France vs South Africa Prediction: Strong Boks side to power to victory

It's week two of the Autumn International series, and the headline act comes from Paris, where France entertain world champions South Africa on Saturday night (20:10 GMT, TNT Sports 1). For Les Bleus, this will undoubtedly serve as a chance to avenge their gut-wrenching 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat in this arena, when the Springboks got the verdict 29-28.

France are back in action for the first time since their summer tour of New Zealand, while South Africa warmed up by thrashing Japan at Wembley last weekend. Below are my France vs South Africa predictions as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the Quilter Nations Series clash.

Team news

Antoine Dupont remains the big miss for the French, and centre Gael Fickou stands in as skipper. Fabien Galthie sends out a new half-back pairing of Nolann Le Garrec at scrum-half and Romain Ntamack at out-half.

Thomas Ramos gets the nod at full-back, with Bordeaux-Begles duo Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey named on the wings and Pierre-Louis Barassi alongside skipper Fickou in midfield.

Mickael Guillard has won the battle for the No. 8 jersey and is joined by Paul Boudehent and Anthony Jelonch in the back row.

Regis Montagne, Julien Marchand and Baptiste Erdocio are in the front row, with Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament at lock.

The Springboks will be led out by Siya Kolisi on the occasion of his 100th Test appearance – just the ninth man to achieve the milestone for South Africa.

Rassie Erasmus has gone strong in his starting XV. Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel form the centre partnership, with Damian Willemse moving to full-back.

Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth are the lock pairing, while Thomas du Toit returns at tighthead and Boan Venter at loosehead in place of injured bulldozer Ox Nche, while hooker Malcolm Marx completes the pack.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach are the half-backs, while Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse make up the back three for the Boks.

France vs South Africa Odds

Despite home advantage, France are 6/5 to get the win, with South Africa edging favouritism at 8/11 and the draw trading at 22/1. It's expected to be tight, with the handicap at just three points, with France 5/6 starting with a three-point lead.

South Africa -3 @ 1/1

While France are out for some revenge on South Africa for spoiling their World Cup dream on home soil in 2023, getting one over on Erasmus' side will be difficult.

The world's top-ranked team have lost only three of their last 20 Tests. It's a momentous night, with skipper Kolisi becoming a centurion and Erasmus overseeing his 50th Test as boss.

No shock, then, to find the Boks have named the strongest starting XV available to them. The South Africans have won eight of the last nine meetings between these two, including each of the last four.

They dished out a record beating to New Zealand in Wellington in September, winning 43-10, and may have the power and determination to leave some daylight on the scoreboard at the Stade de France

Louis Bielle-Biarrey anytime tryscorer @ 1/1

At 22, Bordeaux Begles winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey has the world at his feet. He has bagged 18 tries from just 19 Test caps for France and already has eight in the calendar year, more than any other player from a Tier 1 nation, and he scored in each of France's games in their successful Six Nations campaign.

He touched down against both New Zealand and Argentina in autumn internationals last year and can repeat the feat against the Boks.

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