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

South Africa train on eve of RWC semi-final against England

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 live

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[21 October 2023 20:16 · Luke Baker]

England vs South Africa

Here’s the latest from our reporter Luke Baker at the Stade de France

It’s the perfect start for England. To spring the upset here, they will have to win the inevitable aerial battle and hold their own, or even triumph, at the set-piece. Double tick so far. Elliot Daly got up well to knock back an up-and-under that led to Owen Farrell’s first penalty, while Freddie Steward brilliantly claimed a high ball on the run. Alex Mitchell’s box-kicking has also been solid so far.

Then at the set-piece, Maro Itoje superbly stole a lineout (after another Daly box-kick win) and Steve Borthwick’s decision to start his two best scrummagers at prop (Joe Marler and Dan Cole) to paint a good early picture for referee Ben O’Keeffe is paying dividends. The scrum has been rock solid and led to that second Farrell penalty. A long way to go but it couldn’t have gone better for the underdogs so far.

[21 October 2023 20:14 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Penalty! England 6-0 South Africa (Farrell)

9 min: England work the ball across the field to a central position near the posts, where South African captain Siya Kolisi is too eager at the ruck and he’s penalised for preventing Mitchell from playing the ball.

A simple kick for Farrell, and England are six points in front.

[21 October 2023 20:11 · Lawrence Ostlere]

England 3-0 South Africa

7 min: A brilliant little sequence by England. First Steward wins a high ball, then Daly contests well enough to force a South African spillage at another. Mitchell box-kicks cleverly into the corner with one bounce, where Bongi Mbonambi’s lineout is then not thrown straight: England now have a scrum in a very advanced position down the left wing.

[21 October 2023 20:08 · Lawrence Ostlere]

England 3-0 South Africa

5 min: England pinch the ball from a Springbok lineout, but soon knock on, and South Africa have the put in at the scrum just inside their own half.

[21 October 2023 20:05 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Penalty! England 3-0 South Africa (Farrell)

3 min: A moment later, however, Elliot Daly wins a high contest and flicks it back into England hands. At the subsequent breakdown, lock Franco Moster is penalised for handling the ball of his feet. He thinks it was harsh, clearly.

Owen Farrell lines up the kick, on a slight angle from the left about 30 yards out, and slots the first score of the game.

Owen Farrell kicks England into the lead (AFP via Getty Images)

[21 October 2023 20:02 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Kick-off! England 0-0 South Africa

Ben O’Keeffe peeps his whistle and Owen Farrell switches around his position to hang up a surprise kick down the middle, where it’s knocked on by the charging Joe Marchant. A wasted chance to gain some early territory.

[21 October 2023 20:00 · Lawrence Ostlere]

England v South Africa – Rugby World Cup semi-final

The anthems are done and dusted, and Siya Kolisi gets top marks for belting out the South African edition with gusto, as usual. Here we go, then. Can England really do this? Over the next couple of hours we will find out...

[21 October 2023 19:55 · Lawrence Ostlere]

England v South Africa – Rugby World Cup semi-final

Just a few minutes to kick-off now and the rain is still falling in Paris. The players are about to emerge...

Steve Borthwick barks orders during England forwards' preparations (AFP via Getty Images)

Optimistic England fans in Paris (AFP via Getty Images)

South African players have a team talk before kick-off (AFP via Getty Images)

[21 October 2023 19:49 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Cheslin Kolbe can fire South Africa to victory, says Bryan Habana

Bryan Habana might be about the only man Cheslin Kolbe couldn’t have beaten in a sprint down the touchline. South Africa’s former flying wing says of the modern superstar: “People were saying how small he was 10 years ago. But he was blockbuster on the sevens circuit and now he’s much bigger. His ability to be unrelenting, his ability to pop up everywhere on the field, his work rate, is absolutely phenomenal.”

France's Thomas Ramos has his try conversion kick charged down by South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe (AP)

[21 October 2023 19:44 · Lawrence Ostlere]

The England blueprint to upset South Africa and reach Rugby World Cup final

England have built stable foundations during this tournament and will be hopeful they can cause a shock in this semi-final. So, how do they win this game tonight? Our reporter in Paris, Harry Latham-Coyle, has come up with a three-point plan to bring down the Springboks: