natal) for Matfield (71 mins), Barry (W Province) for Bosman (76 mins), G Botha (W Province) for Van der Linde (78 mins). Tries: Botha, Fourie. Cons: Montgomery 2. Pens: Montgomery, Bosman.
Referee: S Young (Australia).
Guardian Service
