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
PENALTY MISSED! France 7-7 South Africa
16 mins: A chance for Ramos to push France into the lead again but his penalty attempt just comes up short from long range. South Africa get themselves in a slight spot of bother as they look to clear but eventually get the ball up the pitch.
France 7-7 South Africa
12 mins: A scrum for the first time this game and a chance for both sides and the fans inside the stadium to breathe. A breathless first dozen minutes.
TRY! France 7-7 South Africa (Arendse, 8 mins)
What a response! A staggering start to this game as Arendse takes advantage of Fickou’s dropped catch to storm down the line and go over in the right corner.
Libbok adds the extras superbly and somehow, South Africa find themselves level having almost conceded a second try just moments earlier.
France 7-0 South Africa
7 mins: The Springboks are stunned as France pile on wave after wave of pressure. A ferocious start from the hosts as Danty storms through the middle of the pitch. Fickou goes close shortly after in the corner before Etzebeth somehow intercepts a pass with France seemingly destined to score again.
Superb from the South African lock.
TRY! France 7-0 South Africa (Baille, 4 mins)
What a start from France!
From the lineout, the hosts are relentless with their pressure and ball speed as they get up to the tryline straight away. A few phases later and Baille has the try as the prop touches down in the corner.
Ramos adds the extras from the far corner. Superb kick.
France 0-0 South Africa
2 mins: An electric start from the hosts who show all their expertise with their feet and almost score within the opening two minutes. An initial chip over the top is reclaimed by Jalibert before Bielle-Biarrey comes inches away from touching down in the corner.
KICK-OFF! France 0-0 South Africa
Both anthems are thundered out by the respective teams and the stage is set in the Stade de France.
South Africa, now, get us under way in this final World Cup quarter-final.
The players emerge
Kolisi and Dupont lead their teams to the front of the tunnel and out they come now to a rapturous reception in Paris.
What an atmosphere.
Kick-off fast approaching
We’ve already been served up three absolute corkers this weekend in the quarter-finals. Can we go out with a bang?
The atmosphere is brewing nicely in the Stade de France as we edge closer to kick-off. Just over ten minutes to go now...
France and South Africa prepare to go to ‘dark place’ to keep World Cup dream alive
It was Steven Kitshoff who delivered the most chilling warning of what to expect at the Stade de France this evening. “You’re going to have to go to a dark place quite early in this game,” he grimaced.
And as the flame-haired South African prop continued, the lengths to which his Springbok counterparts and their French foes might have to go in order to reach a Rugby World Cup semi-final were laid out even more clearly. “Because of where the physicality is going to be, it might get to a point where some players haven’t been and we will see if both teams are willing to go to that dark spot,” he concluded ominously.
South Africa’s 13-8 group-stage defeat to Ireland has been the most compellingly physical match of the tournament so far. The No 1 and No 2-ranked sides knocked seven bells out of each other in a vintage display of pure Test match rugby, but Sunday’s quarter-final might just top it.
The Springboks are renowned for their intensity and sanctioned brutality on the rugby field – it has long been their calling card. Opposition used to try to out-think or go round, rather than through, them and, while this sometimes worked, the South Africans often prevailed. See the 1995, 2007 and 2019 World Cups for examples. Now, the best teams seem to have tacitly acknowledged that you need to physically match, or even bully, them as Ireland so brilliantly did last month.
With kick-off fast approaching, read the full preview of today’s game from our reporter Luke Baker, in Paris:
France and South Africa prepare to go to ‘dark place’ to keep World Cup dream alive
Antoine Dupont returns for Les Bleus and is prepared ‘to suffer’ for quarter-final glory against the physical Springboks
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