Three key battles that could decide Springboks v France in Paris

The Springboks take on France in Paris tonight in one of the biggest games of the Nations Championship so far. According to IOL, both teams are dealing with injuries to important players, but that has done little to dull the appeal of the contest. Kick-off at the Stade de France is at 10.10pm, and both sides are chasing the top spot on their respective conference logs, in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

Dupont at flyhalf is the big talking point

The main storyline is Antoine Dupont lining up at flyhalf for France. IOL notes that the Boks missed him in last year’s 32-17 win, so this will be a new test for the world champions.

IOL points to three areas where the match could be won.

1. The scrum and front row

Wilco Louw returns to the starting side with a clear task: to put the French scrum under pressure from the first engagement. He packs down with Ox Nché on the loosehead side and Malcolm Marx at hooker, a trio IOL describes as arguably the best front row in the team and one that can overpower any opposition.

France will start Julien Marchand at hooker, with Sipili Falatea and Jean-Baptiste Gros among the props. IOL says they will have a difficult night if they cannot match the South African power, and the same applies to the replacements who come on later.

2. Halfback control and kicking

Dupont and scrumhalf Maxime Lucu are experienced and sharp, and quick to punish any slip in defensive concentration. IOL expects them to test the Boks both with the boot and with ball in hand, and to swap roles during play, especially after attacking breakdowns.

That puts the focus on the South African pairing of Morné van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. IOL calls them an inexperienced combination who are still developing under Rassie Erasmus. If they can control the game behind a pack that is going forward, the report says, it could be a long night for France.

3. Discipline and the bench

France are described as a team that makes the most of chances when they get into the Boks’ half, so needless penalties could be costly. IOL recalls that last year lock Lood de Jager was sent off, which put South Africa under pressure even though they still won comfortably.

The replacements could also matter. The Boks have a lot of experience and firepower on the bench, and IOL says that depth could help them keep up the intensity late on. Staying disciplined, winning the physical contest and finishing well would leave them in a strong position to take another important win in Paris.

What this means for supporters

Fans planning to watch should note the 10.10pm kick-off, as reported by IOL. The result will also affect the standings in the Nations Championship conferences, where both teams want to stay in front.

This story is based on reporting by IOL.