South Africa v France: Coach Jake White sees South Africa's two-match series against France, which starts today with the first Test in Durban, as the ideal way to recapture the momentum that took the Springboks to the 2004 Tri-Nations title.
Last year the Springboks started the season with a home series win over Ireland that served as a platform for their surprise Tri-Nations victory.
Today the Springboks face their first tough challenge of the year against a youthful French team at the ABSA Stadium, following last weekend's 134-3 drubbing of Uruguay.
"I cannot emphasise enough the importance of getting your season off on the right note," White said.
"We did well last year because we were able to build momentum, and I think the first 25 minutes of the first Test are going to be crucial to the series."
To that end, White turned to the bulk of the squad that won the Tri-Nations by making six changes to the experimental team that thrashed Uruguay.
He has given first starts of the season to 2004 world player of the year Schalk Burger, props Os du Randt and Eddie Andrews, lock Victor Matfield, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and centre De Wet Barry.
France coach Bernard Laporte, by contrast, has selected a youthful team with three new caps and a new captain in scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde as he continues to build toward the 2007 World Cup.
The three new caps are lock Romain Millo-Chluski, centre Florian Fritz and wing Julien Candelon. Centre Benoit Baby, who was named as one of the replacements, pulled out with a leg injury and was replaced by Damien Traille.
With the French championship ending only last Saturday, Laporte rested players from Stade Français and Biarritz, the two sides involved in the final. He has based his backline around European Cup champions Toulouse, with five players from that club among the backs.
One of the key battles will be between the Springbok loose forwards and the French halfbacks, where the talented Frederic Michalak will look to cement his club partnership with Elissalde at international level.
The Springboks make no secret of their desire to starve Michalak of possession so that he is unable to launch his speedy outside runners.
"We will have to put pressure on Michalak," Springbok backline coach Allister Coetzee said. "But then again, any international flyhalf worth his salt will require close attention."
The only previous occasion the Toulouse duo were paired in a Test, France lost to Argentina. But Elissalde and Michalak were in confident mood.
"Our combination has been successful at club level and we are confident that we can take that into the Tests," Elissalde said. "Of course we are less experienced at international level, but we want to prove ourselves this week."
Michalak said, "The match against Argentina was a completely different game and we have played together for a long time now, so I'm not concerned. I know the Springboks will be aiming for me, but the simple answer is not to get caught."
SOUTH AFRICA: Montgomery; De Villiers, Joubert, Barry, Habana; Van der Westhuyzen, Du Preez; Cronje, Rossouw, Burger; Matfield, Van den Berg; Andrews, Smit (capt), Du Randt. Replacements: Shimange, Van der Linde, Smith, Van Niekerk, Januarie, Fourie, Russell.
FRANCE: Laharrague; Candelon, Fritz, Jauzion, Heymans; Michalak, Elissalde (capt); Bonnaire, Magne, Nyanga; Millo-Chluski, Pape; Marconnet, Bruno, Milloud. Replacements: Servat, De Villiers, Lamboley, Martin, Yachvili, Traille, Brusque.
