France hold on for 21-19 Nations Championship win over South Africa at Stade de France

France held on to beat South Africa 21-19 at the Stade de France in Paris in a Nations Championship match on 13 November 2026, despite failing to score in the second half.

The win ended France's five-match losing run against South Africa at the Stade de France and dealt a blow to the world champions' hopes of reaching the Nations Championship final. The result leaves Les Bleus in a strong position in the Northern Hemisphere standings and puts them six points clear at the top.

Captain Antoine Dupont inspired the hosts as France crossed three times in the first half, with Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Theo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey all touching down; Lucu converted three kicks. Jan-Hendrik Wessels had given South Africa a score earlier in that opening period when he finished from a maul.

Jasper Wiese was shown a 20-minute red card early in the second half for a tucked-shoulder charge; the decision did not derail the world champions. Replacement scrum-half Cobus Reinach and hooker Malcolm Marx both scored as South Africa mounted a late fightback, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding two conversions.

Manie Libbok missed the conversion to Marx's try that would have levelled the match. With South Africa pressing for a winning score, Bielle-Biarrey forced the ball loose with a crucial defensive play and Dupont, who was named player of the match, gathered possession to help seal the victory.

Tries: Grandidier-Nkanang, Attissogbe, Bielle-Biarrey Cons: Lucu (3) Tries: Wessels, Reinach, Marx Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2)

France: Attissogbe; Grandidier-Nkanang, Gourgues, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Dupont, Lucu; Gros, Marchand, Falatea, Verhaeghe, Guillard, Cros, Woki, Alldritt. Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Montagne, Ollivon, Staniforth, Capilla, Desperes, Gailleton.

South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Hooker; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, van den Berg; Steenekamp, Wessels, T du Toit, De Jager, Nortje, PS du Toit, Kolisi, Wiese. Replacements: Marx, Nche, Louw, Mostert, Hanekom, De Villiers, Reinach, Libbok.

Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England) and Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) Television Match Official (TMO): Matteo Liperini (Italy) Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO): Andrew Jackson (England)

The result is likely to be unwelcome for both England and Ireland, who remain in direct competition with France for a place in the Nations Championship final at the end of the month. Les Bleus now face Argentina next Saturday, a fixture that puts them in a strong position to reach the final at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, 29 November.