France intent on pressurising SA
IT IS obvious France were always targeting the second test in Durban with the realistic objective of putting the Springboks under pressure rather than the mere hope of the first test.
At Loftus last week‚ eight players from leading French clubs Clermont and Toulon were not considered because of the Top 14 final six days prior.
France hoped that their speedy‚ lighter‚ more athletic pack in the first test would cause some trouble for SA. In the end, they were outplayed in key moments.
Noves has reverted to type for this test and has picked a much more confrontational pack to niggle the Boks.
The Bok back row has good athletes in Warren Whiteley‚ Oupa Mohoje and Siya Kolisi‚ but there is a nagging suspicion that if the match descends into an arm-wrestle‚ the likes of French No 8 Louis Picamoles will have a big influence on the outcome.
Similarly, captain and hooker Guilhem Guirado‚ prop Rabah Slimani and lock Romain Taofifenua will add grunt to the French pack.
They tried to outpace the Boks last week and came up well short‚ losing 37-14‚ so a logical assumption based on the team they have picked is that they will go the other way this week.
It will be about winning the physical battle‚ keeping play tighter and delivering a better tactical kicking performance‚ hoping to pin the Boks back.
This is a South African team who showed they want to play attacking rugby‚ and if France can put the squeeze on the Bok pack‚ the hosts might come unstuck if they attempt to throw the ball around without a solid platform.
France still start as underdogs‚ but the Boks will know they are up against a better unit this week.
And like South Africans‚ backed into a corner‚ the French are dangerous fighters.
France squad:
15 Scott Spedding‚ 14 Yoann Huget‚ 13 Damian Penaud‚ 12 Gaël Fickou‚ 11 Virimi Vakatawa‚ 10 François Trinh-Duc‚ 9 Baptiste Serin‚ 8 Louis Picamoles‚ 7 Kévin Gourdon‚ 6 Yacouba Camara‚ 5 Romain Taofifeuna‚ 4 Yoann Maestri‚ 3 Rabah Slimani‚ 2 Guilhem Guirado (captain)‚ 1 Jefferson Poirot Substitutes: 16 Clément Maynadier‚ 17 Eddy Ben Arous‚ 18 Uini Atonio‚ 19 Julien le Devedec‚ 20 Bernard le Roux‚ 21 Antoine Dupont‚ 22 Jean-Marc Doussain‚ 23 Nans Ducuing