France beat world champion South Africa 32-17 at Stade de France
France opened their Autumn Nations Series by defeating the reigning world champion Springboks 32-17 in Saint-Denis on 8 November 2025.
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On 8 November 2025, France beat South Africa 32-17 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. The match was part of the Autumn Nations Series, the November programme of Northern Hemisphere teams hosting Southern Hemisphere opponents.
The Springboks arrived as reigning world champions, having won the Rugby World Cup in 2023, and were widely regarded as one of the toughest tests in international rugby. France, coached by Fabien Galthié, answered with a commanding home performance and a margin of 15 points, a notable result against such opposition.
The win mattered for several reasons. It gave Les Bleus an important statement victory in a season building towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia, and it strengthened their standing in the world rankings. It also sharpened debate in France over selection, particularly in the half-back positions around Antoine Dupont, the team's leading player, and over how Galthié should shape his side against the strongest southern-hemisphere teams. That discussion is the background to later talk about his choices against the Springboks.
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France rugby team vs South Africa, Dupont at fly-half · 2 updates
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