Former Springboks boss Nick Mallett believes that Rugby World Cup heartbreak has never left France and that it will add motivation this weekend.

South Africa have famously defeated Les Bleus twice in the World Cup knockout stages, firstly in 1995 and then in 2023.

The French felt cheated 31 years ago, and they also complained about some decisions in the 29-28 defeat in ’23.

This has led to bitter feelings among supporters, players and coaches, who are desperate to defeat the back-to-back world champions.

France ‘were absolutely shattered’

“There is absolutely the revenge story, it burns the French that in 1995 they feel they won the semi-final. [Abdelatif] Benazzi scored the try in the wet and it was disallowed,” Mallett said on the Talking Boks podcast.

“They believe that South Africa and Mandela were destined to win that World Cup well before it was even played. They’ve got theories around that and them being just moved away so South Africa could get into the final.

“Then we move onto the World Cup in 2023 and the confidence with which the French went into that World Cup thinking absolutely they were going to get through to the final and it was their God-given opportunity to win it.

“They were absolutely shattered by that one-point loss, to the extent that Fabien Galthie even left France for a couple of weeks because the media uproar after that was so intense that it would have been unfair for him to have to face it all.”

Prior to Friday, they had only played once since the 2023 World Cup quarter-final and the narrative around that clash was very much about revenge.

However, the Boks came away with a 32-17 victory despite playing much of the match with 14 men after Lood de Jager’s red card.

Mallett doesn’t reckon the French desire for South African blood has dissipated, though, and expects to see the hosts fired up for Friday’s encounter.

“I couldn’t believe the boos we got when we ran onto the field in the semi-final and in the final from the French crowd, they were so upset by the fact we put their team out of that tournament,” he said.

“That still lingers. Even though we played well with 14 men last year and beat them, there’s still that resentment and it’s going to be there for a long time.”

Pressure on Galthie

It is perhaps a result Galthie needs as well, with the French desperate to finally win a World Cup.

A victory over the Boks would certainly give them a boost with the start of the global tournament now under a year away.

“There is no doubt there is pressure on him to perform and he’s made quite a big cleanout of his coaching staff,” Mallett added.

“Getting rid of [Shaun] Edwards, who has been regarded as a fantastic defence coach. There were a number of others, I think four or five [have departed], so he’s brought in some young coaches.

“He’s put himself into the senior position where he’s going to sink doing it his way or they’re going to win and it’s thanks to him. A lot of pressure on him.”