France v South Africa LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result from thriller as England learn semi-final opponent
France 28-29 South Africa: The Springboks will play England in the World Cup semi-finals after winning an epic clash against the hosts in Paris
England will play South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals after the Springboks defeated hosts France in an epic clash in Paris.
Defending champions South Africa edged a titanic contest 29-28, with Eben Etzebeth’s powerful try in the 67th minute earning the Springboks victory in a match that delivered drama and intensity of the highest order.
Handre Pollard then extended South Africa’s lead with a penalty and although Thomas Ramos cut their lead back to one point, the holders broke France hearts as they held on to a thrilling victory.
The first half will go down as one of the greatest ever seen, with three tries apiece amid an unbelievable display of pace, physicality and skill from both sides.
But it was the Springboks who held their nerve in what was a battle for the ages, and they will now play England next Saturday after they edged Fiji in another dramatic quarter-final contest.
Follow all the reaction from Paris after South Africa knocked the hosts out of the Rugby World Cup
World Cup semi-finals all set
So, with that result, we have our four semi-finalists.
Argentina will face New Zealand while England will take on South Africa.
FULL-TIME: France 28-29 South Africa
A World Cup classic.
FULL-TIME: France 28-29 South Africa
The barest of margins but the all-important try came via the bulldozing run of Eben Etzebeth:
FULL-TIME: France 28-29 South Africa
What an advert for Test match rugby those set of quarter-finals were.
That game, in particular, had it all and it’s the South Africans who have just edged it in the end and they will prove an almighty test for England next weekend.
FULL-TIME: France 28-29 South Africa
South Africa hold on!
Their defence holds firm and as the ball drops loose, it’s thumped into the stands and the host nation are out.
What a performance from the defending champions who repelled that early electric start from France and eeked out a narrow win in the second half thanks to Etzebeth’s try and Pollard’s penalty.
France 28-29 South Africa
80 mins: Into the red and on France come. One point separates the sides but the hosts have to be perfect.
France 28-29 South Africa
79 mins: A huge break from Penaud as they storm up the pitch from their own scrum inside their 22. But now a massive turnover from South Africa!
Just one minute to go as they kick it long.
France 28-29 South Africa
78 mins: Plenty of pressure from South Africa on the French tryline as the scrum is reset a number of times. Huge moments coming up now for both sides.
France 28-29 South Africa
74 mins: Kolbe tries his luck with a surprise drop-goal attempt but it goes wide.
A nervy final six minutes awaits...
PENALTY! France 28-29 South Africa (Ramos, 72 mins)
That four-point lead didn’t last long. France hit back straight away after a divine kick catches out the Springboks’ blitz defence again. Jalibert gathers the ball beautifully and from their the home side win a penalty.
The points are taken and we are back to a one-point game.
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