Boks brace for French tactical surprises ahead of Paris showdown

The two sides meet at the Stade de France in the Nations Championship, with Jones pointing to the French team's development since their memorable 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. He says France have refined their kicking game, particularly their ability to exploit the space behind teams that defend aggressively.

"They've adapted really well, and they put us under pressure last year with a lot of attacking-style kicks, trying to exploit as much space as they could behind us, with a different style and a little bit of unpredictability that comes with that," said Jones.

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"So I think we're expecting, again, a potential tactical element that we may not have seen. That's kind of in the way, although this contest has been traditionally very close and very enthralling to watch because of the intensity of the collisions and the athletes that are playing against each other. But also, I think both teams have had tactical battles from which we've learned, and I'm sure they've learned from us."

Jones believes France will have extra motivation when the two sides renew their rivalry in Paris, given the manner in which their 2023 World Cup campaign ended. The Springboks edged France 29-28 in a dramatic quarter-final in October 2023 before returning to Paris in November 2024 to register a convincing 32-7 victory. Although the teams have faced each other since that World Cup encounter, Jones feels the significance of that narrow defeat is unlikely to have disappeared from the French camp.

As opposition teams continue to study the Springboks' approach in an effort to find ways of disrupting their game, Jones believes South Africa must remain true to the principles that have defined their success. He acknowledges that rugby is constantly changing, with teams having to adjust their strategies in response to new trends and law interpretations. However, he maintains that tactical adjustments should complement a team's identity rather than replace it, with the Springboks continuing to build around their established strengths.