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.
Freddie Steward key to England’s hopes
There’s a lot of focus on Freddie Steward tonight, who has come back in at full-back specifically to deal with South Africa’s high balls and hit back with kicking bombs of his own.
Former Springboks captain John Smit goes as far as to predict kicking will decide this match, saying: “My gut tells me that the team who has a better kicking game is going to go on to final.”
England vs South Africa
Here’s the latest from our reporter Luke Baker at the Stade de France
After the shellacking that the England men’s cricket team received at the hands of South Africa earlier today, it’s up to the men’s rugby side to restore some national pride against the same opponents. Having come through the weaker side of the draw and, frankly, being an objectively inferior team, they’re big underdogs for this semi-final though. The Springboks have been desperate to play down their favourites tag this week, however. Mind games? Perhaps. But they’re keen not to underestimate Steve Borthwick’s men, who can theoretically play with the freedom of low expectation.
It’s still raining here in Paris and although the downpour has eased somewhat, the fact that both sides have spent a lot of their pre-match warm-up practising box kicks, lineouts and carries in the tight probably tells its own story. Expect an aerial bombardment and ‘up the jumper’ rugby with expansive, free-flowing ambition kept to a minimum.
England v South Africa line-ups
A reminder of the line-ups tonight. England have made three changes from their narrow semi-final win over Fiji, with Steward, Marler and Martin coming into the side. South Africa stay the same after that epic win over France.
England XV: 15. Freddie Steward, 14. Jonny May, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Elliot Daly, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Alex Mitchell; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Jamie George, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Martin, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Ben Earl.
Replacements: 16. Theo Dan, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Ollie Chessum, 20. Billy Vunipola, 21. Danny Care, 22. George Ford, 23. Ollie Lawrence.
South Africa XV: 15-Damian Willemse, 14-Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Cheslin Kolbe, 10-Manie Libbok, 9-Cobus Reinach; 1-Steven Kitshoff, 2-Bongi Mbonambi, 3-Frans Malherbe, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 5-Franco Mostert, 6-Siya Kolisi, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8-Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: 16-Deon Fourie, 17-Ox Nche, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Kwagga Smith, 21-Faf de Klerk, 22-Handre Pollard, 23-Willie Le Roux.
Woodward hails Charlton after death aged 86
Sir Clive Woodward pays tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, who died earlier today aged 86.
“A wonderful wonderful guy,” says Woodward, who watched England win the 1966 World Cup aged 10. “It’s not just a big loss to football but for world sport.”
More on Bobby Charlton’s life and legacy:
Sir Bobby Charlton turned tragedy into triumph with unique style and perseverance
The England and Manchester United legend, who insisted surviving the Munich air disaster in 1958 was a ‘miracle’, overcame tragedy to win the European Cup and World Cup
England need to play the game of their lives, says Jonny Wilkinson
Jonny Wilkinson knows a thing or two about winning a World Cup semi-final, and he’s called on England to produce the game of their lives.
“The Sprinboks are so intense, it comes in waves,” he says on ITV. “England need to match that intensity. They need to jump up quickest after every tackle, attack every single ruck, challenge for every high ball like your life depends on it. I’m not asking for much…”
England v South Africa – Rugby World Cup semi-final
The players have been out on the pitch getting a sense of the stage for tonight’s showdown as the atmosphere begins to build at the Stade de France.
South Africa captain Kolisi talks up role of giant lock 'enforcer’
Eben Etzebeth’s influence on and off the field for South Africa is likely to be a key factor in tonight’s Rugby World Cup semi-final, as it proved last weekend when the Springboks eliminated France in the last eight.
The imposing lock, whose gladiatorial style has made him first choice in the Springbok second row for more than a decade, turned in a match-winning performance in the 29-28 victory over France and is his team’s mainstay, according to captain Siya Kolisi.
“He is the enforcer, the guy who makes sure the discipline is good amongst the team and he is always there for anyone who needs help,” Kolisi said. “He will fight through anything to put on that green and gold jersey. He is the most experienced guy in the team. He will fight through injury and he inspires all of us.”
Etzebeth, who has 117 caps and skippered the Boks in Kolisi’s injury-enforced absence earlier this year, overcame an early tournament shoulder scare to turn in an inspired performance in last Saturday’s narrow quarter-final win over France, even though he was sin-binned near half-time.
”He was special last week, He always gives 100 per cent for the team, at training, how he sees the game, his influence among the group,“ Kolisi continued. ”When he got that yellow card, I know him, he would want to pay back to the team. He was huge last week. A lot of players did well but he was really amazing.”
The two sides of Rassie Erasmus, the puppet master pulling South Africa’s strings at Rugby World Cup
The Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus – who led South Africa to victory at the last World Cup as head coach – has been trying some mindgames this week, by talking up England’s threat and then trying to predict the entire English XV (something he didn’t get particularly close with, as it turns out).
Here’s a closer look at South Africa’s puppet master:
The two sides of Rassie Erasmus, the puppet master pulling South Africa’s strings
Director of rugby Erasmus again has his team on the brink of World Cup glory after coaching them to victory in 2019
How to watch England v South Africa tonight
If you want to watch the match tonight on TV in the UK – while following along to The Independent’s live coverage, obviously – then you can tune in live on ITV1, where coverage begins at 7.15pm BST ahead of the 8pm kick-off. Registered users can also stream the match for free online on ITVX via the website and app.
Sinfield calls on England to ‘rip into South Africa'
Another England coach, Kevin Sinfield, has demanded England’s players empty the tanks tonight to ensure they are not left with lifelong regrets.
For eight of the starting XV it is the chance to avenge their defeat to the Springboks in the 2019 final when the expectations generated by a thumping victory over New Zealand a round earlier were ground into the Yokohama Stadium turf.
Steve Borthwick’s England were given little hope of challenging for South Africa’s crown due a dismal series of warm-up fixtures which extended their losing run to five defeats in six Tests, yet they are the only unbeaten side left in the tournament.
Defence coach Sinfield sees the benefit of continuing to confront adversity head on at the Stade de France.
“I am certainly not overwhelmed. I understand the challenge in front of us,” the English rugby league great said. “But I don’t mind being backed into a corner, don’t mind being written off, don’t mind being slammed, don’t mind being in the thick of a pretty tough circumstance.
“I just think that we’re in a World Cup semi-final, there is a lot of good in us, there are a lot of things to be excited about. Coming up against South Africa will let us know where we’re at. But for our players, they are so excited to be out there. Rewind eight weeks to the end of August and it was pretty grim for us, but we want them to absolutely rip into it on Saturday night.
“We want them to give everything they’ve got, otherwise you end up with a load of regrets for the rest of your life. We are really looking forward to this - we are coming up against the best team in the world at the weekend.”
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