Former England scrumhalf Ben Youngs says France need to defeat the Springboks in Paris on 13 November.
Youngs believes Les Bleus have the ability to challenge the Boks but that their recent struggles against the world champions have created a mental barrier they need to overcome.
The Boks famously edged France 29-28 in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final in Paris before bashing Les Bleus 32-17 there last November despite playing the entire second half with 14 men.
Fabien Galthié’s side will host the Boks in the northern hemisphere leg of this year’s Nations Championship, giving them a major opportunity to make a statement less than a year before the World Cup in Australia.
“For me, the French have to beat them in November,” Youngs said on the For the Love of Rugby podcast.
“If they don’t, that psychological barrier will be there come the World Cup, and therefore it’s a hurdle they just cannot overcome.”
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Youngs says South Africa remain the benchmark.
“Right now, the Boks are head and shoulders above a lot of teams. When they are on song, they have multiple ways of winning.”
He identified New Zealand, France and Ireland as the teams currently capable of challenging the Boks, with the All Blacks having shown they can compete despite losing their three most recent Tests against the Boks.
Youngs believes France have the quality to close the gap, but must first find a way past Rassie Erasmus’ charges.
“I think the French can. They can definitely compete, but they have a psychological barrier when it comes to the Boks, and it’s something that they just cannot get over right now.”
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Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
The post Youngs: France must beat Boks before World Cup appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former England scrumhalf Ben Youngs says France need to defeat the Springboks in Paris on 13 November.
The post Youngs: France must beat Boks before World Cup appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
