In the latest part of his tribute to France's historic trip to South Africa in 1958, John Palfrey recounts the build-up to the crucial second Test.

After suffering successive defeats to Western Province, Boland and South West District, and then the Junior Springboks, the French were under a great deal of pressure to get the tour back on track.

And they did just that with two hard-fought victories in a week.

The first of those came against a Border, Eastern Province and North-Eastern Districts side in East London with the visitors winning 16-9 and outscoring their hosts four tries to one.

Scrum-half Pierre Danos had an outstanding game but his dazzling performance was overshadowed by a bad knee injury suffered by flanker Michel Celaya that put him in doubt for the crucial second Test.

France's last outing before the eagerly-awaited clash with the Springboks came on 9 August in Durban where they took on South African Universities.

Another strong opening saw France build an 18-5 half-time lead and for the first time on the tour their opponents suffered an injury blow.

Centre Wilf Rosenberg was forced from the field and with the agreement of French captain Lucien Mias was replaced by Holtzausen.

The French raised their game in the second period with the forwards dominating their opponents and the backs making the best of the ball.

As a result they recorded a comprehensive 32-16 victory that included six tries.

And so the stage was set for the second Test and the final game of the tour.

France had the opportunity to record an historic series triumph on South African soil and succeed where every other nation had failed.

With a record of four victories, two draws and three defeats the French team had at least done much better than the President of the French Federation had predicted.

"Do your best, give a good image of the French rugby and try to win one or two games," he had said on the eve of the tour.

But something was happening, French rugby was gaining increasing respect, and this Tour, whatever the result of the second Test match, would stand forever as a founding moment.

Released in 2007, the documentary "Le Grand Combat du XV de France", inspired by Denis Lalanne's book and directed by Serge Tignères, gives a good idea of how this Tour was not only a sporting success, but a story of human endeavour, a contest between a few brave men and a proud rugby nation.

Tour Matches:

Saturday 12 July, Salisbury: Rhodesia. Won 19-0
Wednesday 16 July, Pretoria: Northern and Western Transvaal. Lost 18-19
Saturday 19 July, Springs: Eastern Transvaal, Natal and Transvaal. Won 16-14
Tuesday 22 July, Bloemfontein: Orange Free State, Griqualand West and South West Africa. Draw 11-11
Saturday 26 July, Capetown: South Africa (1st Test). Draw 3-3
Wednesday 30 July, Wellington: Western Province, Boland and South West Districts. Lost 38-8
Saturday 2 August, Port-Elizabeth: Juniors Springboks. Lost 9-5
Wednesday 6 August, East-London: Border, Eastern Province and North-Eastern Districts. Won 16-9
Saturday 9 August, Durban: South African Universities. Won 32-16
Saturday 16 August, Johannesburg : South Africa (2nd Test)

Click here to read Part One - France emerge as a major force in world rugby

Click here to read Part Two - French tourists begin in style

Click here to read Part Three - French continue to make their mark

Click here to read Part Four - France and Boks battle to a draw

Click here to read Part Five - France suffer on and off the field

Click here for full details of the 1958 Test series between South Africa and France with ScrumStats