Jesse Kriel (Getty Images)
Prop Cyril Baille said France is “on alert” ahead of facing world champions South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series in Marseille on Saturday.
France beat Australia by one point in their opening game this weekend hours after the Rugby World Cup winners fell to Ireland, who cemented their place at the top of the table.
“We are always alert for these types of matches,” Baille told reporters on Saturday after his country’s record 11th straight win.
“We know very well that international matches are won and lost based on fundamentals and details.
“We are always on alert and will continue to learn.”
Loosehead Baille, 29, will take on an experienced Boks front row next week, taking on Vincent Koch and Frans Malherbe, who helped their country win the Webb Ellis trophy in 2019.
“We know how they became world champions, they had a monstrous scrum and they were monstrous with their fantastic backs,” Baille said.
“We expect a very tough match and we will put the necessary ingredients to play well too”.
Baille won his 38th cap against the Wallabies despite playing just 34 minutes this season due to a groin injury.
The Toulouse striker, one of the club’s eight in the matchday squad against Australia, will face former team-mate Cheslin Kolbe after the full-back spent four seasons at the Stade Ernest-Wallon before joining Toulon in August. of 2021.
“It’s always a pleasure to see a friend again,” Baille said.
“I’m very happy for him because he usually starts for South Africa.
“We’ll all be happy to see it, but for 80 minutes it’s going to be intense.”
‘Road’ to the World Cup
Thibaud Flament is set to be behind Baille in the French pack. The 25-year-old padlock is in his third season in Toulouse.
Flament compared the Springboks’ second rows, including Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert, to World Rugby’s 2014 Player of the Year Brodie Retallick.
“They are great players, who are among the best in the world at their position and it is always motivating to play against those who know more,” Flament told reporters.
“It’s like playing against New Zealand, being against Brodie Retallick, it’s a motivation.”
Saturday’s match on the Mediterranean coast comes 10 months from the start of the Rugby World Cup in France, where the teams could meet in the quarter-finals.
The Springboks are the last nation ranked in the top 10 of the world rankings to face France since Fabien Galthie took over as head coach three years ago.
“It’s part of the road to the World Cup,” Flament said.
“We haven’t played them yet, they are the World Cup champions so it’s a good challenge.”
