England v South Africa LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 score and result as Springboks snatch win at the death
Steve Borthwick’s England were agonisingly beaten by reigning champions South Africa to a spot in the 2023 World Cup final where the All Blacks await
England suffered defeat in the most agonising circumstances as world champions South Africa emerged victorious at the Stade de France to set up a colossal Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand. Steve Borthwick’s men performed admirably and executed a sublime game plan, backing up their quarter-final victory over Fiji behind the magnificent kicking of Owen Farrell.
But the Springboks showed their resilience and rallied late in the second half, also relying on kicking, with Handre Pollard, on after half an hour following a ruthless move to hook the struggling Manie Libbok, shining and subsequently hitting the match-winning penalty. South Africa scored the only try of the match, with RG Snyman bundling over with 12 minutes remaining, cutting the deficit to just two points and allowing Pollard to snatch victory and ensure a mouthwatering encounter with the All Blacks.
Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi admitted the contest was a tough watch at times: "It was ugly today, really ugly, but that's what champions are made of. England, credit to them, they were written off. They showed who they are. All credit to them, my team, it was ugly, but we found a way to fight and get back into the game. I'm really proud of them, especially the guys who came off the bench.
“England did so well in the kicking game, they outplayed us in that, our discipline was awful. But we showed who we are and what we can do. The All Blacks are playing really well, but we want to thank the South Africans who stuck with us and travelled over, next week will be tough, it'll be special, hopefully we can defend it.” Follow all the reaction and analysis from a pulsating semi-final below.
England vs South Africa
Here’s the latest from our reporter Luke Baker at the Stade de France
Thirty-one minutes in and England have officially forced South Africa to change their gameplan. It’s a fly-half substitution as Manie Libbok exits and the veteran experience of Handre Pollard comes on. This is a tacit acknowledgement from the Springboks that kicking is king and they’re willing to play the game on England’s terms.
Libbok is the far more creative, dynamic No 10, who is explosive from open play and can conjure up moments of magic from nothing, while Pollard is the kicker extraordinaire – more limited around the park but with a reliable boot both from the tee and from open play. The aerial bombardment won’t slow down from here.
England 9-3 South Africa
32 min: The game is paused while Tom Curry is taken off to get a bloody nose cleaned up. Billy Vunipola is sent on as temporary replacement.
Bryan Habana on ITV, on that South African substitution: “I’m hoping it’s not a knee-jerk reaction. I don’t think Libbok is solely responsible. You feel for a guy who’s put his body on the line.”
England 9-3 South Africa
30 min: Jamie George’s long lineout is pinched by a South African hand, but a poor Libbok kick soon hands possession back inside the Springbok half.
And wow, look at this: Libbok is being replaced by Handre Pollard already. South Africa are losing the kicking game and they are not going to wait to act.
England 9-3 South Africa
27 min: England are given yet another penalty, this time after a not-straight South African lineout.
England 9-3 South Africa
25 min: Duane Vermeulen catches a high kick and is immediately impaled by the speeding figure of Elliot Daly. That was plain cruel. England are playing like team possessed.
Penalty! England 9-3 South Africa (Farrell)
22 min: Springbok full-back Willemse catches a long kick but then throws a loose pass into his own 22, which Ben Earl jumps on, and earns England a penalty. South Africa are not quite themselves so far tonight.
Farrell kicks well from a slight angle.
Penalty! England 6-3 South Africa (Libbok)
20 min: South Africa had opted to kick a couple of early penalties to touch and take the lineout, but this time Libbok goes for the posts, from about 35 yards, and he makes it. They finally have some points on the board.
England 6-0 South Africa
18 min: Mitchell catches a high ball expertly and box-kicks down the right touchline. Libbok responds with a high ball of his own, and although a backtracking Daly catches it for England, South Africa follow in hard and win a penalty at the breakdown as he fails to release.
England 6-0 South Africa
15 min: A huge tackle by George Martin near England’s try line forces Franco Mostert to drop the ball. England have the scrum, and they celebrate like they’ve scored a try. They win a penalty at the scrum too, after the Springboks don’t push straight.
England 6-0 South Africa
14 min: Courtney Lawes is penalised for bringing down a maul and South Africa use the penalty to kick to the corner. England, though, are doing a brilliant job of frustrating the Springboks, and when they win the next penalty, a scrap breaks out between just about every player on the pitch. O’Keeffe tells off the captains.
Penalty to South Africa, against Manu Tuilagi, who is accused of starting all that, so England lose their advantage.
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