Game day! Springboks v France couldn't be closer with even ...

Siya Kolisi

It's finally here.

South Africans have been waiting in anticipation all week and at 21:00 on Sunday night, they will be glued to their television sets as the Springboks take on tournament hosts France in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Paris.

Visit News24's Rugby World Cup 2023 zone for fixtures, profiles, top stories

If Saturday night's blockbuster between Ireland and New Zealand is anything to go by (the All Blacks won 28-24) then this promises to be a clash for the ages.

The Boks are champions, France are hosts and, according to local bookmakers, favourites.

But it's so incredibly close.

On South African site Sportingbet, for example, France are at 4/5 to win the match with the Springboks at 6/5.

You can get similar returns on Hollywoodbets, where France are again slight favourites at 4/5 with the Springboks at 21/20.

Interestingly, Sportingbet is offering the exact same return on who will score the first try of the game, with both sides coming in at 17/20.

The returning Antoine Dupont, meanwhile, is the favourite to win the official man-of-the-match award on the night at 5/1.

News24 will be bringing you all the action from Paris in the hours leading up to kick-off for what is easily the biggest Springbok Test match since the 2021 British & Irish Lions series decider.

Use our comments section below to voice your support for the Boks!

Teams:

France

15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille

Substitutes: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegher, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Yoram Moefana

South Africa

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Willie le Roux