From Asterix to a rum-fuelled hero: France have always troubled the Boks
Since 1913, France have given the Springboks some unforgettable battles.
France and South Africa have a long-standing rugby rivalry, dating back to 1913. The two nations have met 47 times in Tests, excluding a recent match in Paris. France has emerged victorious in 12 of those encounters, with six wins on French soil and six in South Africa. The relationship between the two rugby powers is often depicted through a humorous analogy comparing the indomitable Gauls to fighting roosters, with Vercingetorix, a legendary Gallic king, famously ordering his soldiers to wear rooster emblems in a nod to this imagery.
A memorable encounter in 1958 saw France draw the first Test against South Africa at Newlands before triumphing 9-6 at Ellis Park. The match's turning point was the lock Lucien Mias, who, inspired by a pre-game rum-fueled spree, proved to be a key contributor to France's success. Mias later became a celebrated figure in French rugby and was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2005.
Another notable French player from that tour was their astute flyhalf Pierre Danos, whose quick feet often outmaneuvered the Springboks' larger defenders. The rivalry has produced numerous memorable moments on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, with France emerging victorious in various instances, often overcoming the underestimation of their opponents.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
