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International

SA great names Boks' main RWC threat but flags huge area of weakness

Josh Raisey

46 days ago

James Ryan of Ireland and Lenni Nouchi of France tussle during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Former South Africa captain Jean de Villiers has identified France as the Springboks’ main threat to winning their third World Cup in a row in 2027, highlighting the depth they have in their squad as their main strength.

The 2007 World Cup winner has been full of praise for Fabien Galthie’s side following their Guinness Six Nations triumph, but has pinpointed their scrum as an area of weakness that Rassie Erasmus’ side will want to “get proper dominance.”

Joining The Rugby Pod this week, the 109-cap Bok discussed the power that Les Bleus have up front, combined with the flair that they have in their back line, but added that there is “still a question mark around their scrum.”

VIDEO

France dominated almost every stat conceivable in the Six Nations this year except the scrummaging stats, where they were uncharacteristically poor, with only Scotland winning a lower percentage of their own scrums during the Championship. This was perhaps not helped by the sudden retirement of tighthead Uini Atonio just days before the tournament got underway.

In contrast to France, South Africa’s scrum is unmatched on the world stage, so much so that they famously opted for a scrum off a mark in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final against France. And while Galthie’s side have noticeably improved since losing to the Springboks 32-17 in Paris last November, their scrum will still be an area of concern for him. Not for de Villiers, however.

Fixture

Nations Championship

France

16:00

12 Nov 26

South Africa

All Stats and Data

“I can’t speak for anyone else, but I think France are a massive threat for South Africa purely because of the depth that they are creating within their squad,” de Villiers said.

“If you look at the team that they had this year, to have a [Mickael] Guillard and [Charles] Ollivon playing at lock and then you still have Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou also. The carriers they have, the pack that are able to put on the power, the physicality they bring, plus then the flair that you have from those backs. Some of those midfielders that came through this year as well, that’s quality.

“There’s still a question mark around their scrum, and I think that’s where South Africa will go ‘ok, there’s still an area we feel we can get proper dominance.’

“I think it will be a World Cup where there will be quite a few contenders by the time we hit November 2027.”

France and South Africa will next go head-to-head in November, before a potential World Cup semi-final in 2027.

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Comments

77 Comments

Ayre123 None 44 days ago

I doubt it’s a concern for the European Test sides

If it was then they would impose spot tests on visiting teams which is perfectly within their right?

Eric Elwood 44 days ago

I am sure they do. Successful Dopers tend to be a step or two ahead of the tests.

cnw 45 days ago

All of this seems fair weather analysis - much like the talk about England in Autumn. The Boks present a unique challenge that sucks the life out of chaos rugby. Like Supermans kryptonite. For all of Razor’s faults he saw that the first task to beat the Boks is to match the structured power game of the Boks. Having said that, Aussie showed what power and intensity can do. Argentina also. And I will concede Scotland and France took the intensity to another level this 6N. It brings hope. But they need forwards who can handle the intensity and pressure for the full 80. At the moment there “big” usually starting pack (with Meafou, Flament et al) fades minute 30. That appears to be the cost of the chaos game plan. This must be fixed before the WC if they are going to present a genuine threat to the Boks. And back to England - they may well crack the code first with their 3x4 and 4x7 forward configuration - a good lesson learnt from the French. They just need some backs…

Eric Elwood 44 days ago

I didn’t see much of Bok challenging of the chaos game versus Australia in 2025?

The Boks have peaked early and are overhyped. They must beat NZ/FRA and then a final. I don’t see it.

RC 45 days ago

“South Africa’s scrum is unmatched on the world stage”

Did bro no forget how it got shunted from a 7 man All Blacks pack in the final? 👍🤫🤣

Ytfnot 45 days ago

What was the final score again?

Hammer Head 45 days ago

Wow. 3 years ago?

Which rock have you been chilling under bruh?

ck 46 days ago

Come the end of the year you will see that it’s the All Blacks that are the best

Eric Elwood 44 days ago

Too early for the arrogance.

RK 45 days ago

😂 with touch rugby I mean super rugby preparing them going to be 4-0 whitewash to the Boks

GrahamVF 45 days ago

‘23 Twickenham ‘25 Wellington going to be an interesting tour of the SA

Hammer Head 45 days ago

We’ve heard this for 6 years now. Do it already. Stop talking about it.

DS 45 days ago

Best at what? Certainly not playing the New Rassie Rugby, that's for sure. As proved at Wellington. And don't try and quote the jetlagged Eden Park nonsense either.

SB 46 days ago

This has been clear for a while. Only some fans of New Zealand dispute this massively but the best two teams in the world in terms of their level are clear.

JW 46 days ago

CLICK BAIT ALART!

Wheres the massive South African weakness I was promised??!

Hammer Head 45 days ago

I’ll help.

We have a weakness for well prepared red meats, over an open fire. Wines and spirits, especially the variety aged in barrels splashed with cola. We also go weak at the knees for a little growth hormone.

DS 45 days ago

The title referred to the French scrum.

Hammer Head 46 days ago

I said France would go to 2027 NH favourites. Nobody listens to me.

France’s weakness is not their scrum alone. It’s the conditioning of the their pack. Like clockwork they take their foot off the gas in the middle third. That is their achilles heal. That middle dip is going to cost them a knockout game.

cnw 44 days ago

I agree HH they had a mid game energy problem against Scotland and England. But they used the 6N to test their combinations. The one that worked best had their heavies (v Ireland) come on as an impact pack. Bit like the Boks impact heavies (eg Louw, Synman) approach. I think we will see them use that approach more before and at the WC to combat that mid game fade issue.

JPM 45 days ago

Nobody….?? 😉

I agree with your assessment except that the Top 14 and its crazy schedule has been their main achilles heal. Fortunately it seems that the FFR/LNR agreement allows for them to be better rested just before RWC 2027 compared to RWC 2023.

John Breslin 46 days ago

Boks are the greatest threat to themselves

Got to keep that good ship a trucking and stay top of the pile for another 20 months

Heavy lies the crown

Hammer Head 46 days ago

We have steroids. Helpful.

Eric Elwood 46 days ago

It’s early days. I thought Ireland, Scotland and even England finished the 6 Nations stronger than France. Come RWC time I expect SA, NZ, Aus, Fra, Eng, Ire, Sco, Arg all to be contenders and all capable of knocking each other out.

Ytfnot 45 days ago

And you have to consider that Ireland was playing without the best fullback in the world, right?

DS 45 days ago

The French were knackered after the amazing Murrayfield game. That's the only way the poms stood a chance.

PB 46 days ago

You discounting Italy?

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