It's mind games and milestones as Boks chase victory in Paris

Head coach Rassie Erasmus reaches 50 Tests and skipper Siya Kolisi his 100th Test cap. By Jon Cardinelli

- By Jon Cardinelli

Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi have seen it all over the course of their eight-year-long partnership, and yet, the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal against France still ranks as one of their most exhausting assignments.

Even now, as they prepare for a rematch against Les Bleus in Paris on Saturday, 8 November, the memories of that brutal playoff endure.

The game itself was played at a frantic pace, with the Boks going toe-to-toe with a French side renowned for their all-court game.

Cheslin Kolbe timed his run to perfection to charge down Thomas Ramos's attempted conversion and deny the hosts two points.

Late in the game, Kwagga Smith won a breakdown penalty, before stand-in captain Bongi Mbonambi told Handré Pollard to slot the match-winner "for South Africa".

It was in the aftermath of that 29-28 result, however, that things took an ugly turn. France captain Antoine Dupont led an attack on referee Ben O'Keeffe, prompting a nationwide outrage that soured the final two weeks of the World Cup.

When the Springboks took to the field in the semifinal and final, they were loudly booed by the locals.

Cobus Reinach, who was based in Montpellier at the time, even received death threats on social media.

Erasmus has since spoken at length about the challenge of playing three big Tests in consecutive weeks, and the emotional and physical toll it can take on the players.

With that in mind, it's not hard to understand why the Bok boss has doubled down on his rotation policy over the past two seasons.

In the context of the current five-match tour, the Boks are fortunate in that they will play their biggest fixtures against France and Ireland two weeks apart.

The challenge of playing France at home, of course, is something different entirely and after two explosive meetings in 2022 and 2023, the Boks should know what to expect from the French, on and off the field.

Shots fired