Damian Penaud’s historic day was completely eclipsed by a “disintegration” of French discipline, as Les Bleus collapsed 32-17 against a 14-man South Africa. Penaud became his country’s all-time leading try-scorer, but that achievement was overshadowed as his team “cracked under pressure,” committing “reckless infringements” and earning a “costly yellow card” to hand the “remarkable comeback” to the Boks.
The first half was all Penaud. He scored twice, and when South Africa’s Lood de Jager was sent off, France was in “full control.” The stage was set for a famous victory.
However, the second half was a “bruising” lesson from the world champions. Down a man, the Boks relied on “sheer physicality” and “composure.” France, unable to cope, “disintegrated.” The key moment was Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s sin-bin, which the Boks “punished in ruthless fashion.”
André Esterhuizen smashed over from a maul, and Grant Williams darted through a “splintered” defence. The Boks’ four tries, combined with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s flawless kicking, “silenced” the Stade de France.
While Penaud’s name is in the record books, the match will be remembered for France’s collapse and the Boks’ “wiser, calmer” approach, as praised by Rassie Erasmus.