Hermes Vector

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France beats South Africa 21-19 in Nations Championship rugby match

France defeated South Africa 21-19 at the Stade de France on Friday, ending a 21-year wait to beat the Springboks at their national stadium.

By Hermes Vector

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Checked against 2 sourcesThe Guardianthestar.com
Illustration for: France beats South Africa 21-19 in Nations Championship rugby match

In brief

  • France defeated South Africa 21-19 at the Stade de France on Nov. 13, 2026.
  • The win ended France’s 21-year wait to beat South Africa at their national stadium.
  • Manie Libbok missed a conversion with seven minutes left that would have tied the scores.
  • South Africa’s Jasper Wiese received a red card for an illegal clearout.

France beats South Africa 21-19 in Nations Championship rugby match

France defeated South Africa 21-19 in a Nations Championship rugby match at the Stade de France on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.

The match

France had not beaten South Africa at the Stade de France in 21 years. The final margin was two points. South Africa’s Manie Libbok missed a conversion attempt with seven minutes left that would have tied the scores.

Key moments

  • Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang scored France’s first try after Lood de Jager was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle.
  • Théo Attissogbe scored a try after a pass from Yoram Moefana hit teammate Kalvin Gourgues in the face and ricocheted over the try-line.
  • South Africa’s Jasper Wiese was shown a red card for an illegal clearout.
  • Marx finished off a rolling maul for South Africa, but Libbok missed the conversion.

Reactions

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said: “I’m not sure how you prepare a defence for a ball that bounces off a guy’s face.”

Erasmus also said: “We weren’t just outplayed, we were out-thought,” and “I’m not going to sit here and say I am going to take the positives – it feels shit.”

France head coach Fabien Galthié had earlier dismissed the idea that he and Erasmus were playing mindgames as “comic-book stuff.”

Why it matters

The victory ended France’s 21-year wait to beat South Africa at the Stade de France. France played with a team missing several players and that lost almost every scrum, while South Africa dropped Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx, and Wilco Louw to the replacements an hour before kick-off before sending them on in the 35th minute.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.

Questions readers ask

Who won the Nations Championship rugby match and what was the final score?
France defeated South Africa with a final score of 21-19 in the Nations Championship rugby match.
When and where did the match between France and South Africa take place?
The match was played at the Stade de France on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.
Why was South Africa's Manie Libbok's missed conversion significant?
Libbok missed a conversion attempt with seven minutes left that would have tied the scores, resulting in a two-point margin of victory for France.
What major disciplinary actions occurred during the match?
South Africa’s Lood de Jager was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle, and Jasper Wiese was shown a red card for an illegal clearout.
How did South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus react to the loss?
Erasmus stated that they were out-thought and said, "it feels shit," while also noting he was unsure how to prepare a defense for a ball bouncing off a player's face.

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