England 15 South Africa 16
Here is Gerry Thornley’s match report:
“A weary South Africa, without ever scaling the heights they did in beating France a week ago simply because it took so much out of them, had to draw deep on their vast reserves of character and belief to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in reaching another final.
They earned a chance to become only the second back-to-back champions and earn a tilt at fellow three-time champions New Zealand next Saturday night despite trailing from the third to the 78th minute, thanks to a try from Munster lock RG Snyman and then both a nerveless conversion and unerring, 78th minute, 50-metre penalty by Handre Pollard.”
That’s all from me, good night!
79 mins: South Africa just need to kill the game now. Farrell’s kick goes slightly deep. Ref tells Springboks to use the ball and De Klerk kicks to touch. They play a long lineout into midfield and it’s all on this attack.
Into the fifth phase and they’re not making any ground. Into the 80th minute and phases are into double figures, it’s been knocked forward and South Africa have won! What a comeback, they’ve snatched it at the death. A scuffle breaks out between the players, an unsavoury end.
FULL-TIME: England 15 South Africa 16
The winning kick by Pollard. Brilliant:
Pollard wins man of the match, showed his quality and experience after coming on after 30 minutes for Libbok.
“It’s unbelievable, a lot of relief. It’s frustrating we weren’t at our best. Fair play to England, they put us under pressure. We stuck to our plan, but we didn’t execute it how we liked. Credit to the scrum and the big moment, but that’s what you play for.”
Harsh on England that one, but without getting particularly close to scoring a try they can’t overly complain. South Africa’s bench made a difference.
76 mins: A scrum penalty for the Springboks! Will they go for goal? From about the halfway line. They do, and it’s all up to Pollard. Some 49 metres out. Right through the middle of posts! South Africa lead!
73 mins: Can England hold on? Some kicking back and forth falls England’s way around midfield. A tense finish to this one. Scrum to South Africa. Pollard kicks and Steward, who had a good game so far, kicks it high up in the air then knocks it on. Springboks gain a lot of ground, but game moving slowly and time running out.
68 mins: The ball has been slippy due to the rain and South Africa win another scrum and penalty, Pollard completely misplaces a pass but back for the penalty and another lineout. South Africa must score as they’re two scores behind. Curry looks like he’s been through the wars and comes off for Vunipola.
TRY FOR SOUTH AFRICA! Successful lineout and finally some quick ball by South Africa, Fourie charges and nearly gets there, then quick pass by de Klerk and Munster man Snyman scores. Interesting finish ahead. Pollard converts.
65 mins: South Africa starting to make an impact in the scrum. Pollard kicks the penalty to touch. But they lose the lineout once again! So many mistakes. England kick it and South Africa go again but Jonny May makes a tackle and turns it over. Massive defence from England.
Here was the key drop goal:
59 mins: Farrell with another brilliant kick, low and into the corner under pressure and again Arendse drops the ball and concedes a scrum near the line. But South Africa win the scrum and survive.
56 mins: Another mistake by South Africa, Kriel knocks on after strong England defence. They’re in a hole here, what can they do?
53 mins: Finally some inspiration from South Africa. Massive scrum turns over England, then an opening on the wing, they kick into space and Le Roux kicks along the ground but past the try line and out of play.
England kick it and win the ball around midfield. Daly with a big tackle and counter ruck then the ball comes to Farrell and hits a massive drop goal from miles out for a big three points. A nine-point lead for England would you believe it?
50 mins: Both teams making mistakes and not much happening here, just kicking back and forth without much pattern. A poor spectacle. South Africa changing up the team completely, Kolisi another one off.
47 mins: Wow another big call as Etzebeth comes off. Not much rugby being played with the ball in hand here, which suits England.
43 mins: Another marginal call, penalty to England. De Klerk on for South Africa as they try to change it up. Kicking, kicking and more kicking. A very clever one though by Owen Farrell, a grubber kick down the line and Willemse slips and bring it out of play. Attacking lineout ahead. Willemse then hooked off too for Le Roux. England blow the chance though, crooked throw by George and they’re penalised.
HALF-TIME: England 12 South Africa 6
Well then. Poor game, like a different sport to last week’s thrillers but in wet conditions England’s kicking game and strong line speed is calling South Africa all sorts of problems. South Africa have been caught playing England’s game and are making errors all over. They need a serious improvement in the second half.
38 mins: England’s lineout has been very good so far. Mitchell kicks in the air, Kolbe catches it but England win penalty for apparent obstruction. Odd call there by the referee, and Farrell going for the posts. It’s a tough kick but Farrell scores down the middle of the posts. Brilliant kicking so far and a six point lead!
35 mins: On comes Vunipola for Curry who is injured. Unfortunately he drops the ball in his first contribution as South Africa attack, England concede penalty for offside. Springboks can’t get any further than five metres out and it’s back for the penalty. Pollard’s first chance of the game and he scores from in front of the posts.
30 mins: Libbok is off already. Pollard comes on after 30 minutes. Maybe they’re setting it up for a kicking shootout. South Africa have been poor so far, easily their worst performance of the tournament.
27 mins: Yet again Lawes is great on the ground to turn over South Africa after Arendse finally broke through. Marler is penalised though and Libbok kicks to touch... but again South Africa are penalised. Remarkable, third failed lineout already, two where hooker Mbonambi is at fault.
24 mins: England are up for this. Lawes heroically takes a breaking ball after Steward tackles Willemse about 22 metres out and England light up in the attack. They win a penalty, Farrell goes for a kick to the wing but overhits to Daly. England choose the posts again, and Farrell scores again!
20 mins: South Africa win a penalty, Owen Farrell is not impressed, and they opt for the posts. It’s up to Libbok, who has hardly been comfortable off the tee this tournament so far... but he nails it right down the middle! That will give him confidence.
