In a bruising and dramatic Nations Championship 2026 encounter, France held off world number one South Africa for a narrow 21-19 victory in front of a roaring crowd at Stade de France. Despite failing to score a single point in the second half and playing the final 12 minutes down a man following a yellow card, Fabien Galthié’s depleted squad delivered a heroic defensive stand. Winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey sealed the triumph with a thunderous match-saving tackle in the dying seconds. The result extends France’s lead at the top of the Northern Hemisphere standings and puts them firmly in the driver’s seat to reach the inaugural Nations Championship final later this month.
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