No Love Lost in Paris: Boks silence Les Bleus amid hostile French frenzy
TOUR DIARY, WEEK TWO: Paris may be the city of love, but there was none of it in the air ahead of the Springboks’ fiery clash with France.
The week was charged with emotion as the French media pushed a revenge narrative, stirring tension and trying to draw the South Africans into a war of words.
Yet, true to their character, Rassie Erasmus’s men stayed composed, focused, and quietly determined – turning the noise, emotion, and hostility of the Stade de France into the fuel that powered one of their most memorable victories.
French media drove the revenge narrative and tried to coerce the South Africans to make comments about the game being their biggest and toughest of the year, and that there was a fear factor.
All the coaches and players sat calmly through these interviews and stayed true to their Springbok instinct, which is that they don’t focus on opponents and play for their country.
Moving around the players in their hotel in Bercy and attending their training sessions, I observed a different feeling than that of the previous week when they played against Japan in London.
There was more focus; they seemed very driven. And they watched the press around them during the week like hawks.
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This wasn’t just about one match; it felt like a statement game: France vs South Africa, heavy baggage, mutual respect, rivalry renewed.
There were also huge personal milestones which added layers: Kolisi’s centurion cap and Erasmus’s milestone, while the coach also ‘celebrated’ his 53rd birthday during the week.
Arriving at Stade de France four hours before kick-off, I was surprised to see a party atmosphere already on the go outside.
Walking around and feeling very homesick with all the green and gold around me, I also spotted a familiar face amongst the crowd. Former Springbok captain Bobby Skinstad was out and about, enjoying the atmosphere with the crowd.
One food and drink trailer was blaring South African music, with a few supporters even having a real boere sokkie in the street.
But the South Africans were in the minority and once inside the stadium, the Les Bleus fans, fitted with chicken head gear and berets all dressed in blue, got the real party started.
The build-up to the game was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It was absolutely breathtaking, and I will forever remember that match as one of the highlights of my career.
It was far more than just loud – it was a test of character. For the Springboks, adversity came in the form of a hostile crowd and a red card.
Their ability to remain calm, shift the momentum, and turn the noise into fuel was a defining part of the victory.
The Springboks arrived at their new destination in Parma, Italy on Sunday, where they will be based for three days before heading to Turin for their clash against the Azzurri at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
