Les Bleus put target on Boks ahead of year-end face-off

Nicolaas Vlok Cilliers is a Springbok who can add ‘back-to-back Six Nations champion’ to his already impressive curriculum vitae.

Now, the celebrated kicking coach would like to add a Bok scalp to his CV, which also includes three Super Rugby and three Currie Cup titles.

Cilliers, born in the Northern Cape town of Williston and schooled in Carnarvon, played a central role as France went back-to-back in the Six Nations.

If you think Thomas Ramos’ 40-metre match-winner in the Six Nations decider, a thrilling 48-46 triumph in Paris this past weekend, was a fluke, how about Morné Steyn’s trusty boot that won two Test series for the Boks against the British and Irish Lions.

Cilliers, who has been coaching in France for the past seven years, after 10 years with the Bulls, is already looking forward to another ‘rematch’ with the Springboks in November.

There is the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series between South Africa and New Zealand this year, but the Springboks have another opponent that is licking its lips, Les Bleus.

We looked past the euphoric headlines and the French press’s anxious analysis and went inside the team’s camp to get some insights from Cilliers.

The Nations Championship, which debuts in July, is the next big Test for a French team still bleak about their one-point (28–29) loss to the Boks at Stade de France in October 2023.

In fact, Les Bleus have won only one of their last 10 encounters with the Boks.

While the French will not have their best team available for the July internationals against New Zealand and Australia, as a result of the power wielded by Top 14 club owners, it means the Six Nations and the November internationals are a priority for Le Bleus.

* (WATCH as France’s Springbok kicking coach Vlok Cilliers looks ahead to the Nations Championship in July and November…..)

“Those [Six Nations and November Tests] are the matches played in front of their own fans,” the 57-year-old Cilliers told @JanDKrugby in an exclusive interview.

“The game against the Springboks [at Stade de France] in November will be massive, as it was last year.

“We will be facing the back-to-back World Champions, and you want to measure yourself against the best in all departments.

“For us [Les Bleus] is an important match to test ourselves and see where we are.”

The Boks have been ‘popular’ in France, but the interest in this rivalry has gone up a few levels since South Africa knocked hosts France out at the quarterfinal stage of the 2023 World Cup.

The French media and public will become rabid when the Boks arrive in Paris.

“The [emotional] response is because of the respect they have for the Springboks, because they have won the World Cup [twice] in recent years,” he said.

“It is also an important game for us [France] in terms of our continuity and progress, to see how we perform under pressure in big games ahead of the [2027] World Cup [in Australia].”

Cilliers said the November Tests against Fiji, South Africa and Argentina are massively important as a World Cup gauge.

“The squad that we will be working with in November will be the same squad you will be working with in the Six Nations in February and March.

“After the Six Nations finish in March, you just have a month or two before preparations start for the World Cup.

“November is important in terms of our squad and depth, knowing who are No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4 in each position.

“You then want to have a successful Six Nations, because those two tournaments lead into good momentum going into preparations for the World Cup.”

@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com