France and South Africa clash in a mighty meeting of Test heavyweights that could prove pivotal in the Nations Championship shake-up.
The Springboks are assured of a top-two finish in their pool after dismantling Italy, and will vie with New Zealand for a place in the inaugural final.
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The world champions face a demanding fortnight, though, with this encounter in Paris preceding a trip to Dublin to take on Ireland.
Their cause is helped by an injury-hit French side facing particular questions at fly half, but Fabien Galthie’s side will be seeking a statement success having been beaten by a 14-man South Africa 12 months ago.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is France vs South Africa?
France vs South Africa is due to kick off at 8.10pm GMT on Friday 13 November at the Stade de France in Paris.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch every game of the Nations Championship live on ITV and ITVX.
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Team news
France are forced to install captain Antoine Dupont at fly half with all of Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy absent, with Maxime Lucu partnering his skipper in the halves. Gregory Alldritt is recalled for a first international appearance in nearly a year at No 8 as Francois Cros moves to the flank.
Julien Marchand is a welcome returnee at hooker as Peato Mauvaka drops to the bench. Among the replacements, a debut awaits young Pau playmaker Axel Desperes.
France XV: 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Sipili Falatea; 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 5 Mickael Guillard; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Gregory Alldritt; 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Antoine Dupont (capt.); 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang; 15 Theo Attissogbe.
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Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla; 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Emilien Gailleton.
It’s a settled selection from Rassie Erasmus with just two changes to the Springboks 23 that proved much too strong for Italy. Wilco Louw is preferred to Thomas du Toit as the starting tighthead while Lood de Jager retains his second-row spot having been brought in late in Turin after Salmaan Moerat went down with back spasms in the warm-up.
Among the replacements, Cobus Reinach takes the place of Grant Williams as the bench scrum-half cover.
South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw; 4 Lood de Jager, 5 Ruan Nortje; 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Morne van den Berg, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 11 Ethan Hooker, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 15 Damian Willemse.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers; 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
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