Paul Willemse backs French pack, De Jager ready for fight

South African-born Paul Willemse believe French pack has the ability to overpower the Springboks. Paul Willemse backs French pack, De Jager ready for fightSouth African-born Paul Willemse is confident that the current French pack has what it takes to overpower the mighty Springboks. The stage will soon be set as the Springboks take on France for the first time since claiming victory in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. As the countdown begins to what some describe as the contest of the year, South African under-20 World Cup winner Paul Willemse backs France to get the upper hand.where he represented both Grenoble and Montpellier, where he played for 10 years between 2015 and 2025, when he retired. During this time, he has since made his debut for France and was a key part of the squad for 5 years.With the big match being merely days away, the 32-year-old says that his successor, lock Emmanuel Meafou, is the "bully" France needs to overcome the Springboks. "I think he has everything he needs to get there. I'm really excited to see what he can do in the future." Like Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, French coach Fabien Galthié does not shy away from taking risks. Both nations back their forwards to exert front dominance, setting the foundation for the backline to bring flair.The French are often tipped as the only team that can match the Springboks in the department since both teams have the ability to produce a 7-1 bench split.The Springboks will know that they would have to bring their A-game if they were to gain a victory in front of a passionate French crowd."They are a very good team, and we know it's going to be a very big challenge on Saturday, but we are looking forward to it," "They have a big pack and are generally very confrontational, so it's going to be a big challenge for us to see where we are on Saturday." As is the case with every opposition they face, De Jager says that they will be doing their homework and analysing France. A key component of this will be the line-outs. "They have a high success rate in that area of their game and a proper maul, and that's definitely a threat, so we have to do our best to negate that if we want to get the upper hand to win the match." Makhehlene Makhaula has not featured for Orlando Pirates since the injury he suffered in the Nedbank Cup final against Kaizer Chiefs. South Africa's Parliament is debating the One-Stop Border Post Bill, aimed at easing congestion, boosting trade, and tightening... Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and Golden Arrows star Siyanda Ndlovu are the biggest names in South African football right now. When Siya Kolisi runs out for his 100th Springbok cap, he will further solidify his standing as the most influential rugby player of all time. South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources. Boks brace for French fire in ParisFelix Jones has dismissed suggestions that Les Bleus are out for payback after their 2023 World Cup quarter-final heartbreak. Read more " French test SA U19 AcademyJunior Boks coach Kevin Foote identified an area for improvement after the SA U19 Academy side's tough workout against their French counterparts on Monday. Read more " Lood ready to disrupt French weaponSpringbok lock Lood de Jager says South Africa's forwards are preparing for a physical arm-wrestle against a "big and confrontational" French pack. Read more " Springboks expecting typical confrontational France in Paris, says De JagerSpringbok lock Lood de Jager has highlighted the set-piece as a key area in their Test against France this weekend. Read more " Willemse backs 'bully' to rough-up BoksFormer France lock Paul Willemse says Emmanuel Meafou can be the physical "bully" Les Bleus need against the Springboks in Paris on Saturday. Read more " French court probes TikTok for algorithms pushing to suicideThe inquiry focuses on insufficient moderation and the ease of access by minors, which could lead vulnerable individuals into harmful content loops Read more "