Springboks skipper Kolisi praises South Africa's team ethos in Paris cauldron

His calm authority during a game of fluctuating emotions encapsulated the qualities that have made him a unifying figure far beyond sport.

"You saw the way they started — making breaks, coming at us — but we didn’t panic," Kolisi told reporters. "The coolness remained. We put the team first, and that’s what we did today. It’s not easy — you have to put emotions aside. We always make decisions for the team. Then it’s all good."

Coach Rassie Erasmus, who appointed Kolisi captain in 2018, praised the skipper’s influence.

"You have to make plans in attack and defence, break the line, and stay calm when it matters most," he said. "A lot of people say they’re getting older, but they’re wiser and calmer under pressure. Siya controls the climate, the vibe of the team very well — he can create an environment for the team."

Intimidating atmosphere

Erasmus said South Africa’s experience was key in an intimidating atmosphere.

“Playing here, the French can be so proud of their supporters — it was intimidating — but we’ve been through this in 2023 (when South Africa beat France in the World Cup quarter-finals), and the experience of the players made the difference.”

Kolisi watched the closing stages from the touchline as South Africa’s forwards asserted control and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu sealed an impressive win with a late try.

South Africa showed all their world champions resilience, storming back from 14-6 down and the first-half sending-off of lock Lood de Jager to crush France 32-17.

Down a man for the entire second half, the Springboks absorbed early pressure before overwhelming Les Bleus through sheer physicality and composure, silencing a raucous Stade de France crowd expecting revenge for France’s World Cup heartbreak.

Two years after their agonising 29-28 World Cup quarter-final loss to the Springboks on home soil, Les Bleus looked eager to make amends even without their injured captain Antoine Dupont.

But France, now on a four-match losing streak, cracked under pressure as their discipline disintegrated despite the Springboks being reduced to 14 men on the stroke of halftime.

"The credit goes to the whole team," South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus told a press conference. "Some say they're getting old. They're getting wiser, calmer."

His France counterpart Fabien Galthie rued his team's missed opportunities.

"Around the 60th minute we had three clear chances where we should have scored, then we conceded a series of penalties, and we were forced to defend our line until the yellow card and the try," he said.

France looked irresistible early on as winger Damian Penaud scored twice to become his country’s all-time leading try scorer with 40, surpassing Serge Blanco’s long-standing record.

A succession of reckless infringements and a costly yellow card, however, handed the initiative to the Springboks who punished every mistake in ruthless fashion.

South Africa fought back with tries from Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who also slotted two penalties and three conversions.

It had all started brightly for France.

South Africa’s spectacular revival

Fullback Thomas Ramos sent a perfectly-weighted chip over the defence after four minutes which Penaud gathered to score. The winger struck again soon after, diving into the corner to double the lead, and when De Jager was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Ramos France seemed in full control despite being only one point ahead.

Then came South Africa’s spectacular revival through a mixture of clinical attacking and iron discipline.

France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, and the world champions pounced.

Esterhuizen powered over from a maul after the visitors had chosen to go for the lineout after being awarded a penalty, before Williams darted through a splintered defence for another try as the momentum swung quickly.

With France rattled and conceding a succession of penalties, Feinberg-Mngomezulu sealed a remarkable comeback, rounding the defence on the outside and sliding over the line before converting his own try.

South Africa have now beaten France in nine of their last 10 meetings. France next face Fiji in Bordeaux on Saturday while South Africa travel to Italy.