France v South Africa Prediction, Preview & Odds – Rugby World Cup QF

We have a France v South Africa prediction for you plus a breakdown of the betting odds, team news and matchups ahead of this Quarter-Final.

We are in for a real treat with this one. Tournament hosts France have never won a Rugby World Cup despite appearing in three finals. With home advantage they believe that this is finally their time to right the wrongs of previous Rugby World Cup heartbreaks.

Defending champions South Africa will be hoping to ruin the party in Paris on Sunday night as they bid to keep their title defence alive and become the first country to win four Rugby World Cups.

It promises to be pulsating stuff and we have you covered below with everything you need to know ahead of this clash of the titans.

How To Watch France v South Africa

When is France v South Africa

The game is scheduled to kick-off at 8.00 pm on Sunday, October 15th.

TV Channel

In Ireland this game will be broadcast on RTÉ 2 with pre-match buildup from 7.30pm.

Television viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game on ITV1 where pre-match coverage begins at 7.15pm.

Live Stream

In Ireland you can live stream this match on RTÉ Player.

If you are in the UK the game can be streamed on ITVX.

Where is France v South Africa Being Played?

France v South Africa will be played in the Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

France v South Africa Odds

France are the betting favourites going into this game at odds of 3/4.

South Africa are the underdogs at 5/4. While the draw could prove value at odds of 20/1 with very little expected to separate these two sides.

Handicap Betting

France: -2 @ Evens

South Africa +2 @ Evens

Handicap Draw: -2 @ 18/1

To Qualify Odds

France: 8/11

South Africa: 6/5

Click Below For Our LIVE France v South Africa Odds

Team News

France Team News

🇫🇷 ⚡️🇿🇦
💪 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳-𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞 au @StadeFrance ! On compte sur vous ! 💙#UnisPourUnRêve #XVdeFrance #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/YAkbWvkqNZ

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) October 13, 2023

South Africa Team News

Jacques Nienaber has named the second most experienced #Springboks team ever for Sunday's #RWC2023 quarter-final against France – more here: https://t.co/HDWQWcHJDD 🇿🇦🏉#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/3Q20WMGIMp

— Springboks (@Springboks) October 13, 2023

Referee & Officiating Team

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)

Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR)

Assistant Referee 2: James Doleman (NZR)

TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

This will be the first time that Ben O’Keefe takes charge of a Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final.

France v South Africa Weather Forecast

Conditions for the game aren’t expected to be too wild, with the coolest temperatures expected for this game of all games this weekend, no rain and very little wind. In other words there should be perfect conditions for rugby.

Temperature

The temperature is predicted to be 13°C at kick-off falling to 11°C for the second half of the match.

Wind

Winds are expected to be in the region of 8mph.

Rain

There is 0% during this game according to the latest weather forecast.

France v South Africa Preview

France’s Form

2023 Rugby World Cup Form

France have been flying in their home tournament topping Pool A with four wins from their four matches. 

France concluded their Pool Stage campaign with a comprehensive 60-07 victory against Italy where man of the moment Penaud scored a brace of tries They came into that game following two other brilliant victories 96-0 against Namibia and a 71-0 against Uruguay.

However, the result which has people doubting The All-Blacks Rugby World Cup credentials was their opening night pool stage defeat against France 27-13

Form Coming Into The 2023 Rugby World Cup

Head Coach Fabien Galthié has turned around French fortunes since taking over in 2019. Galthié guided France to a 2022 Grand Slam victory and came into this tournament with a win rate of 80% by far the best in the country’s history with his 32 wins from 40 matches. This includes seven wins from nine games this year with the first of those coming against Ireland in March.

In their warm-up for the tournament, France played four matches, losing their first 25-21 to Scotland but they avenged that defeat in the return game 30-27. In the following two games, normal service resumed with a 34-17 win against Fiji and a 41-17 victory against Australia.

South Africa’s Form

2023 Rugby World Cup Form

South Africa entered the Rugby World Cup as favourites for Pool B and a team widely expected to challenge at the business end of the World Cup.

South Africa confirmed their Pool qualification in their final game with a comprehensive 49-18 victory over Tonga. However, it was the game before that made the headlines when a change in the game-plan and suspect performance from the boot handed Ireland an 8-13 pool win.

Aside from that defeat, they’ve been brilliant all tournament with their other two results being a 76-0 win against Romania and an attritional 18-3 victory over Scotland.

France Attack v South Africa Defence

France are the second-highest scorers in the 2023 Rugby World Cup with their lethal 210-point total meaning they average 52.5 points per game.

As a result, it’s no surprise that they’ve the current tournament top-point-scorer Thomas Ramos who has 61 points along with the top try-scorer in the tournament Damien Peenaud who has six tries. It should be noted though that they had a relatively easy pool aside from New Zealand.

France faces a South African side who have the second-best defence in the tournament (after France themselves). The Springboks have conceded 34 points, an average of 8.5 points per game. This is made all the more impressive given their pool had Ireland, Scotland and Tonga.

The main injury story is the return of Antoine Dupont who will be available for selection again which is crucial as the linchpin in the French attack, The Springboks will have to prepare for him even if he doesn’t start!

South Africa Attack v France Defence

South Africa’s strength is not in the attacking areas, their 151 points scored an average of 37.75 points per game is only the fourth strongest in the Quarter-Finals. Furthermore, they’ll be coming up against a French side who have the best defence in the tournament; with their 32 points conceded averaging out to only 8 points per game.

The story to watch here will be how Erasmus splits his bench with the mind games already coming. A large part of the South African attacking strategy comes from the attritional nature of their forwards.

France v South Africa Rugby Head-To-Head

All Time Head-To-Head Record

France and South Africa have been battling in Test rugby since 1913. Their first meeting, held in Bordeaux, was on 11 January 1913 and was won 38–5 by South Africa. All time, France have won on twelve occasions, South Africa has twenty-seven victories and six draws have taken place.

Head-To-Head Results Last Five Matches

2022: France won 30-26 in Marseille

2018: South Africa won 26-29 in Paris

2017: South Africa won 17-18 in Paris

2017: South Africa won 35-12 in Johannesburg

2017: South Africa won 37-15 in Durban

Trends

South Africa has won seven of the last eight tests between the sides (2010-2018). However, France won the most recent meeting back in 2018 30-26.

Key Players To Watch

Antoine Dupont – France

How could it be anyone else? The French captain’s potential return to the French fold following his face injury could be the move that catapults this fine French side into Rugby World Cup superstardom.

Siya Kolisi (South Africa)

The first black man to captain a South African rugby side, he plays a pivotal part in leading their beastly forward line which forms the primary part of the South African overall strategy the forward line is aptly known as the “bomb squad”.

France v South Africa Prediction & Best Bet

Prediction: France 22-18 South Africa

In my opinion, this is the hardest Quarter-Final to predict, two fantastic sides with huge hopes of landing Rugby World Cup Glory. Personally, I think the winner of this game goes on to win the tournament.

Home advantage will be huge for France in this one and I think with the return of Dupont the script is written for a man-of-the-match performance as France book their place a Rugby World Cup Semi-Final.

Best Bet: Antoine Dupont to be MOTM @ 9/2

Find this post useful? Then you’ll want to check out our Ireland v New Zealand preview in another massive Quarter-Final this weekend.

Click Below For Our LIVE France v South Africa Odds

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