Despite being a man down, the Springboks didn't just play against France—they conquered. Wilco Louw reflected on the team's resilience after Lood de Jager's red card, which left them with 14 players for the entire second half. Yet, against all odds, they triumphed over Les Bleus with a striking 32-17 scoreline at the electric Stade de France this past Saturday night.
“It’s an incredible game to be part of,” Louw shared after subbing in at the 47th minute. “The French are a really good team, and honestly, we didn’t see that margin coming.”
"Everyone stayed focused on our task today. The guys really stepped up, especially defensively, and we managed to get a bit of momentum in the maul."
The atmosphere was charged, still echoing the ghosts of the 2023 World Cup quarter-final where the Springboks had previously dashed French hopes. “Stepping into that stadium, with everyone singing and not always in your favor, it’s something else,” Louw added. Despite the noise, the team was laser-focused, a sentiment that amplified following the red card incident in the first half.
"Rassie is an incredible coach, just in the way he gets everyone up and focused on the task."
The victory was doubly sweet as it marked significant milestones for both Captain Siya Kolisi, celebrating his 100th Test, and coach Rassie Erasmus, who was overseeing his 50th match as head coach. “Both Siya and Rassie are incredible humans,” Louw remarked. “Siya wears his heart on his sleeve and is a true leader, both on and off the field. We’re looking forward to celebrating more milestones like these."
Looking ahead, the Springboks are set to tackle Italy next, a team coming off a fresh victory against the Wallabies. Louw noted, “This was a big one for us, but Italy’s always ready to bring it. They’re physical, they’ve got a solid scrum and maul, and they’re not shy about tossing the ball around. We’ve got another big challenge ahead.”
With two wins under their belt on this five-match end-of-year tour, the Boks are showing no signs of slowing down, even when the odds are stacked against them. Next stop, Italy, and another chance to prove their mettle on the international stage.
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Despite being a man down, the Springboks didn't just play against France—they conquered. Wilco Louw reflected on the team's resilience after Lood de Jager's red card, which left them with 14 players for the entire second half. Yet, against all odds, they triumphed over Les Bleus with a striking 32-17 scoreline at the electric Stade de France this past Saturday night.
“It’s an incredible game to be part of,” Louw shared after subbing in at the 47th minute. “The French are a really good team, and honestly, we didn’t see that margin coming.”
"Everyone stayed focused on our task today. The guys really stepped up, especially defensively, and we managed to get a bit of momentum in the maul."
The atmosphere was charged, still echoing the ghosts of the 2023 World Cup quarter-final where the Springboks had previously dashed French hopes. “Stepping into that stadium, with everyone singing and not always in your favor, it’s something else,” Louw added. Despite the noise, the team was laser-focused, a sentiment that amplified following the red card incident in the first half.
"Rassie is an incredible coach, just in the way he gets everyone up and focused on the task."
The victory was doubly sweet as it marked significant milestones for both Captain Siya Kolisi, celebrating his 100th Test, and coach Rassie Erasmus, who was overseeing his 50th match as head coach. “Both Siya and Rassie are incredible humans,” Louw remarked. “Siya wears his heart on his sleeve and is a true leader, both on and off the field. We’re looking forward to celebrating more milestones like these."
Looking ahead, the Springboks are set to tackle Italy next, a team coming off a fresh victory against the Wallabies. Louw noted, “This was a big one for us, but Italy’s always ready to bring it. They’re physical, they’ve got a solid scrum and maul, and they’re not shy about tossing the ball around. We’ve got another big challenge ahead.”
With two wins under their belt on this five-match end-of-year tour, the Boks are showing no signs of slowing down, even when the odds are stacked against them. Next stop, Italy, and another chance to prove their mettle on the international stage.