France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Thursday that South Africa are "perhaps the best team ever" as he named La Rochelle scrum-half Nolann Garrec as Antoine Dupont's stand-in for this weekend's Autumn Nations Series game in Paris.
Le Garrec will make his 14th test appearance against the four-time Rugby World Cup winners on Saturday with superstar Dupont out since March with a serious knee issue.
Dupont has been training with the squad this week but will only return to action with Toulouse in December.
Since lifting back-to-back Webb Ellis trophies in 2023, the Springboks have lost just four times in 23 fixtures.
"They are perhaps the best that has ever existed in the world," Galthie told reporters.
"It's the most difficult challenge this current generation has ever faced, we've never played such a good team.
"They're the best team we've played in six years without a doubt," said the 56-year-old who took over in 2020.
Le Garrec, 23, will start a game alongside Toulouse's Romain Ntamack at half-back for the first time, with Maxime Lucu the scrum-half option among the substitutes.
Galthie has kept just nine names from the matchday squad from the last time the sides met, when the Springboks won the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal on the way to their fourth Webb Ellis trophy.
Racing 92 centre Gael Fickou, who captained France on the summer tour of New Zealand, continues with the armband in the absence of Dupont.
Fickou, who will win his 97th cap, is partnered in midfield by Toulouse's Pierre-Louis Barassi with Bordeaux-Begles' Yoram Moefana suffering from a shoulder issue.
"He's in form," Galthie said of Fickou.
"He's done his pre-season to be in such good form that we've rarely seen from him.
"It's logical for us to name him captain," he added.
ALLDRITT OUT
However, La Rochelle No 8 Gregory Alldritt, who led the side to March's Six Nations crown, is out of the matchday squad with Lyon's Mickael Guillard preferred in the back row.
"He has played a lot with us and his club over the past four years," Galthie said of Alldritt.
"We also have to rotate to try and develop the team and competition in the team by allowing players to recover, physically and mentally," he added.
Props Baptiste Erdocio and Regis Montagne are in line for just their third test appearances with tightheads Uini Atonio and Tevita Tatafu injured, and loosehead Cyril Baille still making his way back to fitness.
The French Top 14's leading try scorer this season, Louis Bielle-Biarrey starts on the wing with his Bordeaux-Begles teammate Damian Penaud on the other flank.
Toulouse hooker Guillaume Cramont is set for his international debut from the bench having impressed this season for the Top 14 league leaders.
FRANCE TEAM (15-1)
Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Gael Fickou (capt), Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Romain Ntamack, Nolann Le Garrec; Mickael Guillard, Anthony Jelonch, Paul Boudehent; Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament; Regis Montagne, Julien Marchand, Baptiste Erdocio
Replacements: Guillaume Cramont, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri, Hugo Auradou, Romain Taofifenua, Oscar Jegou, Maxime Lucu, Nicolas Depoortere
Coach: Fabien Galthie (FRA)