France comprehensively outmuscled world champions South Africa 20-13 to continue their 12-year home run of victories over the recently crowned Tri-Nations winners.

The French win at the Municipal Stadium in Toulouse was based on a steely performance by the forwards, notably in the scrum and at the breakdown, that will have their Six Nations opponents scrabbling for their video analysis.

The Springboks repeatedly paid the price for ill-discipline, Morne Steyn and Ryan Kankowski both sin-binned as referee Wayne Barnes cracked down on collapsing the rolling maul and rucks.

Julien Dupuy kicked four penalties from six, and Morgan Parra one, with wing Vincent Clerc bagging a try for the home side while Morne Steyn hit a penalty and drop-goal as well as converting an opportunist's try by captain John Smit.

"Everyone said you can't play the Boks at their own game, in the same physical way," said France coach Marc Lievremont.

"But we did. We won the contest and had the extra physical edge to win the game. It's very satisfying."

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers added: "You can't play the game without the ball.

"They won the contest on the floor and we lost too much ball in contact. They were the strongest side."

The French matched the physicality offered by the Springboks in the opening quarter, young centre pairing Yann David and Maxime Mermoz causing the visiting midfield some problems, with flanker Imanol Harinordoquy and hooker William Servat prominent around the field.