# 2017 France rugby union tour of South Africa

In June 2017, France played a three-test series against South Africa as part of the 2017 mid-year rugby union tests. They played the Springboks over the three-week June International window (5 June–25 June), and the matches were part of the fifth year of the global rugby calendar established by the World Rugby, which runs through to 2019. This was France' first visit to South Africa since 2010 and the first test series between the teams since 2005. The last time the sides met was during the 2013 end-of-year international, where South Africa won 19–10 in Paris.

## Fixtures

| Date | Venue | Home | Score | Away |
| 10 June 2017 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | South Africa | 37–14 | France |
| 17 June 2017 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | South Africa | 37–15 | France |
| 24 June 2017 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | South Africa | 35–12 | France |

## Squads

Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 10 June 2017, the first test match of the tour.

### France

On 27 May, France named a 35-man squad ahead of their three-test series against South Africa.
On 29 May, Nans Ducuing was called up to the squad as an injury replacement for Djibril Camara.
On 5 June, Paul Jedrasiak and François Trinh-Duc were called up to the squad as injury cover for Arthur Iturria and Camille Lopez.
Coaching team:
* Head coach: Guy Novès
* Defence coach: Gerald Bastide
* Backs coach: Jean-Frederic Dubois
* Forwards coach: Yannick Bru
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Camille Chat | Hooker | (1995-12-18)18 December 1995 (aged 21) | 8 | Racing 92 |
| Guilhem Guirado (c) | Hooker | (1986-06-17)17 June 1986 (aged 30) | 51 | Toulon |
| Clément Maynadier | Hooker | (1988-10-11)11 October 1988 (aged 28) | 3 | Bordeaux |
| Uini Atonio | Prop | (1990-03-26)26 March 1990 (aged 27) | 25 | La Rochelle |
| Eddy Ben Arous | Prop | (1990-08-25)25 August 1990 (aged 26) | 17 | Racing 92 |
| Mohamed Boughanmi | Prop | (1991-10-27)27 October 1991 (aged 25) | 0 | La Rochelle |
| Xavier Chiocci | Prop | (1990-02-13)13 February 1990 (aged 27) | 9 | Toulon |
| Jefferson Poirot | Prop | (1992-11-01)1 November 1992 (aged 24) | 8 | Bordeaux Bègles |
| Rabah Slimani | Prop | (1989-10-18)18 October 1989 (aged 27) | 36 | Stade Français |
| Paul Jedrasiak | Lock | (1993-02-06) 6 February 1993 (age 31) | 6 | Clermont Auvergne |
| Julien Le Devedec | Lock | (1986-06-04)4 June 1986 (aged 31) | 9 | Brive |
| Yoann Maestri | Lock | (1988-01-14)14 January 1988 (aged 29) | 56 | Toulouse |
| Romain Taofifénua | Lock | (1990-09-14)14 September 1990 (aged 26) | 8 | Toulon |
| Yacouba Camara | Flanker | (1994-06-02)2 June 1994 (aged 23) | 3 | Toulouse |
| Loann Goujon | Flanker | (1989-04-23)23 April 1989 (aged 28) | 15 | Bordeaux Bègles |
| Kevin Gourdon | Flanker | (1990-01-23)23 January 1990 (aged 27) | 10 | La Rochelle |
| Anthony Jelonch | Flanker | (1996-07-28)28 July 1996 (aged 20) | 0 | Castres Olympique |
| Bernard Le Roux | Flanker | (1989-06-04)4 June 1989 (aged 28) | 26 | Racing 92 |
| Louis Picamoles | Number 8 | (1986-02-05)5 February 1986 (aged 31) | 62 | Northampton Saints |
| Antoine Dupont | Scrum-half | (1996-11-15)15 November 1996 (aged 20) | 2 | Castres Olympique |
| Maxime Machenaud | Scrum-half | (1988-12-30)30 December 1988 (aged 28) | 29 | Racing 92 |
| Baptiste Serin | Scrum-half | (1994-06-20)20 June 1994 (aged 22) | 10 | Bordeaux Bègles |
| Jean-Marc Doussain | Fly-half | (1991-02-12)12 February 1991 (aged 26) | 15 | Toulouse |
| Jules Plisson | Fly-half | (1991-08-20)20 August 1991 (aged 25) | 13 | Stade Français |
| François Trinh-Duc | Fly-half | (1986-11-11) 11 November 1986 (age 37) | 58 | Toulon |
| Henry Chavancy | Centre | (1988-05-22)22 May 1988 (aged 29) | 1 | Racing 92 |
| Jonathan Danty | Centre | (1992-10-07)7 October 1992 (aged 24) | 4 | Stade Français |
| Gaël Fickou | Centre | (1994-03-26)26 March 1994 (aged 23) | 29 | Toulouse |
| Damian Penaud | Centre | (1996-09-25)25 September 1996 (aged 20) | 0 | Clermont Auvergne |
| Nans Ducuing | Wing | (1991-11-06)6 November 1991 (aged 25) | 0 | Bordeaux Bègles |
| Yoann Huget | Wing | (1987-06-02)2 June 1987 (aged 30) | 47 | Toulouse |
| Vincent Rattez | Wing | (1992-03-24)24 March 1992 (aged 25) | 0 | La Rochelle |
| Virimi Vakatawa | Wing | (1992-05-01)1 May 1992 (aged 25) | 12 | FFR |
| Brice Dulin | Fullback | (1990-04-13)13 April 1990 (aged 27) | 27 | Racing 92 |
| Scott Spedding | Fullback | (1986-05-04)4 May 1986 (aged 31) | 21 | Clermont Auvergne |

