France finished in the top half of the RBS 6 Nations table for the first time since 2011 and they will be looking to build on that form with a summer tour to South Africa.
The overall perspective on France’s Championship depended on winning their final game against Wales, and they eventually managed to do so thanks to Damien Chouly’s 100th minute try in Paris.
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That was enough to finish third overall, level on points with Ireland and Scotland as each team picked up three victories.
A three-Test series in South Africa will be a good chance for France to build on the promise of the RBS 6 Nations, and they have a good record away to the Springboks.
With six wins and five draws from their 21 Tests in South Africa, France are the only team to have avoided defeat in more than 50 per cent of their Tests in the Republic.
To extend that record they will have to avoid a series defeat and they will face a South Africa team looking to rebound from a winless November tour.
Guy Novès will be in charge of his second summer tour, but unlike last year in Argentina, he will not be without his Top 14 semi-finalists.
This year’s final of the French league is on June 4, with the first Test against the Springboks a week later, so the likelihood is only the finalists would miss any of the tour.
The first and third Tests will both be played at altitude in Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively, with the second at sea level in Durban.
And while Novès took some confidence from finishing the RBS 6 Nations on a high, he knows there is still plenty of work to do.
He said: “We have matches that give us confidence, even if that confidence isn’t going to blind us.
“We’re pleased to have young players, their maturity will come over time.”
After three matches against South Africa in the summer, Les Bleus will take on the Springboks again in November.
Also heading to France are New Zealand and Japan giving Les Bleus the chance to build towards the 2018 Championship when they will have three games at home, including this year’s top two England and Ireland.
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