When Rassie pumped up the volume to prepare Springboks for French fury

Rassie Erasmus employed an unconventional method to ready the Springboks for the thunderous ambiance of the Stade de France, playing recordings of raucous French fans during training sessions. This strategy stemmed from their previous loss to France in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final, where the Boks were rendered speechless by the intimidating noise of the French supporters.

Erasmus aimed to acclimatize the players to the deafening clamor, and after their World Cup clash, they were primed for the cacophony. Faf de Klerk playfully remarked that he could recite the entirety of La Marseillaise by the time the match commenced. The Boks emerged victorious, clinching a 29-28 triumph and setting the stage for a second straight World Cup title.

Since then, South Africa has claimed nine out of their last ten tests against France, with the lone exception being in Marseille in 2022. Moreover, they have secured five consecutive victories at the Stade de France, a stark contrast to France's dismal record on South African soil. Despite their recent dominance, history reveals that France can still pose a formidable challenge, especially in hostile environments.

Erasmus has adeptly prepared his team for the bawling French supporters, but whether they can quell the unruly crowd remains uncertain.