### South Africa

South Africa named a 31-man squad for South Africa's three-test series against France on 23 May 2017.
Coaching team:
* Head coach: Allister Coetzee
* Defence coach: Brendan Venter
* Backs coach: Franco Smith
* Forwards coach: Johann van Graan
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Malcolm Marx | Hooker | (1994-07-13)13 July 1994 (aged 22) | 2 | Lions |
| Bongi Mbonambi | Hooker | (1991-01-07)7 January 1991 (aged 26) | 5 | Stormers |
| Chiliboy Ralepelle | Hooker | (1986-09-11)11 September 1986 (aged 30) | 22 | Sharks |
| Ruan Dreyer | Prop | (1990-09-16)16 September 1990 (aged 26) | 0 | Lions |
| Steven Kitshoff | Prop | (1992-02-10)10 February 1992 (aged 25) | 10 | Bordeaux |
| Frans Malherbe | Prop | (1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 26) | 15 | Stormers |
| Tendai Mtawarira | Prop | (1985-08-01)1 August 1985 (aged 31) | 87 | Sharks |
| Lizo Gqoboka | Prop | (1990-03-24)24 March 1990 (aged 27) | 0 | Bulls |
| Coenie Oosthuizen | Prop | (1989-03-22)22 March 1989 (aged 28) | 23 | Sharks |
| Lood de Jager | Lock | (1992-12-17)17 December 1992 (aged 24) | 28 | Bulls |
| Pieter-Steph du Toit | Lock | (1992-08-20)20 August 1992 (aged 24) | 20 | Stormers |
| Eben Etzebeth | Lock | (1991-10-29)29 October 1991 (aged 25) | 54 | Stormers |
| Franco Mostert | Lock | (1990-11-27)27 November 1990 (aged 26) | 7 | Lions / Ricoh Black Rams |
| Siya Kolisi | Flanker | (1991-06-16)16 June 1991 (aged 25) | 16 | Stormers |
| Jaco Kriel | Flanker | (1989-08-21)21 August 1989 (aged 27) | 7 | Lions |
| Oupa Mohojé | Flanker | (1990-08-03)3 August 1990 (aged 26) | 15 | Cheetahs |
| Duane Vermeulen | Number 8 | (1986-07-03)3 July 1986 (aged 30) | 37 | Toulon |
| Warren Whiteley (c) | Number 8 | (1987-09-18)18 September 1987 (aged 29) | 15 | Lions / NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes |
| Ross Cronjé | Scrum-half | (1989-07-26)26 July 1989 (aged 27) | 0 | Lions |
| Francois Hougaard | Scrum-half | (1988-04-06)6 April 1988 (aged 29) | 39 | Worcester Warriors |
| Rudy Paige | Scrum-half | (1989-08-02)2 August 1989 (aged 27) | 7 | Bulls |
| Elton Jantjies | Fly-half | (1990-08-01)1 August 1990 (aged 26) | 11 | Lions / NTT Communications Shining Arcs |
| François Steyn | Fly-half | (1987-05-14)14 May 1987 (aged 30) | 53 | Montpellier |
| Lukhanyo Am | Centre | (1993-11-28)28 November 1993 (aged 23) | 0 | Sharks |
| Damian de Allende | Centre | (1991-11-25)25 November 1991 (aged 25) | 22 | Stormers |
| Jesse Kriel | Centre | (1994-02-15)15 February 1994 (aged 23) | 17 | Bulls |
| Jan Serfontein | Centre | (1993-04-15)15 April 1993 (aged 24) | 26 | Bulls |
| Dillyn Leyds | Wing | (1992-09-12)12 September 1992 (aged 24) | 0 | Stormers |
| Raymond Rhule | Wing | (1992-11-06)6 November 1992 (aged 24) | 0 | Cheetahs |
| Courtnall Skosan | Wing | (1991-07-24)24 July 1991 (aged 25) | 0 | Lions |
| Andries Coetzee | Fullback | (1990-03-01)1 March 1990 (aged 27) | 0 | Lions |

