France put 54 points on Fiji in Lyon, but the scoreline flatters a performance riddled with set-piece errors and a crippling injury toll. Ntamack lasted just 33 minutes with a suspected shoulder subluxation — joining Jalibert, Ramos and Hastoy on the sidelines — leaving Galthié with no specialist 10 of genuine Test calibre for next weekend. Lucu will almost certainly partner Dupont at half-back against the Boks, and while Lucu carries a decent kicking game, his lateral running style against South Africa's line speed is a serious concern. The back-row balance also needs rethinking: without a credible jackal, Fiji counter-rucked France off the park — winning seven turnovers to France's three and retaining 82 of 83 rucks — and Ollivon's 23-minute cameo made a compelling case for a starting role he may now need.
The piece does credit where it's due: Dupont was exceptional, effectively running the game solo after Ntamack went off, with 75 passes, five defenders beaten and a hand in most of France's eight tries. Moefana and Grandidier-Nkanang were dangerous in the wide channels, and the front-row was sharp. But four dropped driving mauls in the second half — against Fiji — and 29 missed Fijian tackles underscore how much remains unresolved. The article closes with the obvious implication: the Springbok squad watching this footage in Paris will not have been alarmed by much.