Erasmus wary of Dupont trickery ahead of France match

Erasmus wary of Dupont trickery ahead of France match Estelle.Bronkhorst Tue, 11/10/2026 - 06:00

PARIS - South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said he was wary of France captain Antoine Dupont's unpredictability as he announced on Monday just one change to his starting XV for their Nations Championship clash in Paris.

The Springboks have won nine of their last 10 Tests against France, including five in a row at the Stade de France, where the two teams will meet on Friday.

Wilco Louw will start at tighthead prop in place of Thomas du Toit, who drops to the bench, in the only change to the starting XV.

Erasmus said the team was still fresh after Saturday's thumping 66-7 victory in Italy, but that he was concerned about France's expansive game, even without any of their four first-choice fly-halves.

"I don't even know if Dupont's teammates know exactly what he's going to do next, so he's just really playing on instinct, which is tough to handle," Erasmus told reporters on Monday.

"We love to play a team that plays physically like us. I'm not sure if they 100 percent will play like that, but I know they won't hide away from the physical stuff."

But his Springboks thrive in adversity, Erasmus said, which could be why they have enjoyed such dominance over France in recent years.

"I think we just really get up for a game like this, not to say that's why we win," he said.

"It's intimidating, the French crowds and the French stadiums. It's foreign to us, but it's really enjoyable."

He added: "It doesn't take a lot to get the team up... we enjoy this cauldron, this vibe that the French people do, and how they get behind their team.

"It's not something a lot of players have experienced, so when they get the opportunity, they want to put their best foot forward.

"They want to represent themselves, their families and the country."

- 'Nicely in sync' -

Following South Africa's routine victory in Turin at the weekend, Erasmus had no new injuries for this week.

He made only two changes to the matchday 23.

Amongst the replacements, scrum-half Cobus Reinach comes in for Grant Williams as South Africa look to maintain their perfect start to the tournament, which has seen them earn four bonus point victories in as many matches.

"I don't think it was the most physical game the guys played," he said about their romp in northern Italy.

"We felt the team were nicely in sync for a team that haven't played a lot.

"And what we've analysed from the French team and what we're expecting from them -- the team that we think they're going to select -- we think this is the best possible team."

Erasmus has again picked Morne van den Berg, known as Krappie (little crab), to provide quick ball to the likes of fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and centres Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende.

"There's good scrum-halves in South Africa: Faf (de Klerk), Jaden (Hendrikse), Embrose (Papier), and they've got wonderful skills," said Erasmus.

"But what Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu) brings, and Manie (Libbok) brings, and Handre (Pollard) brings, and Damian (de Allende) brings, and Gaza (Damian Willemse) brings, (and) Andre Esterhuizen, we maybe need a nine just to be really fast off the base and get the balls into those guys' hands.

"We don't need this guy who's sniping all over the field."

• AFP