The 1968 South Africa rugby union tour of France was a rugby union tour of France by the South Africa national team in October and November 1968. The tour was South Africa's first sole tour of France, having previously played France on joint-European (Great Britain, Ireland) tours. South Africa's tours of Europe over the previous decades (1906–07, 1912–13, 1931–32, 1951–52, 1960–61, 1965) were extremely successful, holding a win ratio of 88.16%, played across 150 matches.

South Africa won the two-match tour-series 2–0, with both matches being within a five-point margin (20–28 on aggregate). Overall South Africa won five of the six matches on tour.

Background All of France's three previous victories over South Africa were on South African soil. South Africa's previous match against France on French soil finished 0–0 at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in the Paris suburb of Colombes. The tour and two-match series held great significance in that, before the match, France was the only team that South Africa had a negative win ratio against (40%). Every other team, including the British Lions, who had only recently toured South Africa months prior, kept South Africa to a neutral win ratio (New Zealand) or a positive one. Furthermore, although one team (France) kept South Africa to a negative win ratio, no team had a positive win ratio against South Africa, the highest being New Zealand with a win ratio of 42.31%.

+ South African pre-series record against FranceTeamWins440330Draws3align=center Total10

Fixtures MatchDate Venue Home Score Away129 October 1968Stade Mayol, Toulon, VarLittoral-Provence 3–2422 November 1968Stade de Gerland, Lyon, Rhône 0–335 November 1968Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme 10–2649 November 1968Parc Lescure, Bordeaux, Gironde 9–12511 November 1968Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse, Haute-Garonne 11–3616 November 1968 11–16

Matches First match The first match on the Springbok tour was against a combined team from the South-eastern coastal region of France, with the majority of the team playing with Toulon in the French Championship. South Africa won the match in convincing fashion, scoring six tries to one drop goal.

Second match

Third match

First test The fourth match, and first test, of the Springbok tour was against France, played in the south-western city of Bordeaux. The story of the match was the missed kicks from South African errors. One try scored by France to three penalty goals kicked via South Africa's Piet Visagie gave the visitors a 3–9 lead at half-time. However, by full-time, although scoring two late tries to bring themselves back into the match (9–12), France had failed to kick seven penalty goals, three conversions, and a drop goal. A total of thirty points. The final score finished France 9, South Africa 12.

FB 15Henri MagoisRW 14Jean-Marie BonalOC 13Claude DourtheIC 12Jean-Pierre LuxLW 11Pierre BessonFH 10Christian BoujetSH 9 Marcel Puget (c)N8 8 Walter SpangheroOF 7 Michel GreffeBF 6 Claude ChenevayRL 5 Élie CesterLL 4 Benoît DaugaTP 3 Jean IraçabalHK 2 Jean-Paul BauxLP 1 Michel LasserreCoach:Fernand Cazenave FB 15HO de VilliersRW 14Jannie EngelbrechtOC 13Mannetjies RouxIC 12Eben OlivierLW 11Syd NomisFH 10Piet VisagieSH 9 Dawie de Villiers (c)N8 8 Tommy BedfordOF 7 Jan EllisBF 6 Piet GreylingRL 5 Gawie CarelseLL 4 Frik du PreezTP 3 Hannes MaraisHK 2 Gys PitzerLP 1 Mof MyburghCoach:Johan Claassen

Fourth match

Second test The sixth match, and final test, of the Springbok tour saw the South Africans play France again, in the Paris commune of Colombes. Trailing 6–3 at half-time, the South Africans fought back early in the second half, scoring three tries to one. South Africa won by five points, and took the series 2–0.

FB 15Henri MagoisRW 14Jean-Pierre LuxOC 13Claude DourtheIC 12André RuizLW 11Jean-Marie BonalFH 10Lucien ParièsSH 9 Marcel Puget (c)N8 8 Walter SpangheroOF 7 Dominique BontempsBF 6 Bernard DutinRL 5 Élie CesterLL 4 Benoît DaugaTP 3 Jean-Michel EspondaHK 2 Jean-Paul BauxLP 1 Michel LasserreCoach:Fernand Cazenave FB 15HO de VilliersRW 14Jannie EngelbrechtOC 13Mannetjies RouxIC 12Eben OlivierLW 11Syd NomisFH 10Piet VisagieSH 9 Dawie de Villiers (c)N8 8 Tommy BedfordOF 7 Jan EllisBF 6 Piet GreylingRL 5 Gawie CarelseLL 4 Frik du PreezTP 3 Hannes MaraisHK 2 Gys PitzerLP 1 Mof MyburghCoach:Johan Claassen

References