Boks vs France: The Power Shift in Paris

By David MacLennan URF Resident Writer

The Boks are back — and the world’s about to be reminded why we wear green with such pride.

This isn’t just another Test match; it’s the start of something bigger — the first marker laid down on the road to the 2027 World Cup. You can feel it in the air: that quiet hum before

the thunder, the same energy that makes your chest tighten when the anthem plays.

It’s Paris again — the same stage, the same opponents, but a very different storm brewing. The French might still be licking their wounds from that one-point World Cup heartbreak, but without Antoine Dupont, they look a little lost — like a ship without a rudder in open water.

And when you’re up against a Springbok side this focused, that’s not just dangerous… that’s deadly. This isn’t a team turning up to play — it’s a team arriving to dominate.

The Forward Pack: South Africa’s Heavy- Metal Symphony

Let’s talk muscle. The French front row might be promising, but promise means nothing when you’re staring down Marx, Du Toit, and Venter in a scrum. Every drive, every shove, every inch of turf is going to feel like a seismic event.

Behind them, you’ve got Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth — two men who look like they were forged out of steel and stubbornness. Their partnership isn’t just power — it’s poetry written in bruises and body blows.

And then there’s Pieter-Steph du Toit, the man who doesn’t just play rugby — he lives it. He’s the quiet heartbeat of the pack, the metronome that never misses a beat. This feels

like his moment — a Man-of-the-Match performance waiting to happen.

Without Dupont dictating the rhythm for France, du Toit’s defensive leadership is going to strangle their structure before it even forms. He’s that kind of player — the one who never needs the spotlight because his work is the spotlight.

Tactical Chess — The Gospel According to Rassie

This is where Rassie Erasmus comes alive. Without Dupont, France lose their tempo, and that gives the Boks control of the metronome. Jason Cowley’s sharp rugby brain and Rassie’s game IQ are about to turn this into a tactical masterclass.

Expect to see the Boks mix brutality with brainpower — precision kicks behind the French wings, relentless forward pressure, and defensive traps that suffocate creativity.

And when Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu shifts to fullback and Manie Libbok enters the game? Boom — fireworks.

Libbok’s hands are pure magic, and when paired with GrantWilliams, Kolbe, and Arendse, it’s going to look less like rugby and more like chaos theory brought to life.

The Midfield Fortress

Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel — two names that strike fear and respect in equal measure. They’re not just a midfield; they’re a minefield.

Every line France tries to run through them will end in impact. Gaël Fickou will be brave, but bravery only gets you so far when you’re running into two men who could anchor a building. Their communication, timing, and physicality are going to carve France’s attack in half before it ever reaches the wings.

Kriel’s rush defence will force turnovers, panic kicks, and broken structure. Classic Bok rugby — squeeze, suffocate, and strike.

The Backline Blitz

Now this is where the magic lives. Kolbe, Arendse, and Willemse — all smiling, all dangerous, all capable of breaking a game wide open in a blink. Kolbe’s feet could humiliate gravity itself. Arendse runs like he’s been shot out of a cannon.

And Willemse — cool, sharp, elegant — reads the field like a chessboard.

Add in Libbok’s vision, Grant Williams’ pace, and you’ve got a backline that’s as exciting as it is explosive. If they start clicking early, the French back three are in for a long

night chasing shadows and miracles.

The Missing Piece — Where’s Kwagga?

If there’s one surprise, it’s this: no Kwagga Smith. It feels strange, doesn’t it? Like a song missing its chorus. But if Rassie’s proven anything, it’s that he plays the long game.

He’s betting on balance. Trusting Kolisi’s leadership, Wiese’s muscle, and du Toit’s calm chaos to handle the heavy lifting. Kwagga’s spirit will be there, even if his

number isn’t.

The Human Element

What makes this Bok team special isn’t just size, skill, or strategy — it’s the soul. These are men who play for something bigger than a scoreboard. They carry a nation’s

history, its pain, its laughter, and its pride on their

shoulders.

Every tackle, every try, every song sung in the tunnel echoes the millions who believe in them. Kolisi’s 100th cap isn’t just a milestone — it’s a symbol of resilience, unity,

and hope.

When that whistle blows in Paris, you won’t just hear noise — you’ll feel the heartbeat of South Africa pulsing through the stadium.

My Prediction

France without Dupont are like a jazz band without the drummer. They’ll make sound, but no rhythm. Their forwards will fight, their backs will flash — but the Boks are too tuned, too ruthless, too alive.

This isn’t revenge for 2023. This is a statement for 2025 to 2027 — and beyond.

Final call: Springboks by 22 points.

Not just a win — a message.

To the world, to France, to the future.