Quilter Nations Series Predictions & Tips (8 & 9 November 2025)

France vs South Africa Predictions - Springboks to take victory in Paris

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 2 hours ago

Ralph Staniforth 2 hours ago

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South Africa favorites with a -1.5 handicap against France.
France enters as Six Nations champions, seeking redemption.
Anticipated physical and strategic play from both sides.

South Africa 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final

South Africa have won eight of their last nine matches against France (Getty Images)

France vs South Africa Predictions

This is set to be the game of the weekend, perhaps the game of 2025. Two massive sides come face-to-face in a repeat of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal that still has fans and pundits speaking about it.

France vs South Africa Predictions
Head to Head
France Form
France Injuries & Team News
South Africa Form
South Africa Injuries & Team News
Key Match Factors

This is impossible to call, and the handicap is set at 1.5 points, making South Africa favourites. Given the French injuries, I am backing South Africa to get the victory.

France won the 2025 Six Nations.
France won 4 of their 5 matches in the Six Nations.
South Africa won their last match against France in Paris (by a point)
South Africa have won 7 of their last 9 matches.
South Africa have won 8 of their last 9 matches against France.

Head to Head

South Africa on paper have dominated this fixture, winning 28 of their 40 matches. France have won 12. In France, 22 games have been played with South Africa winning 15 and losing six.

Since 2010, these two have met nine times with South Africa winning eight and France one. The last four games, however, have seen winning margins of one, three, four and one point.

France Form

France come into this game as the Six Nations champions but more importantly, over the course of the last week, this has been billed as a game of revenge. The French are still smarting from their home 2023 World Cup exit to South Africa in the quarterfinal, and this week is their first opportunity at redemption.

A near flawless display in the Six Nations will give the French plenty of confidence. They lost one game on the way to the title – away to England. However, they were the better side in the game and should really have won comfortably, but on the day, France made some shocking errors when it would have been easier to score.

That setback did not stop them though as they comfortably dismantled Ireland in Dublin while Scotland, Italy and Wales offered little resistance. In July, France sent a completely second and third string squad to tour New Zealand where they lost all three games but were very competitive in two of them.

France Injuries & Team News

France have a few key injuries for this match, the biggest being the absence of Antoine Dupont. However, they have a bulky side and are the one team who can match the Springboks on the physical side of the game.

South Africa Form

South Africa recently won the Rugby Championship for the second successive time, so their confidence will be high. They made a slow start to the tournament, losing two of their opening three games, but won their remaining three to clinch the title on points difference.

In July, prior to the Rugby Championship, the Springboks beat Italy twice and Georgia. From a very positive point of view, South Africa’s game plan has changed somewhat in recent years as they move closer to an all round game, with a big, but not sole focus on kicking and territory.

Rassie Erasmus and his squad will be well aware of the French determination to get one over them after the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal. To be fair, if we get anything close to that spectacle, we will be in for a treat.

That quarterfinal has been largely considered one of the best games of rugby ever played. The drama and suspense was unbelievable, and while those levels will be almost unachievable outside of a World Cup knockout game, we could still be in for a huge clash.

South Africa Injuries & Team News

There are few surprised in the Springboks squad this weekend. They have selected pretty much what was expected with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starting at 10. The one surprise may be Kwagga Smith who has been left off the bench with hybrid player Andre Esterhuizen preferred.

Key Match Factors

France have a big pack and are the one team that can match the South Africans physical game, both in the tight and loose phases. That will largely neutralise the Springboks, if the hosts manage to get parity at scrum time.

However, we have already seen this year the Springboks move to a more balanced game plan where they still rely on forward and scrum dominance, but Tony Brown has added a new attacking element to the South African game. That, along with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's rise to stardom in the 10 jersey.

This gives South Africa another weapon to win games with, but let's not forget, the French are not just a physical side, they still possess plenty of the French flair.

Both sides have big packs, exciting flyhalves and wingers that will make any supporters' mouth water. It may be cliche, but this game will be won or lost upfront - if there is parity, this could be another 2023 World Cup quarterfinal - and I don't think anyone would turn that offer down.

Verdict

France v South Africa

South Africa have dominated this fixture, winning eight of their last nine, although the last four games have been decided by four or less points. I am backing South Africa to take the win, covering the -1.5 handicap.