Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has warned France that South Africa are ready for whatever tactical tricks Antoine Dupont brings to the table, with the mercurial Frenchman’s surprise selection at flyhalf adding another layer of intrigue to Friday night’s heavyweight showdown in Paris.
Dupont may wear the No 10 jersey, but the Springboks expect to see plenty of the French maestro operating at scrumhalf, where his ability to manipulate space, dictate tempo and manufacture opportunities makes him one of world rugby’s most dangerous operators.
Speaking after Thursday’s captains’ runs at the Stade de France, Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick made it clear that South Africa have studied the potential reshuffling between Dupont and scrumhalf Maxime Lucu. The message from the Bok camp was unmistakable: respect the opposition, understand the threat and execute the plan.
Kolisi was unfazed by Dupont’s positional switch, pointing out that the Toulouse star has previously excelled at flyhalf.
“He’s played there before for his club, and he played very well. He can play almost anywhere on the field and he’s a good enough player to do it,” said Kolisi.
The Bok captain expects Lucu and Dupont to interchange naturally during the match, with both players possessing the experience and rugby intelligence to operate in either playmaking position.
“Our system doesn’t change for any team we play against,” he stressed.
“We’ve watched clips and seen how they play, and we’ve watched how he plays at flyhalf too, so we haven’t done anything special for him individually because he’s playing at No 10.”
Stick offered a more detailed assessment of the tactical threat, warning that giving France’s creative halfback combination time and space could prove disastrous.
“I have no doubt that even though Dupont will be wearing the No 10 jersey, he’s going to have licence to do whatever he wants between the two positions.”
The assistant coach expects Dupont to roam around the breakdowns while Lucu assumes first-receiver duties, creating a fluid attacking structure designed to unsettle defensive systems.
“If we allow that halfback combination time and space with ball in hand, they have the potential to punish us, so our main focus point is to make sure we don’t allow that,” Stick warned.
France also possess considerable firepower out wide, with electric wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey among the players capable of turning half a defensive opportunity into a full-blown nightmare.
Stick believes the battle for territorial control and forward dominance will determine which backline receives the platform to attack.
“If I look at the profiles of the two teams, both packs want momentum and want to dominate, and that will set the platform for both backlines,” he said.
The Boks are equally aware that their own attacking arsenal can inflict serious damage if their forwards deliver quick, quality possession.
South Africa’s defensive blueprint will revolve around suffocating space, disrupting French rhythm and forcing their playmakers into uncomfortable decisions. Against Dupont, that requires relentless pressure, disciplined spacing and defenders prepared to tackle with conviction.
The psychological subplot surrounding the encounter is equally compelling.
France’s agonising one-point defeat against the Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final remains one of the defining chapters of their recent rivalry. However, Kolisi dismissed suggestions that the result provides South Africa with a mental advantage.
“No, we take every game as it comes. What happened then is history,” he said.
The captain acknowledged the emotional scars such defeats can leave behind, explaining that the Springboks understand precisely how France might feel.
“We’re not stuck on what happened, but we also haven’t forgotten how they must feel, and we’ve been there ourselves.”
Friday’s encounter will also test the Springboks’ temperament inside one of rugby’s most intimidating arenas.
Kolisi described the Stade de France atmosphere as theatrical, passionate and electric, recalling the fervour of the French supporters during his previous appearance at the venue.
“The atmosphere is beautiful with the setup, the anthems, and the theatre-like atmosphere,” he said.
Once the anthems fade and the opening whistle blows, however, the contest becomes a brutally personal examination of physical commitment.
“There’s also the physical side. We know the French pride themselves on their set pieces and getting over the advantage line, but we pride ourselves on that too, so we know exactly what’s required of us and what our standards are, and that’s all the coaches are asking for.”
France will bring the muscle, the mischief and the magic of Dupont. South Africa will bring their trademark physicality, defensive aggression and forward power.
At 22:10 on Friday, the Stade de France becomes rugby’s gladiatorial arena, where reputations count for little and every metre must be earned through blood, sweat and bruising determination.
The Springboks know the assignment. Now they must deliver.
Teams:
France: 15 Théo Attissogbe, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Antoine Dupont (captain), 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 François Cros, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Sipili Falatea, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Régis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla, 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
Date: Friday, November 13
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Kick-off: 21.10 CET (22.10)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
