Sport | Stade de France has all the love for the Boks, not much for Ireland

Stade de France in Saint-Denis in Paris.

• The Springboks may be facing an Irish side in Saturday’s crucial Rugby World Cup game that’s unbeaten in 15 games, but they do so with the comfort of a healthy record at the Stade de France.
• The Boks haven’t lost a Test at the ground since 2005 and remain the last southern hemisphere team to win in Saint-Denis.
• Ireland have a shocking record in Paris, having won only two Tests and drawn one since 2000, despite being regular Six Nations visitors.
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In Paris

The Springboks hardly have foreign fields of dreams, especially in the southern hemisphere, but if they have a home away from home, it’s Saint-Denis’s Stade de France.

The venue for Saturday’s titanic Rugby World Cup clash between South Africa and Ireland takes place at a ground where the Boks haven’t lost a Test since their 26-20 defeat to France in 2005.

After losing their first Test there 20-10 in 2001 under Harry Viljoen, and then again under Jake White four years later, they’ve experienced nothing but sustained joy and success at a ground that’s one of only two to host a rugby and soccer World Cup final along with Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium.

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They won all three of their games at the ground in 2007 when they beat England 36-0 in the pool stages and 15-6 in the final, and Argentina 37-13 in the semi-finals on their way to collecting a second world title.

They’ve been successful in subsequent visits against France in Paris, with wins in 2013 (19-10), 2017 (18-17) and 2018 (29-26). Last year’s 30-26 defeat came in Marseille.

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick isn’t one for the history books, but with a World Cup being neutral, he was quick to point out SA’s success in the commune that’s north of Paris.

“If you look at the history of this ground, in 2007, this is where we won the World Cup,” Stick said.

“We have a good record here and I’ll never forget our former president, Thabo Mbek