## Matches
### First test

* 10 June 2017 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 37–14 | France |
| Try: Kriel 30' c Penalty try 59' Cronjé 60' c Serfontein 67' c Con: Coetzee (1/1) 32' Jantjies (2/2) 61', 68' Pen: Jantjies (3/3) 10', 14', 39' | Report | Try: Chavancy 34' c Serin 54' c Con: Plisson (2/2) 36', 55' |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | Andries Coetzee |
| RW | 14 | Raymond Rhule | 72' |
| OC | 13 | Jesse Kriel | 56' |
| IC | 12 | Jan Serfontein |
| LW | 11 | Courtnall Skosan |
| FH | 10 | Elton Jantjies |
| SH | 9 | Ross Cronjé | 63' |
| N8 | 8 | Warren Whiteley (c) |
| OF | 7 | Oupa Mohojé | 59' |
| BF | 6 | Siya Kolisi |
| RL | 5 | Franco Mostert | 63' |
| LL | 4 | Eben Etzebeth |
| TP | 3 | Frans Malherbe | 63' |
| HK | 2 | Malcolm Marx | 63' |
| LP | 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | 53' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Bongi Mbonambi | 63' |
| PR | 17 | Steven Kitshoff | 53' |
| PR | 18 | Coenie Oosthuizen | 63' |
| LK | 19 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | 63' |
| FL | 20 | Jean-Luc du Preez | 59' |
| SH | 21 | Francois Hougaard | 63' |
| FH | 22 | François Steyn | 56' |
| WG | 23 | Dillyn Leyds | 72' |
| Coach: ||
| Allister Coetzee ||
| FB | 15 | Brice Dulin | 70' |
| RW | 14 | Yoann Huget |
| OC | 13 | Henry Chavancy |
| IC | 12 | Gaël Fickou |
| LW | 11 | Virimi Vakatawa |
| FH | 10 | Jules Plisson | 70' |
| SH | 9 | Maxime Machenaud | 46' |
| N8 | 8 | Louis Picamoles | 63' |
| OF | 7 | Loann Goujon | 51' |
| BF | 6 | Yacouba Camara |
| RL | 5 | Yoann Maestri (c) |
| LL | 4 | Julien Le Devedec |
| TP | 3 | Uini Atonio | 21' | 26' | 53' |
| HK | 2 | Clément Maynadier | 51' |
| LP | 1 | Jefferson Poirot | 59' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Camille Chat | 51' |
| PR | 17 | Eddy Ben Arous | 59' |
| PR | 18 | Mohamed Boughanmi | 21' | 26' | 53' |
| FL | 19 | Bernard Le Roux | 63' |
| FL | 20 | Kevin Gourdon | 51' |
| SH | 21 | Baptiste Serin | 46' |
| FH | 22 | Jean-Marc Doussain | 70' |
| WG | 23 | Vincent Rattez | 70' |
| Coach: ||
| Guy Novès ||
* Man of the Match:
* Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
* Touch judges:
* Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
* Marius Mitrea (Italy)
* Television match official:
* Rowan Kitt (England)
Notes:
* Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronjé, Dillyn Leyds, Raymond Rhule and Courtnall Skosan (all South Africa) and Mohamed Boughanmi and Vincent Rattez (both France) made their international debuts.

