South Africa at Rugby World Cup 2023: How to watch Springboks face France live in the quarter-finals - full schedule
When South Africa play France in the quarter-final at Stade de France on Sunday (15 October), they will meet for only the second time at a Rugby World Cup. Discover how to watch live.
South Africa's men's rugby team, known as the Springboks, are a step closer to an unprecedented fourth Rugby World Cup title after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2023 edition where they will face hosts France.
The Springboks will have a mountain to climb to reach the final to defend their title as they face one of the top rugby nations in the world. Bolstered by home-ground advantage, Les Bleus will be looking to finally claim the crown after finishing as runners-up at the Rugby World Cup finals in 1987, 1999, and 2011.
France have been boosted by the news that star player Antoine Dupont has been given a green light to return after fracturing his cheekbone earlier in the tournament.
The sides last met in the semi-final of the 1995 Rugby World with hosts South Africa fending off a French onslaught before they went on to win their first of three titles. The Springboks have the edge over the French, winning 27 of the 45 matches they have played against each other since they first met in Bordeaux in 1913. Six of France's 12 victories over the Springboks were on home soil including last year’s 30-26 victory in Marselle.
Players to watch
Siya Kolisi, the first black man to captain South Africa’s Test rugby team, has been instrumental in his team’s successes over the last few years. Leading his side into battle more than 50 times, Kolisi held the Webb Ellis Cup aloft four years ago in Japan.
Kolisi continues to be a talismanic figure for the Springboks and will play a pivotal part in their bid to win back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles. He leads a beastly pack of forwards that are supported by an equally impressive bench of replacements affectionately known as the ‘bomb squad’.
In the backline, the Springboks boast of attacking dynamos such as Cheslin Kolbe, who scored a spectacular try in their 32-12 victory over England in the 2019 World Cup final.
Although South Africa lost Makazole Mapimpi, one of their lynchpins four years ago, to injury during the pool stages they still have plenty of firepower in their arsenal. These include flyhalf Manie Libbok, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and utility back Canan Moodie.
Can they cope with the creativity of 2021 world player of the year Dupont, France's tournament top try scorer Damian Penaud, and French 20-year-old breakout star winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey?
What time does the South Africa vs France RWC quarter-final start?
The Rugby World Cup quarter-final between The Springboks and Les Bleus will take place at the Stade de France in Paris. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 local time (UTC) on Sunday 15 October 2023.
How to watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup live
Please check local listings for broadcast schedules in your territories.
Rugby World Cup 2023 will be broadcast live in the following markets:
- Australia - STAN
- Andorra - MOVISTAR+
- Austria: PROSIBEN
- Belgium - TELENET
- Cook Island - Cook Islands Television
- Czechia - Ceska Televize
- Fiji - Fiji TV
- France - France TV, TF1, M6
- Germany - RAN
- Ireland - RTE, VIRGIN
- Italy, San Marino, Vatican - Sky Italia, RAI
- Japan - JSports, NTV, NHK
- Luxembourg - TF1
- Middle East and North Africa - StarzPlay
- Netherlands - ZIGGO
- New Zealand - Sky NZ, STUFF
- Papua New Guinea - Digicel, EMTV
- Portugal - Sport TV
- Samoa - TV1
- Romania - Digisport
- Spain and Andorra - MOVISTAR+
- Solomon Islands - Telekom Television
- South Africa and Sub-Sahara - SuperSport
- Tonga - Digicel, Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC)
- Turkey - SSPORT (SARAN)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - ITV, S4C, ITVx website.
- United States of America - NBC
- Vanuatu - Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation