Bok-beating France get timely boost in most injury hit position

Bok-beating France have recalled fly-half Matthieu Jalibert to their 42-man squad for next weekend’s Nations Championship clash with Argentina, handing Fabien Galthié a timely boost after an injury crisis at No.10.

Jalibert has not featured during France’s November campaign after suffering a quadriceps injury while playing Top 14 rugby in September.

The Bordeaux-Bègles playmaker then endured a further setback in training last month, but he has now been passed fit and is back in contention for Les Bleus.

The return of Jalibert now gives Galthié a specialist fly-half option ahead of Argentina’s visit.

His return comes after France were forced into an unconventional approach during Friday night’s dramatic 21-19 victory over South Africa at the Stade de France.

With Jalibert, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy all unavailable, and Romain Ntamack sidelined after dislocating his left shoulder during the win over Fiji on November 7, France turned to captain Antoine Dupont as their starting fly-half.

The scrum-half shared playmaking duties with Maxime Lucu in a bold tactical move that raised eyebrows beforehand but ultimately delivered a famous result.

France weathered a fierce second-half fightback from the world champions to secure their first victory over a Rassie Erasmus-coached South African side in Paris since 2005.

Converted tries from Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Theo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey helped Les Bleus race into a 21-7 half-time lead, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels crossing for the Springboks.

Despite Jasper Wiese receiving a 20-minute red card early in the second period, South Africa responded impressively. Cobus Reinach’s try after 50 minutes cut the deficit to seven points and set up a tense finish as the visitors repeatedly threatened the French line.

The contest swung again when replacement prop Regis Montagne was sin-binned entering the final 10 minutes. South Africa appeared poised to snatch victory when Malcolm Marx powered over from a driving maul, but replacement fly-half Manie Libbok missed the conversion after Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu had landed his previous two attempts.

That miss proved decisive as France held firm through a frenetic finale to edge the thriller.