France recorded a second straight victory over South Africa with a try each by Cedric Heymans and Vincent Clerc and five penalties from fly-half Francois Gelez.

The highlight of the 30-10 victory was undoubtedly Heymans' try just after the break.

Leading 12-3 at the break, the hosts found themselves on the back foot at the start of the second period but they conjured up something special.

Flanker Oliver Magne broke out of the French 22 metres before feeding right winger Vincent Clerc, who in turn released scrum-half Fabien Galthie.

As the defence closed on Galthie he chipped a crossfield kick to left winger Heymans who caught the ball above his head before racing in.

Beyond that score it was essentially about Gelez, who converted a penalty after Heymans' try but had to add another three points to slap down the Springboks after Joe van Niekurk went over.

Once Clerc added his try the contest was over.

In the first half South Africa centre Jean de Villiers was stretchered off after seven minutes with a leg injury and the French rubbed in that loss by taking the lead through a Gelez penalty a couple of minutes later.

Another Gelez kick preceded a drop goal by Thomas Castaignede, back in the side after a two-year injury nightmare.

By then South Africa hooker James Dalton had been warned for grappling with Galthie off the ball, and moments later Bakkies Botha was sin-bined for stamping.

Gelez made it 12-0 with his third kick out of three before Pretorius opened his side's account to make it 12-3 at the break.

France: Nicolas Brusque; Vincent Clerc, Thomas Castaignede, Damien Traille, Cedric Heymans; Francois Gelez, Fabien Galthie; Imanol Harinordoquy, Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen, Fabien Pelous, Olivier Brouzet, Pieter de Villiers, Raphael Ibanez, Jean-Jacques Crenca.
Replacements: Jean-Baptiste Rue, Sylvain Marconnet, Thibault Privat, Sebastien Chabal, Dmitri Yachvili, Gerald Merceron, Xavier Garbajosa.

South Africa: Werner Greeff; Breyton Paulse, Jean de Villiers, Adrian Jacobs, Brent Russell; Andre Pretorius, Neil de Kock; Lawrence Sephaka, James Dalton, Willie Meyer, Bakkies Botha, Jannes Labuschagne, Corne Krige (capt), AJ Venter, Joe van Niekerk.
Replacements: Adrian Jacobs, Butch James, Bolla Conradie, Pedrie Wannenburg, Marco Wentzel, Wessel Roux, Lukas van Biljon.