France will be a bigger and better test for the Springboks than Ireland after claiming the Six Nations title.
Image: AFP
When the Springboks head on their year-end tour to Europe in November, it’s clear that their toughest challenge will not come from Ireland but rather from France.
The Irish, despite their recent successes, simply lack the necessary qualities at the moment to truly test the world-conquering Boks in a high-stakes match.
That big test will come from the newly crowned Six Nations champions, who conquered Europe despite a big injury setback. Let’s be honest, Ireland’s so-called dominance is overrated.
Yes, they have won Six Nations titles, but their crash out against France in what effectively was the title decider in this year’s tournament exposed their frailties again. They are not this all-conquering side they are made out to be by certain parts of the world.
When it comes down to the real pressure, the Irish have proven time and again that they will falter. Their game, while solid, lacks the creativity and raw power to break down a team like the Springboks, especially when the world champions are firing on all cylinders and not experimenting with a 7-1 replacement bench.
Contrast that with France, who bring a volatile and dangerous edge to every game they play.
They are never predictable and have the ability few teams possess – being able to shift gears from a structured game to some brilliant and unpredictable chaotic plays. Their explosive attacking style, coupled with world-class players like Antoine Dupont, Romaine Ntamack and Thomas Ramos, makes them a much more dangerous prospect.
They can conjure brilliance from nothing and it’s something the Irish can only dream of doing. That is how the French dismantled Ireland’s onslaught and Grand Slam dreams a couple of weeks ago – even when they lost the influential Dupont to a terrible knee injury.
The Springboks are way more vulnerable to that type of gameplan – where unpredictability is at the end of the day rather than Ireland’s plodding, methodical approach.
Furthermore, France owes South Africa one after the Boks knocked them out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in the quarter-final in front of their fans in Paris. This year, the Springboks will head back to the Stade de France and that hostile environment will add another edge to the challenge.
The French crowd is notoriously fierce and supportive and will create an atmosphere that could elevate their side’s performance. Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus will have to play the French anthem La Marseillaise on full blast again for his troops to get used to the noise.