### Second test

* 17 June 2017 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 37–15 | France |
| Try: Serfontein 20' c Kolisi 27' c Oosthuizen 68' c Jantjies 79' c Con: Jantjies (4/4) 22', 28', 70', 80' Pen: Jantjies (3/4) 6', 31', 39' | Report | Try: Spedding 3' c Penaud 54' m Con: Serin (1/1) 4' Pen: Trinh-Duc (1/1) 64' |
* Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | Andries Coetzee |
| RW | 14 | Raymond Rhule | 79' |
| OC | 13 | Lionel Mapoe | 65' |
| IC | 12 | Jan Serfontein |
| LW | 11 | Courtnall Skosan |
| FH | 10 | Elton Jantjies |
| SH | 9 | Ross Cronjé | 65' |
| N8 | 8 | Warren Whiteley (c) |
| OF | 7 | Oupa Mohojé | 14' |
| BF | 6 | Siya Kolisi |
| RL | 5 | Franco Mostert |
| LL | 4 | Eben Etzebeth | 65' |
| TP | 3 | Frans Malherbe | 65' |
| HK | 2 | Malcolm Marx | 74' |
| LP | 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | 53' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Bongi Mbonambi | 74' |
| PR | 17 | Steven Kitshoff | 53' |
| PR | 18 | Coenie Oosthuizen | 65' |
| LK | 19 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | 65' |
| FL | 20 | Jean-Luc du Preez | 14' |
| SH | 21 | Francois Hougaard | 65' |
| FH | 22 | François Steyn | 65' |
| WG | 23 | Dillyn Leyds | 79' |
| Coach: ||
| Allister Coetzee ||
| FB | 15 | Scott Spedding |
| RW | 14 | Yoann Huget | 13' |
| OC | 13 | Damian Penaud |
| IC | 12 | Gaël Fickou |
| LW | 11 | Virimi Vakatawa |
| FH | 10 | François Trinh-Duc | 74' |
| SH | 9 | Baptiste Serin | 56' |
| N8 | 8 | Louis Picamoles | 22' |
| OF | 7 | Kevin Gourdon |
| BF | 6 | Yacouba Camara |
| RL | 5 | Romain Taofifénua |
| LL | 4 | Yoann Maestri | 73' |
| TP | 3 | Rabah Slimani | 58' |
| HK | 2 | Guilhem Guirado (c) | 74' |
| LP | 1 | Jefferson Poirot | 58' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Clément Maynadier | 74' |
| PR | 17 | Eddy Ben Arous | 58' |
| PR | 18 | Uini Atonio | 58' |
| FL | 19 | Julien Le Devedec | 73' |
| FL | 20 | Bernard Le Roux | 22' |
| SH | 21 | Antoine Dupont | 56' |
| FH | 22 | Jean-Marc Doussain | 74' |
| WG | 23 | Nans Ducuing | 13' |
| Coach: ||
| Guy Novès ||
* Man of the Match:
* Siya Kolisi (South Africa)
* Touch judges:
* Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
* Angus Gardner (Australia)
* Television match official:
* Rowan Kitt (England)
Notes:
* Nans Ducuing and Damian Penaud (both France) made their international debuts. Penaud scored a try on his debut.
* Elton Jantjies passed 100 international points.

### Third test

* 24 June 2017 17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
| South Africa | 35–12 | France |
| Try: Kriel 6' c Etzebeth 41' m Marx 61' c Paige 74' c Con: Jantjies (3/4) 6', 61', 75' Pen: Jantjies (3/4) 5', 22', 39' | Report | Pen: Plisson (4/5) 11', 15', 40', 57' |
* Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
| FB | 15 | Andries Coetzee |
| RW | 14 | Raymond Rhule | 71' |
| OC | 13 | Jesse Kriel |
| IC | 12 | Jan Serfontein |
| LW | 11 | Courtnall Skosan |
| FH | 10 | Elton Jantjies |
| SH | 9 | Francois Hougaard | 71' |
| N8 | 8 | Jean-Luc du Preez | 55' |
| OF | 7 | Jaco Kriel | 71' |
| BF | 6 | Siya Kolisi |
| RL | 5 | Franco Mostert | 67' |
| LL | 4 | Eben Etzebeth (c) |
| TP | 3 | Ruan Dreyer | 55' |
| HK | 2 | Malcolm Marx | 67' |
| LP | 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | 55' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Bongi Mbonambi | 67' |
| PR | 17 | Steven Kitshoff | 55' |
| PR | 18 | Coenie Oosthuizen | 55' |
| LK | 19 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | 55' |
| LK | 20 | Lood de Jager | 67' |
| SH | 21 | Rudy Paige | 71' |
| FH | 22 | François Steyn | 71' |
| WG | 23 | Dillyn Leyds | 71' |
| Coach: ||
| Allister Coetzee ||
| FB | 15 | Brice Dulin |
| RW | 14 | Nans Ducuing |
| OC | 13 | Damian Penaud | 64' |
| IC | 12 | Gaël Fickou |
| LW | 11 | Virimi Vakatawa | 77' |
| FH | 10 | Jules Plisson |
| SH | 9 | Baptiste Serin | 71' |
| N8 | 8 | Louis Picamoles | 70' |
| OF | 7 | Kevin Gourdon |
| BF | 6 | Yacouba Camara | 40' |
| RL | 5 | Romain Taofifénua | 64' |
| LL | 4 | Yoann Maestri |
| TP | 3 | Rabah Slimani | 58' | 70' |
| HK | 2 | Guilhem Guirado (c) |
| LP | 1 | Jefferson Poirot | 68' |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Clément Maynadier | 70' |
| PR | 17 | Xavier Chiocci | 68' |
| PR | 18 | Uini Atonio | 58' | 70' |
| LK | 19 | Paul Jedrasiak | 64' |
| FL | 20 | Loann Goujon | 40' |
| SH | 21 | Maxime Machenaud | 71' |
| FH | 22 | François Trinh-Duc | 64' |
| WG | 23 | Vincent Rattez | 77' |
| Coach: ||
| Guy Novès ||
* Man of the Match:
* Touch judges:
* Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
* Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
* Television match official:
* Rowan Kitt (England)
Notes:
* Ruan Dreyer (South Africa) made his international debut.
* South African captain Warren Whiteley was declared as forfeit just before the kick-off.