France remained unbeaten at Ellis Park in Johannesburg when they beat South Africa by 32 points to 23 in front of more than 52 000 spectators.
France, who were better in the tight phases, enjoyed more ball and territorial advantage, thus leading 16-11 at the break. But only after they got an early wake-up call.
Pieter de Villiers, France's South African-born prop, led Les Bleus on to the Ellis Park pitch. However, that omen did not work as Breyton Paulse danced his way over for the first try of the match after a mere 30 seconds, thanks to Butch James spinning the ball wide in the first movement of the game.
The conversion, by Percy Montgomery, hit the upright, and the Boks were leading 5-0 before the first minute of the game was over.
The Springboks struggled with their line-outs throughout the entire match, with the visitors stealing a number of balls. However, skipper André Vos and later Albert van den Berg, who replaced Mark Andrews, proved to be the trumpcards at the back, taking their balls with relative ease.
The scrums were another area where the game struggled to gain momentum, with the French getting the better of South Africa. They dominated the slightly lighter South Africans and Springbok coach Harry Viljoen may have to seriously consider bringing in more bulk for the second Test.
France, not given too much chance of winning, gave their best performance of the year after an awful Six Nations campaign. They knew they had to get the upper-hand up front, which they did without too much hassle.
The big thorn in the Springbok forwards' side was the magnificent Olivier Magne. The brilliant French flank tormented the Boks in the tight, the loose and the line-outs. He was everywhere and did not give the South Africans an inch on the attack.
Meanwhile Percy Montgomery, who had a terrible day on the field, extended the Boks' five-point lead with a penalty goal, but then the French started attacking with vigour.
Les Bleus got their first real chance after 12 minutes when Nicolas Jeanjean broke a Corné Krige tackle and streaked into the clear. However, the pass to Stéphane Glas, who would have scored a certain try, was not good and the ball rolled into touch.
But three minutes later France scored their first try when speed-merchant Christophe Dominici went over in the corner after the whole French backline handled the ball in a classic backline move.
Montgomery added a penalty goal and Gérald Merceron, the French No.10 who missed two drop-goals, added six points of his own with two penalties.
The visitors extended their 13-11 lead after Montgomery missed two penalty goals and Mulder was penalised for a late tackle on Jeanjean. The burly Bok centre was lucky to escape with only a warning, and Merceron made no mistake with the kick at goal to put his side in the lead -- 16-11 -- just before half-time.
Five minutes into the second half the Boks narrowed the scores via Montgomery's third penalty goal.
With the Bok backline looking more and more dangerous, they took the lead with 30 minutes left on the clock when Montgomery slotted his fourth three-pointer, straight after he hit the upright with an attempted penalty goal.
Merceron, landing his fifth kick at goal from seven attempts, put the visitors back in the lead with a penalty in the 54th minute. Moments later, after a high-tackle on Barry, Montgomery did the same and the Boks were back in the lead at 20-19.
Dominici almost got his second try shortly afterwards as he dribbled through, but the big wing Hall out-sprinted him and beat him to the ball. Hall carried the ball over the line and after being awarded a five-metre scrum, the French kept up the pressure.
France were awarded another five-metre scrum and Merceron, who was playing his heart out, crashed through half-hearted tackles by Mulder and Krige to put his side back in the lead with a good converted try. He added another three points shortly afterwards and France went into the last 20 minutes with a handy 29-20 lead.
Montgomery, who narrowed the gap with his sixth penalty, was penalised when he held on to the ball inside his own 22 with one minute left on the clock. Merceron added the points, the siren went, and the Tricolours remained unbeaten at Ellis Park.
De Wet Barry was the home team's best back, with debutante Dean Hall also looking dangerous on the few occasions he touched the ball. André Vos never gave up front, and Rassie Erasmus and John Smit also gave their all.
Apart from Magne and Merceron, the visitors' best men were the young trio of fullback Nicolas Jeanjean, big centre Yannick Jauzion and No.8 Patrick Tabacco. Former skipper Raphael Ibanez also played his heart out.
Man of the match: France flyhalf Gérald Merceron, who contributed 27 points, was brilliant for the visitors. He kept the Boks pinned in their own half with good tactical kicking and his kicks at goal were also top notch.
Moment of the match: The final penalty goal of the match by Merceron, which came on full-time. As he hit the ball, the French flyhalf threw his arms in the air. The French were victorious again.
Villain of the match: Japie Mulder, the Boks' No.12, was lucky not to be yellow carded after a no armed late charge on Jeanjean late in the first half. He was also penalised earlier for diving on a French player. He also got warned for retaliating in the second half.
The Teams:
South Africa: 1 Etienne Fynn, 2 Robbie Kempson, 3 John Smit, 4 Mark Andrews, 5 Andre Venter, 6 Johan Erasmus, 7 Andre Vos (c), 8 Corne Krige, 9 Joost Van Der Westhuizen, 10 Butch James, 11 Dean Hall, 12 De Wet Barry, 13 Japie Mulder, 14 Breyton Paulse, 15 Percy Montgomery
Reserves: Robbie Fleck, Ollie Le Roux, Willie Meyer, Bobby Skinstad, Albert Van Den Bergh
Unused: Neil De Kock, Conrad Jantjes
France: 1 Jean-Jacques Crenca, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 3 Pieter De Villiers, 4 David Auradou, 5 Olivier Brouzet, 6 Olivier Magne, 7 Sebastien Chabal, 8 Patrick Tabacco, 9 Fabien Galthie (c), 10 Gerald Merceron, 11 David Bory, 12 Stephane Glas, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 14 Christophe Dominici, 15 Nicolas Jeanjean
Reserves: Elvis Vermeulen
Unused: Olivier Azam, Christian Califano, Pepito Elhorga, Pierre Mignoni, Lionel Nallet, David Skrela
Attendance: 52330
Referee: Deluca p.
Points Scorers:
South Africa
Tries: Paulse B.J. 1
Pen K.: Montgomery P.C. 6
France
Tries: Merceron G. 1, Dominici C. 1
Conv: Merceron G. 2
Pen K.: Merceron G. 6
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