France vs South Africa Preview & Prediction | 2026 Nations Championship | Round 5
by Trystan Pugh ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
The leaders of both hemispheres collide in Paris on Friday in what could very well be a dress rehearsal for the final of the inaugural Nations Championship.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – RugbyPass TV
France team news: Lucu captains injury-hit Les Bleus
Squad: Theo Attissogbe; Aaron Grandidier, Kalvin Gourgues, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Antoine Dupont, Maxime Lucu (capt); Jean-Baptiste Gros, Julien Marchand, Sipili Falatea; Florian Verhaeghe, Mickael Guillard; Francois Cros, Cameron Woki, Greg Alldritt
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, Regis Montagne, Charles Ollivon, Tom Staniforth, Esteban Capilla, Axel Desperes, Emilien Gailleton
South Africa team news: Kolisi leads full-strength Boks
Squad: Damian Willemse; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw; Lood de Jager, Ruan Nortje; Siya Kolisi (capt), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Franco Mostert, Cameron Hanekom, Paul de Villiers, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok
Who will win?
Open poll and resultsFrance vs South Africa prediction
France top the Northern Hemisphere standings heading into Round 5, after Les Bleus resumed their campaign with a resounding 54-17 triumph over Fiji last weekend.
Head coach Fabien Galthie is dealing with some significant absences ahead of this one though, with Thomas Ramos, Romain Ntamack and Matthieu Jalibert all missing with injury – hardly ideal preparation for a clash with the reigning world champions.
South Africa have been exemplary so far, winning all four of their matches at a relative canter. The Springboks most recently dismantled Italy 66-7 in Turin, and they are clearly the team to beat right now.
France are one of the few teams capable of toppling South Africa on their day, but they will struggle to do that with a weakened team and we can only see one winner in this one.
France vs South Africa tip: South Africa to win
Upcoming Events
