| France: (22) 28 |
| Tries: Baille 2, Mauvaka Cons: Ramos 2 Pens: Ramos 2 |
| South Africa: (19) 29 |
| Tries: Arendse, De Allende, Kolbe, Etzebeth Cons: Libbok 2, Pollard Pen: Pollard |
South Africa kept the defence of their title alive with a thrilling quarter-final victory over France in one of the greatest matches in World Cup history.
Eben Etzebeth’s powerful surge saw the Springboks come from behind to end France’s 18-game winning run on home soil and book a semi-final with England in a repeat of the 2019 final.
Both sides scored three tries in a pulsating first-half at Stade de France before a Thomas Ramos penalty handed the hosts a narrow lead at the interval.
Ramos added another three points as France, led by their returning talisman Antoine Dupont, looked to wrestle momentum from the defending champions.
But Etzebeth’s try overturned the deficit before Handre Pollard’s huge penalty from inside his own half proved to be decisive.
Another Ramos penalty brought France to within a single point, to set-up a thrilling finale at the same venue that witnessed another last-eight thriller between New Zealand and Ireland just 24 hours earlier.
France looked to keep the ball alive late on, but as it spilled forward and Kurt Lee-Arendse pumped it into the stands, the French challenge ended as the Boks go on.
More to follow.
Line-ups
France: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Baille, Mauvaka, Atonio, Woki, Flament, Jelonch, Ollivon, Alldritt.
Replacements: Bourgarit, Wardi, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Cros, Macalou, Lucu, Moefana.
South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, Reinach; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Koch, Snyman, Smith, De Klerk, Pollard, Le Roux.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
