South Africa win hands France World Cup 'cornerstone'

France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey said Friday's grinding victory over South Africa can be a "cornerstone" for the team as they build towards next year's Rugby World Cup.

Les Bleus held on to edge the world champions 21-19 in Paris, with Bielle-Biarrey among the try-scorers in a tense affair 11 months out from the start of the showpiece tournament.

The success over the Springboks was the last time three-time World Cup runners-up France will play against either of the two highest-ranked teams before the competition, having lost by two points to New Zealand in July.

"We know matches against nations from the south are rare in the build-up to the World Cup," Bielle-Biarrey told reporters.

"I think it can really be a cornerstone of our World Cup preparation, because that's truly the goal."

France came into the fixture at the Stade de France as underdogs mainly down to a lengthy injury list with at least 20 players sidelined.

They were aiming for a measure of revenge for their 2023 World Cup quarter-final loss to the Boks in Paris and a first win over them in the French capital since 2005.

"It's good to beat the world champions," Bielle-Biarrey said.

"Especially as we weren't favourites.

"Not a lot of people put money on us tonight, but we believed in ourselves."

Head coach Fabien Galthie's main injury concern was at fly-half, as the former Test skipper was down to his fifth-choice playmaker.

Scrum-half Antoine Dupont wore the number 10 shirt despite reverting to his usual position during the game as Maxime Lucu deputised for Romain Ntamack in the key playmaking role.

Dupont was named player of the match having been at his influential best, including setting up Bielle-Biarrey for his superb try with a brilliant kick.

"Since the start of the season he's been at his best," Bielle-Biarrey said of the 2024 Olympic rugby sevens champion.

"He feels at ease in the game plan.

"When he plays like that, in attack, in defence, in game management, it's a real joy."

Next up for Les Bleus is a clash with Argentina at the Stade de France in a week's time, with a place in the inaugural Nations Championship final on the line.

"We haven't won anything tonight," Bielle-Biarrey.

"Titles are what motivates us. It's a step before the World Cup, a first Nations Championship title."

South Africa head to Ireland next Saturday licking their wounds after a humbling caused by ill-discipline, and with their hopes of reaching the Nations Championship decider now out of their hands.

They had No. 8 Jasper Wiese red-carded for a dangerous clear-out at a ruck and lock Lood de Jager was sin-binned for a high tackle.

"There's a lot of stuff that went right tonight, but also stuff that went wrong," South Africa flanker Paul de Villiers said.

"It (the Ireland match) is a great opportunity for us to really learn from this week and try to be better next week.

"We will be better, but just in those certain areas to make sure we fix it and we really work on it."