Autumn International: France v South Africa preview
France host South Africa at the Stade de France looking to maintain their perfect record over the Boks at the venue.
Last Updated: 23/11/13 11:21am
Saturday's match will only be the third time these two sides have met at the Stade de France - South Africa lost 20-10 there in 2001 and 26-20 in 2005.
This clash will be the visitors' toughest assignment of their November European tour but boss Heyneke Meyer insists the Boks haven't "come to Paris to do sightseeing" and they can finally win at the venue.
"We have taken a lot of bogeys off our shoulders this year, such as by winning away games in the Rugby Championships and by winning in Brisbane, and we want to break the losing sequence we have against France in France that extends now to 16 years," said the Boks coach this week.
Skipper Jean de Villiers admits it will be a scrumming test against the French, who are riding high after their 38-18 morale-boosting win over Tonga last week.
"Around the globe in the last year the French scrum earned the most penalties and conceded the fewest..it will be a scrumming test for us," admitted De Villiers.
Big names
The Springboks rested some of their big names for last weekend's thumping 28-0 victory over Scotland, but they all return for the Paris showdown, with six changes in all from Murrayfield.
Tendai Mtawarira, Morne Steyn, Bismarck du Plessis and Eben Etzebeth are all back in the starting line-up.
Prop Coenie Oosthuizen - who has made 13 appearances off the bench, including a try-scoring cameo against the Scots - is handed his first start, replacing the injured Frans Malherbe in the front row.
On the bench, fellow prop Lourens Adriaanse could make his debut if he comes on.
Philippe Saint-Andre has made five changes to his France starting XV for Saturday's meeting.
Florian Fritz, Yoann Huget, Wenceslas Lauret, Pascal Pape and Benjamin Kayser all come back into the side in the wake of Saturday's victory over Tonga.
France: Dulin, Guitoune, Fritz, Fofana, Huget, Tales, Parra, Chouly, Lauret, Dusautoir (c), Maestri, Pape, Mas, Kayser, Forestier
Replacements: Szarzewski, Domingo, Slimani, Vahaamahina, Nyanga, Doussain, Michalak, Bastareaud
South Africa: Le Roux, Pietersen, Fourie, De Villiers (c), Habana, Steyn, Pienaar, Vermeulen, Alberts, Louw, Van der Merwe, Etzebeth, Oosthuizen, Du Plessis, Mtawarira
Replacements: Strauss, Steenkamp, Adriaanse, Botha, Du Toit, Kolisi, Vermaak, Lambie
Watch France take on South Africa on Sky Sports 3 on Saturday evening, with coverage from 7.30pm.
