‘It’s always intense,’ says Erasmus ahead of colossal Springboks v France match

The Springboks and France are set to face off in a crucial Nations Championship match at the Stade de France in Saint Denis on Friday night. Both teams have a history of close contests, with the Boks boasting a perfect 4-0 record against the French, while France have won three of their four encounters against the Boks. A victory in this match could be crucial for both teams' qualification for the main game of the competition later in the month.

France are currently leading the northern hemisphere standings, while the Springboks are holding onto the top spot in the southern hemisphere. However, both teams have teams chasing them in their respective sections, with New Zealand level on points with the Boks but behind on points difference, and England and Ireland two points behind France.

The rivalry between the two teams has a long-standing reputation for being intense, with four previous matches between them all decided by four points or less, with the Boks emerging victorious three times. However, the most recent meeting of the sides prior to this one saw the Boks triumph 32-17, with the French also suffering from a first-half red card and playing with 14 men for most of the game.

Despite the rivalry, both teams will be eager to secure a win in this match, with France looking to bounce back from their poor performance last year and the Springboks aiming to maintain their top position in their hemisphere's standings. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus emphasized the importance of this match, stating that both teams have everything to play for and a passionate crowd behind them.