World champions South Africa recovered from 14-6 down and the sending-off of the powerhouse lock Lood de Jager to overpower France 32-17 in a bruising Autumn international on Saturday.

France cracked completely under pressure as their discipline disintegrated, throwing away an early lead despite the Springboks being reduced to 14 men on the stroke of half-time.

Two years after their agonising 29-28 World Cup quarter-final loss to South Africa on home soil, Les Bleus appeared poised for revenge.

Still without their injured captain, Antoine Dupont, France looked irresistible early on as the winger Damian Penaud scored twice to become his country’s all-time leading try scorer with 40, surpassing Serge Blanco’s longstanding record.

A succession of reckless infringements and a costly yellow card, however, handed the initiative to the Springboks who punished every mistake.

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