South Africa beat France to show why they are champions and set up semi-final against England
France 28-29 South Africa
STADE DE FRANCE — World Cup hosts France were knocked out in a quarter-final for the ages, reigning champions South Africa prevailing 29-28 on Sunday night.
The St Denis stadium was treated to a classic equalling the enthralling contest between Ireland and New Zealand the night before, the two sides playing at a frantic pace. A vocal and partisan Parisian crowd was on referee Ben O’Keeffe from the off, heckling and whistling at every decision in favour of the Springboks from minute one.
Prop Cyrill Baille sent an enormous roar around the ground when he touched down in the fourth minute, courtesy of slick hands by wing Damian Penaud, taking the tackle to allow him to score.
But it wasn’t long before the Springboks fought back, Kurt-Lee Arendse finishing to silence them once again. Not for long though. Manie Libbok’s conversion attempt was loudly whistled.
The first half was a showcase of what kicking as an attacking strategy can be at its best.
Chaosball reigned supreme as France captain Antoine Dupont dinked clever little box kicks into space and Springbok fly-half Libbok pumped kicks high for Cheslin Kolbe to chase.
As a result the tries fell like rain as both sides struggled to cover the backfield and the front defensive line effectively in the face of such instinctive kicking and frightening offload rugby at such a speed.
Scores came in the 18th for Damian de Allende for the Boks, Peato Mauvaka hitting back four minutes later, Kolbe returning four minutes after that, then Baille got his second for the hosts.
It was rugby played at an attractive, blistering pace – nearly as fast as Kolbe was to charge down Thomas Ramos’ conversion, denying two crucial points.
Just before half-time South Africa second row Eben Etzebeth was sent to the sin bin for head on head contact with Uini Atonio, a yellow referred to the TMO bunker. The crowd were happy to see him go after his try-saving outstretched arm was ruled to have deliberately knocked the ball backwards, not forwards.
On the 45th minute at 22-19 down, South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus had seen enough, switching the half-backs. Libbok and Cobus Reinach were taken off for Handré Pollard and Faf de Klerk respectively.
Both sides’ team talks evidently bore fruit as defences adapted to the speed, the only scores until Etzebeth drove over in the 67th minute being two penalties from the boot of Ramos. Pollard’s conversion, and halfway line penalty a few minutes later made it 25-29 to the Boks with 10 minutes to play. Ramos kicked another to make it 28-29 with eight minutes to go.
Hearts stopped as the French worked upfield, every line break met with a roar. As the clock ticked over the 80 minute mark the Stade rose to its feet in expectation and desperation. But then a knock-on from a maul. And that was that, the hosts and pretenders for the throne out.
For South Africa, England await thanks to this gruelling victory. On tonight’s showing it is hard to believe that Steve Borthwick’s side represent a more formidable opponent.
