UPDATE 2-Rugby-France match Springboks' power to claim 20-13 win

* French surge back after tourists start strongly

* South Africa still without a win in France since 1997 (Adds quotes)

By Jean-Paul Couret

TOULOUSE, Nov 13 (Reuters) - France matched the physical power of South Africa to secure an entertaining 20-13 win on Friday and claim their fourth successive home victory over the world champions.

Helped by a stiff wind, South Africa were leading 13-11 at halftime thanks to a soft try scored by captain and prop John Smit, with flyhalf Morne Steyn adding the conversion, a penalty and a drop goal.

However, the Boks struggled in the second half with the breeze in their face and paid the price for having Steyn and number eight Ryan Kankowksi sin-binned.

France were determined to add the scalp of the world champions to that of New Zealand after winning there in June and did so with a try by wing Vincent Clerc, four penalties from scrumhalf Julien Dupuy and one by his replacement Morgan Parra.

"It was really a very good evening. The most satisfying thing was our control of the game, physically and tactically," France coach Marc Lievremont told a news conference.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers added: "The French were really on top of the game. They're the guys who deserved to win."

PHYSICAL BATTLE

Springobks vice-captain Victor Matfield paid tribute to the physical strength of the French forwards.

"Physicality is part of the game and most of the time the guys who win the physical battle win the game. They had more intensity than us. They were just quicker by one second in everything," he said.

"We always knew it was going to be tough coming to France where we haven't won for 12, 13 years. We knew they were very passionate at home. They came out firing.

The tactics of the two teams were obvious from the start.

The Springboks were to stick to the game that led them to their World Cup triumph and the last Tri-Nations title with Steyn and scrumhalf Fourie du Preez launching a barrage of up-and-unders for their massive forwards to charge on to.