France’s dismantling of Ireland confirmed that the Springboks’ November return to Paris will be their biggest challenge of 2026, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane argues that the France seen on Thursday night bore little resemblance to the side beaten by the Boks in Paris last November, because coach Fabien Galthie has evolved his squad and style with pace, youth and variety.
Galthie backed up his promises of change after the Bok defeat with bold selection calls and a shift away from the heavy pack used against the world champions. Just five starters from that Bok Test featured against Ireland, with a completely reshaped backline built around speed, space and tempo.
“France looked unrecognisable,” Keohane notes, and that was by design.
MORE: How transformed France tortured inept Ireland in Paris
Ireland had no answers as France raced to a 29-0 lead inside 45 minutes, exposing a visiting pack that could not cope with the tempo or width of the contest.
Galthie stunned by omitting Damian Penaud, insisting the prolific winger “had to work on his defence”, and instead trusted youth across the backline.
Keohane believes the performance confirmed France as the biggest northern hemisphere threat to the Boks, despite Rassie Erasmus’ side winning nine of the last 10 meetings.
The teams meet again in Paris on 13 November in the Nations Championship, and Keohane writes that it “will comfortably be the Boks’ biggest challenge of 2026”.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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