18 mins: Another penalty for South Africa, they go to the corner, lineout and then maul. Five metres out. And England tackle strong, Joe Marler and it’s knocked on. England scrum and then win a penalty from the scrum. Not going to plan for the Springboks at all so far.
17 mins: South Africa win a penalty and kick to the corner. England’s defence looking strong and aggressive and the maul goes nowhere and England turn it over again! Springboks penalised and there’s a scuffle. Real niggly match so far and that suits England perfectly.
13 mins: England competing well so far, South Africa haven’t really done anything of note so far, can’t get their attack going. England kicking at every opportunity, have barely run the ball yet.
11 mins: England within five metres of the line after winning the scrum. South Africa are penalised yet again as they try to win the ball. Some favourable calls to England so far. Kolisi penalised. In front of the posts and Farrell kicks it over! Six-point lead for England.
8 mins: England dominating the ball in the air so far, great catch by Steward. Then Mitchell kicks into the corner and South Africa blow another lineout with a bad throw by Mbonambi, penalised for not throwing straight.
5 mins: England going for a kicking game so far unsurprisingly. Mitchell kicks this time high in the air and Daly nearly wins it again. It’s a lineout and Itoje wins it. Early big moment by the big man. Another up and under and it’s a scrum for a knock on. Scrum to South Africa.
2 mins: Good start by England with an early penalty after Daly knocked back a high ball and then South Africa went for a turnover but were penalised by referee Ben O’Keeffe. Owen Farrell goes for the kick and he scores! England lead.
The teams come out on the field.
The starting teams again:
ENGLAND: F Steward; J May, J Marchant, M Tuilagi, E Daly; O Farrell (capt), A Mitchell; J Marler, J George, D Cole; M Itoje, G Martin; C Lawes, T Curry, B Earl.
SOUTH AFRICA: D Willemse; K-L Arendse, J Kriel, D de Allende, C Kolbe; M Libbok, C Reinach; S Kitshoff, B Mbonambi, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, F Mostert; S Kolisi (capt), P-S Du Toit, D Vermeulen.
Gerry Thornley wrote about England head coach Steve Borthwick in his weekly newsletter the Counter Ruck on Friday.
“It’s probably the biggest free shot England have ever had in a semi-final. Borthwick, Farrell, Maro Itoje, Marchand and Earl were also all on point in batting away any notions of revenge, given Saturday night’s semi-final at the Stade de France against South Africa is a reprise of the final four years ago.
This will be England’s sixth World Cup semi-final, and they’ve won four of the previous five before losing the final in 1991, 2007 and 2019, while winning it in 2003. Maybe some countries are just a little more blase about playing in World Cup semi-finals than others, especially those who’ve never been in one.
Oh well.”
One of the key battles tonight will be Maro Itoje against Eben Etzebeth in the second row. Itoje was the star of English rugby a few years ago, but had dropped off a bit in form, although it is picking up in this tournament. He faces the man mountain of Etzebeth, a symbol of South Africa’s physicality at 2.03 metres tall.
“It’s neither here nor there for me,” said the English lock before the match, who is focused on his own game. “Obviously he’s a good player. They have four very good second rows. For me it’s about playing the type of game I want to play, playing the type of rugby that I know I can play as an individual and for the whole forward pack it’s about presenting the best of ourselves.”
[ England’s Maro Itoje focused on his own game ahead of battle with Eben EtzebethOpens in new window ]
England must match physical South Africa but rugby gravity is hard to defy, writes Gerry Thornley in his preview of tonight’s match. He says Owen Farrell and his team-mates can make this semi-final closer than many expect; however, the Boks are number one for a reason.
“Everyone knows South Africa have few weaknesses and enviable squad depth, but only 15 players can be on the field at any one time. And history is littered with occasions when sides forced to work as hard as the Boks did against France struggle to reach the same pitch the next week, particularly with a six-day turnaround.
“No one, even so, is suggesting it will be remotely easy. If Eben Etzebeth does not get you, one of their pair of gifted wingers, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, probably will. Look down the two teamsheets and the horsepower at the Boks’ disposal, both in their starting XV and on the bench, is as daunting as ever”
[ England must match physical South Africa but rugby gravity is hard to defyOpens in new window ]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the second Rugby World Cup semi-final between England and South Africa. New Zealand will face the winner of this one after a dominant victory over Argentina last night, and let’s hope this one is a bit closer than that one. England will have to up their level though for that to happen against the defending champions and world number one team. The Springboks beat the hosts France in the quarter-finals by a single point in a stunning high-intensity game.
England have not played anywhere near that quality under Steve Borthwick yet but his cautious percentage game has been reasonably successful in the tournament so far, albeit with a favourable draw. They are the only team left in the tournament unbeaten to their credit. Here are the teams for tonight’s game:
ENGLAND: F Steward; J May, J Marchant, M Tuilagi, E Daly; O Farrell (capt), A Mitchell; J Marler, J George, D Cole; M Itoje, G Martin; C Lawes, T Curry, B Earl.
Replacements: T Dan, E Genge, K Sinckler, O Chessum, B Vunipola, D Care, G Ford, O Lawrence.
SOUTH AFRICA: D Willemse; K-L Arendse, J Kriel, D de Allende, C Kolbe; M Libbok, C Reinach; S Kitshoff, B Mbonambi, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, F Mostert; S Kolisi (capt), P-S Du Toit, D Vermeulen.
Replacements: D Fourie, O Nche, V Koch, RG Snyman, K Smith, F de Klerk, H Pollard, W Le Roux.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ).
Kick off is at 8pm at the Stade de France in Paris.
