The 1968 South Africa rugby union tour of France was a rugby union tour of France by the South Africa national team in October and November 1968.[1] The tour was South Africa's first sole tour of France, having previously played France on joint-European (Great Britain, Ireland) tours. South Africa's tours of Europe over the previous decades (1906–07, 1912–13, 1931–32, 1951–52, 1960–61, 1965) were extremely successful, holding a win ratio of 88.16%, played across 150 matches.
South Africa won the two-match tour-series 2–0, with both matches being within a five-point margin (20–28 on aggregate). Overall South Africa won five of the six matches on tour.
All of France's three previous victories over South Africa were on South African soil. South Africa's previous match against France on French soil finished 0–0 at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in the Paris suburb of Colombes. The tour and two-match series held great significance in that, before the match, France was the only team that South Africa had a negative win ratio against (40%). Every other team, including the British Lions, who had only recently toured South Africa months prior, kept South Africa to a neutral win ratio (New Zealand) or a positive one. Furthermore, although one team (France) kept South Africa to a negative win ratio, no team had a positive win ratio against South Africa, the highest being New Zealand with a win ratio of 42.31%.
The first match on the Springbok tour was against a combined team from the South-eastern coastal region of France, with the majority of the team playing with Toulon in the French Championship.[2] South Africa won the match in convincing fashion, scoring six tries to one drop goal.[1]
The fourth match, and first test, of the Springbok tour was against France, played in the south-western city of Bordeaux.[1] The story of the match was the missed kicks from South African errors.[3] One try scored by France to three penalty goals kicked via South Africa's Piet Visagie gave the visitors a 3–9 lead at half-time.[4] However, by full-time, although scoring two late tries to bring themselves back into the match (9–12),[5] France had failed to kick seven penalty goals, three conversions, and a drop goal.[3] A total of thirty points.[3] The final score finished France 9, South Africa 12.[3]
The sixth match, and final test, of the Springbok tour saw the South Africans play France again, in the Paris commune of Colombes.[6][1] Trailing 6–3 at half-time,[7] the South Africans fought back early in the second half, scoring three tries to one. South Africa won by five points,[8] and took the series 2–0.[1]
^ abcdef"France – Afrique du Sud" [France – South Africa]. Rugby : organe officiel de la Federation Française de Rugby (in French). No. 696. 30 November 1968. pp. 4–5 – via Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF).
^"DÉBUTS PROMETTEURS des Springboks à Toulon (24–3)" [PROMISING START for the Springboks in Toulon (24–3)]. Le Monde (in French). Groupe Le Monde. 31 October 1968.
^ abcdFrost, David (11 November 1968). "Springboks forced into error, but French miss kicks". The Guardian. No. 38, 051. Manchester Guardian. p. 15.
^"Springboks Win With Penalties". The Press. Vol. CVIII, no. 31, 833. 11 November 1968. p. 26.
^"30,000 see test". Derby Telegraph. No. 27, 185. 16 November 1968. p. 8.
