Bok coach braces for dangerous France: 'They suffocate and strangle you'

In Toulon

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said the French have shown in their past 11 games that they can't be shaken down easily.

The French go into their clash against the Boks in Marseille on Saturday on the back of an 11-match unbeaten run.

That streak saw them win the Six Nations Grand Slam and vanquish the All Blacks. Last week, they added Australia to their list.

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That means a win over South Africa will see them completing a unique Grand Slam over the southern hemisphere world champions.

Nienaber said the French have a simple approach to their rugby and from what he's seen since the Boks last played them four years ago, they're in a very good headspace.

"What the French do is that they suffocate and strangle you. They apply as much pressure on you with their kicking game," Nienaber said.

"You struggle to get out of your half and if you run, they have a very good defensive system that's organised.

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Makazole Mapimpi

"They build pressure, they grind games out. It may be tough to comment on their mental fortitude because I've coached only once against them.

"We won that Test in the 83rd minute and the Test they lost was the one against Australia where they came out of quarantine.

"In terms of what I've seen in