Nick Mallett urges Springboks to load up on forwards and dominate French pack

Speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, Mallett argued the world champions must prioritise set-piece dominance and sustained pressure if they are to overcome a French side he says is a clear step above the Italy team the Boks dismantled 66-7.

"I think Rassie will be looking to dominate with the forwards and put his best pack, or best 16, or however many he can get there - six on the bench and eight to start," Mallett said.

Mallet believes a straightforward approach focusing on scrum power and lineout dominance will allow them to introduce more athletic options as the game opens up.

"My view is that you should destroy them with your most powerful front row. Maybe start with Wilco Louw, Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx, and then if the game loosens up, you get the athletes coming on in the last 20, 25 minutes," he explained.

"But Rassie's done it the way he has, which is his best tighthead with his second-best loosehead, and his best loosehead with his second-best tighthead. It worked, but we didn't dominate the scrums as I know we can."

Mallett stressed that beating France in Paris will demand excellence across the board, not just in the set pieces.

The Springboks must replicate the intensity and accuracy of their first half against Italy while raising their standards in several key areas.

"Against France, you've got to put them under pressure in every area of the game that you can," he said.

"You've got to put them under pressure with excellent kicks, with our defence, our pace off the line and our ability to go up and out as well as to go up and in if they do play the inside pass.

"There are so many areas of the game that the Boks got right against Italy in that first half that we have to get right against France because they are just a step better than that Italian side."

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