May 02, 2024
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The 1968 South Africa rugby union tour of France was a rugby union tour of France by the South Africa national team in October and November 1968 1 The tour was South Africa s first sole tour of France having previously played France on joint European Great Britain Ireland tours South Africa s tours of Europe over the previous decades 1906 07 1912 13 1931 32 1951 52 1960 61 1965 were extremely successful holding a win ratio of 88 16 played across 150 matches 1968 South Africa rugby union tour of FranceManagerFritz Eloff 1 Coach es Johan ClaassenTour captain s Dawie de VilliersTop point scorer s Piet Visagie 19 Top try scorer s Dawie de Villiers 1 Jannie Engelbrecht 1 Syd Nomis 1 Top test point scorer s Piet Visagie 42 Top test try scorer s Jannie Engelbrecht 5 SummaryPWDLTotal0 60 50 00 1Test match0 20 20 00 0OpponentPWDL France2200Tour chronologyPrevious tourAustralia and New Zealand 1965Next tourGreat Britain and Ireland 1969 70 South Africa won the two match tour series 2 0 with both matches being within a five point margin 20 28 on aggregate Overall South Africa won five of the six matches on tour Contents 1 Background 2 Fixtures 3 Matches 3 1 First match 3 2 Second match 3 3 Third match 3 4 First test 3 5 Fourth match 3 6 Second test 4 ReferencesBackground editAll of France s three previous victories over South Africa were on South African soil South Africa s previous match against France on French soil finished 0 0 at the Stade Olympique Yves du Manoir in the Paris suburb of Colombes The tour and two match series held great significance in that before the match France was the only team that South Africa had a negative win ratio against 40 Every other team including the British Lions who had only recently toured South Africa months prior kept South Africa to a neutral win ratio New Zealand or a positive one Furthermore although one team France kept South Africa to a negative win ratio no team had a positive win ratio against South Africa the highest being New Zealand with a win ratio of 42 31 South African pre series record against France Team Wins W nbsp South Africa 4 40 nbsp France 3 30 Draws 3 Total 10Fixtures editMatch Date Venue Home Score Away 1 29 October 1968 Stade Mayol Toulon Var Littoral Provence 3 24 nbsp South Africa 2 2 November 1968 Stade de Gerland Lyon Rhone Selection du Sud Est 0 3 nbsp South Africa 3 5 November 1968 Stade Marcel Michelin Clermont Ferrand Puy de Dome Selection Auvergne Centre 10 26 nbsp South Africa 4 9 November 1968 Parc Lescure Bordeaux Gironde France nbsp 9 12 nbsp South Africa 5 11 November 1968 Stade des Ponts Jumeaux Toulouse Haute Garonne Sud Ouest XV 11 3 nbsp South Africa 6 16 November 1968 Stade Olympique Yves du Manoir Colombes Hauts de Seine France nbsp 11 16 nbsp South AfricaMatches editFirst match edit The first match on the Springbok tour was against a combined team from the South eastern coastal region of France with the majority of the team playing with Toulon in the French Championship 2 South Africa won the match in convincing fashion scoring six tries to one drop goal 1 28 October 1968Litorral Provence3 24 nbsp South AfricaDrop Laborde 1 Try Engelbrecht 4 OlivierVisagieCon H de Villiers 3 6 Stade Mayol Toulon Referee M Lebecq Limousin Second match edit 2 November 1968Selection du Sud Est0 3 nbsp South AfricaPen Naude 1 Stade de Gerland Lyon Referee M K M Jones Wales Third match edit 5 November 1968Selection Auvergne Centre10 26 nbsp South AfricaTry RouxEllisCon Visagie 1 2 Pen Visagie 5 Drop Visagie 1 1 Stade Marcel Michelin Clermont Ferrand Referee M Tyler England First test edit The fourth match and first test of the Springbok tour was against France played in the south western city of Bordeaux 1 The story of the match was the missed kicks from South African errors 3 One try scored