S. Africa 23 France 32
Flyhalf Gerald Merceron scored 27 points as France pulled off an upset 32-23 win over South Africa in the first test on Saturday.
Merceron scored a try, and landed two conversions and six penalties to put the visitors 1-0 in the two-match series. France had led 16-11 at halftime.
South Africa drew first blood when right wing Breyton Paulse scored in the opening minute of the match.
Fullback Percy Montgomery made it 8-0 with a penalty in the eighth minute, but by the 17th minute France had drawn level with a penalty by Merceron and a try by left wing Christophe Dominici.
South Africa snatched back the lead at 16-14 when Montgomery landed one of his six penalties eight minutes into the second half.
However, Merceron put the visitors back in front at 17-16 six minutes later, and the turning point came when the flyhalf scored a try and converted it to make it 26-20 with 15 minutes left on the clock.
-Reuters