France put faith in Dupont return
The Rugby Paper|October 15, 2023
FRANCE are preparing for a game of "rare intensity" and simmering violence as Antoine Dupont returns to captain the hosts against South Africa just 24 days after fracturing his jaw.
TOM BRADSHAW
France put faith in Dupont return

The talk from both camps in the countdown to this evening's rumble at the Stade de France has been of the seismic battle that awaits and one man with a vested interest in the contest expects to feel the tremors from hundreds of miles away in the English West Country.

Johann van Graan, Bath's head of rugby, was the Springboks' forwards coach for five years until 2017. He expects the match to be an arm-wrestle, with the most muscular - yet disciplined - side prevailing.

"In terms of that for wards battle, I think it could be a classic knockout game," van Graan told The Rugby Paper.

"It could come down to scrum penalties here, maul penalties there, and jackal chances will be massively important.

"You're going to see some of the biggest forwards in world rugby on that pitch.

"One thing the Springboks have is experience.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 15, 2023 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 15, 2023 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE RUGBY PAPER مشاهدة الكل
Minikin sparks a party at Twickenham for Yorkshire
The Rugby Paper

Minikin sparks a party at Twickenham for Yorkshire

EUPHORIC scenes swept round Ionians ground as Lewis Minikin dashed over to score Yorkshire's fourth try to send the white rose to Twickenham for the first time in 16 years.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 02, 2024
Rebels facing tough test against 'Canes
The Rugby Paper

Rebels facing tough test against 'Canes

SUPER Rugby Pacific play-off spots were confirmed this weekend, with the soon-to-be extinct Melbourne Rebels living to fight another day in eighth place.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 02, 2024
Ospreys' Nicky just too tricky for Cardiff
The Rugby Paper

Ospreys' Nicky just too tricky for Cardiff

LEICESTER-BOUND, Smith scored Nicky two tries as Ospreys squeezed into the playoffs with a bonus-point victory over a battling Cardiff in an enthralling game.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 02, 2024
Quins want to throw fitting farewell party
The Rugby Paper

Quins want to throw fitting farewell party

HARLEQUINS stars Shaunagh Brown, Rachael Burford and Emily Scott start their final game for the club today.

time-read
1 min  |
June 02, 2024
Mapletoft set for Georgia challenge
The Rugby Paper

Mapletoft set for Georgia challenge

ENGLAND U20s head coach Mark Mapletoft has confirmed his 30-player squad that travel to Georgia next week in preparation for next month's World Championship.

time-read
1 min  |
June 02, 2024
Gloucester put faith in 'some old heads'
The Rugby Paper

Gloucester put faith in 'some old heads'

IT was typical of Gloucester's season - make that the last couple that when they came up against a front five in last weekend's Challenge Cup final that contained four World Cup winners they were missing three frontline forwards.

time-read
4 mins  |
June 02, 2024
Smith has final say for Saints
The Rugby Paper

Smith has final say for Saints

NORTHAMPTON Saints, having run teams ragged in glorious fashion all season, scrummaged and muscled their way to their first Premiership final since 2014 but a resilient Saracens contested the issue until the final whistle.

time-read
4 mins  |
June 02, 2024
Finally! Bath hold nerve to see off Sharks
The Rugby Paper

Finally! Bath hold nerve to see off Sharks

BATH are one victory away from winning the Premiership for the first time after surviving a Sale comeback, but they are likely to be underdogs against a Northampton that has been a couple more years in the making.

time-read
4 mins  |
June 02, 2024
Chessum 'gutted' to miss out on England
The Rugby Paper

Chessum 'gutted' to miss out on England

OLLIE Chessum admits he is \"gutted\" to be missing out on a busy summer with England in the southern hemisphere.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 02, 2024
Boyd got me back on track - Ludlam
The Rugby Paper

Boyd got me back on track - Ludlam

LEWIS left the Ludlam Franklin's Gardens turf in a Northampton jersey for perhaps the last time on Friday night, six years after he thought about ending his career because he feared it was going nowhere.

time-read
4 mins  |
June 02, 2024