Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert and second-rower Romain Taofifenua will miss France’s opening match of the Autumn Nations Series after suffering injuries, the French rugby federation confirmed.
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Jalibert injured a thigh during Bordeaux-Begles’ Top 14 win over Bayonne on Saturday, before quickly suggesting he expected to have to miss France’s match against world champions South Africa on Saturday, 8 November.
Les Bleus will also take on Fiji and Australia on 15 and 22 November, respectively.
Replacement
Jalibert has not played for France since a Six Nations loss to England in February.
Coach Fabien Galthie has called up 24-year-old Ugo Seunes, who joined Racing 92 this year from second-tier club Aurillac, as his replacement.
The 35-year-old Taofifenua also suffered an injury in his Racing team’s match against La Rochelle on Saturday.
He has been replaced by Stade Francais’ Baptiste Pesenti.
Continues his recovery
France will also be without Antoine Dupont who remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from the injury sustained during France’s victorious 2025 Six Nations campaign.
Dupont’s absence will be felt, but France have proven they can thrive without him – notably clinching the Six Nations title earlier this year with Maxime Lucu and Nolann Le Garrec stepping up in his place.
France will host the Springboks at the Stade de France with kick-off scheduled for 22:10 (SA time).
The match will be the second of the Springboks’ five scheduled fixtures on their end-of-year tour which begins with a clash against Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 1 November.
