France upset world champion South Africa 21-19 in a thriller between the Nations Championship rugby leaders that exceeded the hype.
The Springboks started the match as the overwhelming favourite — unbeaten in the new competition, unbeaten against France at its national stadium for 21 years — but never led an epic heavyweight showdown.
Superbly conducted by halves Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu — tagged “icons" by coach Fabien Galthié — a heavily depleted France shot out to 14-0 and 21-7 by halftime and held on without scoring in a nerve-shredding second half despite three yellow cards and an outclassed scrum.
The match was considered a potential preview of the final at Twickenham in two weeks, but while France looks set to get there representing the northern hemisphere, South Africa may not make it.
The Springboks will be overtaken atop the southern hemisphere standings and lose its No. 1 world ranking if undefeated New Zealand beats Wales on Saturday, as expected.
The Springboks closed to 21-14 with 14 men with 30 minutes to go, revving up their power game for a grandstand finish.
France was bleeding penalties, nine in the scrum alone, but its desperate scrambling defence roused a packed Stade de France
South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit was held up over the tryline while Lucu, France's goalkicker with a staggering 85% success rate, ramped up the tension when he missed a straight forward penalty attempt that would have given France a 10-point lead.
Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx inevitably scored from a rolling maul but Manie Libbok, on for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, botched the conversion attempt that would have tied the score with eight minutes left.
The Boks had one last chance in the last minute but Louis Bielle-Biarrey stopped the charge, Dupont jumped on the loose ball and Lucu kicked it into touch to end a gripping match.
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