Erasmus - Thinking you’re the favourite may lead to complacency

By Liam Maconi
13th November 2026

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus says being labelled favourites will count for nothing when they take on France, insisting that entertaining the favourites tag could lead to complacency.

The two-time World Cup winning coach was speaking ahead of Friday night’s meeting with Les Bleus at Stade de France in the Nations Championship, a venue where the French are yet to taste victory over the Boks since 2005.

“I sometimes struggle to understand why we're the clear favourites, it doesn't make a difference, or when they're the clear favourites it doesn't make a difference.

“The crowd is intimidating but they can't kill you, so being the favourites is probably, they might think they are, and we might think we are, the only bad thing about thinking you're the favourites, is that you might become complacent, and we are definitely not complacent for this game.”

READ: Kolisi wary of Dupont's influence but Boks remain unfazed

Erasmus is also wary of the hostile atmosphere the Boks could encounter on Friday night.

“I think we just really get up for a game like this, not to say that that's why we win. It's intimidating, the French crowds and the French stadiums, and it's foreign to us, but it's really enjoyable.

Even when we lost in 2022, when Pieter-Steph [Du Toit] got the red card, and the other ones we managed to scrape through, we were behind at minute 60 in most of those games.”

Meanwhile Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has described the atmosphere at the Stade de France as theatre-like, as he reflected on his previous experiences at the prestigious stadium. He also highlighted the physical challenge that could await the Boks, and how the French could use set-pieces to disrupt the Bok setup, however, he says the team knows exactly what to do to contain the French.

“The atmosphere is beautiful with the setup, the anthems, and the theatre-like atmosphere. I remember playing here last year and how passionate the crowd is. French people love their rugby, just like South Africans, and they get behind their team, but once that’s all finished and you step onto the field, all of that is gone. It’s just you and the guy opposite you, and that’s all that matters.”