by France to three penalty goals kicked via South Africa s Piet Visagie gave the visitors a 3 9 lead at half time 4 However by full time although scoring two late tries to bring themselves back into the match 9 12 5 France had failed to kick seven penalty goals three conversions and a drop goal 3 A total of thirty points 3 The final score finished France 9 South Africa 12 3 9 November 1968France nbsp 9 12 nbsp South AfricaTry Bonal 74 mDauga 2 75 mReportPen Visagie 4 5 Drop Visagie 0 1 Parc Lescure Bordeaux Attendance 12 516Referee Larry Lamb England FB 15 Henri Magois RW 14 Jean Marie Bonal OC 13 Claude Dourthe IC 12 Jean Pierre Lux LW 11 Pierre Besson FH 10 Christian Boujet SH 9 Marcel Puget c N8 8 Walter Spanghero OF 7 Michel Greffe BF 6 Claude Chenevay RL 5 Elie Cester LL 4 Benoit Dauga TP 3 Jean Iracabal HK 2 Jean Paul Baux LP 1 Michel Lasserre Coach Fernand Cazenave FB 15 HO de Villiers RW 14 Jannie Engelbrecht OC 13 Mannetjies Roux IC 12 Eben Olivier LW 11 Syd Nomis FH 10 Piet Visagie SH 9 Dawie de Villiers c N8 8 Tommy Bedford OF 7 Jan Ellis BF 6 Piet Greyling RL 5 Gawie Carelse LL 4 Frik du Preez TP 3 Hannes Marais HK 2 Gys Pitzer LP 1 Mof Myburgh Coach Johan Claassen Fourth match edit 11 November 1968Sud Ouest XV11 3 nbsp South AfricaTry Dargeles 1 Con Michael 1 Pen Michael 1 Drop PariesTry CarelseStade des Ponts Jumeaux Toulouse Referee M Birell Scotland Second test edit The sixth match and final test of the Springbok tour saw the South Africans play France again in the Paris commune of Colombes 6 1 Trailing 6 3 at half time 7 the South Africans fought back early in the second half scoring three tries to one South Africa won by five points 8 and took the series 2 0 1 16 November 1968France nbsp 11 16 nbsp South AfricaTry Cester 1 Con Paries 1 Drop Paries 1 Puget 1 ReportTry D de VilliersEngelbrechtNomisCon Visagie 2 3 Pen Visagie 1 Stade Olympique Yves du Manoir Colombes Attendance 30 000 9 Referee Paddy d Arcy Ireland FB 15 Henri Magois RW 14 Jean Pierre Lux OC 13 Claude Dourthe IC 12 Andre Ruiz LW 11 Jean Marie Bonal FH 10 Lucien Paries SH 9 Marcel Puget c N8 8 Walter Spanghero OF 7 Dominique Bontemps BF 6 Bernard Dutin RL 5 Elie Cester LL 4 Benoit Dauga TP 3 Jean Michel Esponda HK 2 Jean Paul Baux LP 1 Michel Lasserre Coach Fernand Cazenave FB 15 HO de Villiers RW 14 Jannie Engelbrecht OC 13 Mannetjies Roux IC 12 Eben Olivier LW 11 Syd Nomis FH 10 Piet Visagie SH 9 Dawie de Villiers c N8 8 Tommy Bedford OF 7 Jan Ellis BF 6 Piet Greyling RL 5 Gawie Carelse LL 4 Frik du Preez TP 3 Hannes Marais HK 2 Gys Pitzer LP 1 Mof Myburgh Coach Johan ClaassenReferences edit a b c d e f France Afrique du Sud France South Africa Rugby organe officiel de la Federation Francaise de Rugby in French No 696 30 November 1968 pp 4 5 via Bibliotheque nationale de France BNF DEBUTS PROMETTEURS des Springboks a Toulon 24 3 PROMISING START for the Springboks in Toulon 24 3 Le Monde in French Groupe Le Monde 31 October 1968 a b c d Frost David 11 November 1968 Springboks forced into error but French miss kicks The Guardian No 38 051 Manchester Guardian p 15 Springboks Win With Penalties The Press Vol CVIII no 31 833 11 November 1968 p 26 Visagie penalties decide Sunday Mercury No 2 592 10 November 1968 Le dernier match des Springboks en France The Springboks last match in France Le Monde in French Groupe le Monde 16 November 1968 Fine Recovery By Springboks The Press Vol CVIII no 31 839 18 November 1968 p 22 Springbok rally defeats France The Canberra Times Vol 43 no 12 160 Australian Capital Territory Australia 18 November 1968 p 16 Retrieved 15 October 2023 via National Library of Australia 30 000 see test Derby Telegraph No 27 185 16 November 1968 p 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1968 South Africa rugby union tour of France amp oldid 1202745182, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
