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South Africa demonstrated the reigning world champions' resilience, storming back from a six-point deficit and the opening period dismissal of second-row Lood de Jager to crush France 32-17 in a physical end-of-year Test on Saturday.

Playing with 14 men for the entire second half, the South African side withstood initial onslaught before overwhelming the French through sheer physicality and calmness, quieting a boisterous crowd in Paris expecting revenge for France's World Cup heartbreak.

24 months after their agonising 29-28 World Cup quarter-final loss to the Springboks on home soil, Les Bleus looked determined to set things right even without their unavailable captain Antoine Dupont. But the home side, now on a four-game losing streak, cracked under the strain as their discipline disintegrated despite the visitors being losing a player on the stroke of half-time.

France's Early Dominance

Fabien Galthié’s side looked irresistible early on as winger Damian Penaud crossed for two tries to become his nation's record try-getter with forty, surpassing Serge Blanco's longstanding record.

A succession of reckless penalties and a expensive sin-binning, however, gave control to the Springboks who punished every mistake in ruthless fashion.

South Africa responded with scores from Cobus Reinach, André Esterhuizen, Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who also slotted two penalties and three conversions.

Game-Changing Moment

It had all begun promisingly for the hosts. The full-back Thomas Ramos kicked a expertly placed grubber over the defence after four minutes which Penaud collected to touch down. The winger struck again soon after, sprinting into the corner to extend the advantage, and when De Jager was sent off for a high hit on Ramos, Les Bleus seemed in full control despite being only a single point ahead.

Then came South Africa’s impressive revival through a combination of clinical attacking and unbreakable focus.

The French outside back Louis Bielle-Biarrey was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, and the world champions seized the opportunity.

Esterhuizen powered over from a driving maul after the Springboks had opted to go for the lineout after being awarded a penalty, before Williams sprinted past a fractured defence for another try as the momentum shifted dramatically.

Closing Out the Game

With France rattled and giving away a stream of penalties, Feinberg-Mngomezulu completed a remarkable comeback, evading the defenders on the outside and sliding over the try-line before converting his own try.

The Springboks have now defeated France in nine of their last ten encounters. France next meet Fiji in the French city on the coming weekend while South Africa head to face the Italians.