England 15-16 South Africa: Springboks see off brave England to set up World Cup final showdown with New Zealand
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Updated 21/10/2023 at 23:24 GMT
South Africa will face New Zealand in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final after snatching a dramatic late win over England in their semi-final. Despite trailing for the majority of a tense clash at the Stade de France, a late Handre Pollard penalty saw the defending champions reach the final where they will look to win the competition for the fourth time.
Highlights as South Africa beat England in semi-finals of Rugby World Cup
South Africa led for a mere two and a half minutes in Paris but closed out the match perfectly to win their Rugby World Cup semi-final with a 16-15 victory over England.
A try from RG Snyman bolstered their score line before a penalty from Handre Pollard won the match in the dying minutes.
England had the perfect start in Paris as Owen Farrell put them on the scoreboard in the second minute.
The captain added a second in the 10th minute after Alex Mitchell won the penalty, this time from only nine metres out. After the opening ten minutes Steve Borthwick’s side had been the dominant team at the Stade de France and fullback Freddie Steward successfully weathered the South Africa aerial pressure.
South Africa moved within metres of the line, but a well-worked tackle from George Martin dislodged the ball from Franco Mostert's hand and put England back in the driving seat.
Despite his usual calm head when kicking England’s points, a moment of hotheadedness from Farrell when disagreeing with a call from the referee saw England marched back a further 10 metres after giving away a penalty.
Manie Libbok ultimately slotted the kick to put the Springboks within three points. Farrell redeemed himself three minutes later as he kicked a 30-metre penalty to extended their lead to 9-3. Libbok was brutally hooked off the pitch after just over half an hour to be replaced by Leicester Tigers’ Pollard, who scored 22 of South Africa’s points in the RWC final in 2019.
Pollard had an immediate impact and pulled South Africa within three points minutes later. Just before half-time Farrell added a third to make the score 12-6 at the break.
After a scoreless opening 10 minutes of the second half, Farrell scored a drop goal in what would be England’s final points of the World Cup. South Africa’s replacements played a key part in their second-half comeback, and it was Snyman who scored the try, converted by Pollard, to put them within two points.
England went in to defend a maul, but Snyman caught them unaware to topple over the line solo with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The Springboks continued to pile on the pressure in the scrum and eventually earned a penalty. Up stepped Pollard who put in a thumping kick from 49 metres out that sailed through the posts to put them ahead by 16-15.
They kept their lead for the remaining two and a half minutes, and it was the scrum that allowed South Africa to retain their one-point advantage. A lost ball forward from England gave South Africa the match-ending penalty on the stroke of full-time for a hard-fought win.
South Africa go on to face New Zealand in the final next Saturday, while England will play Argentina in the third/fourth placed playoff on Friday.
Talking point - Handre Pollard steps up to send South Africa to the World Cup final
Fly-half Handre Pollard came off the bench in the 31st minute to replace Manie Libbok who was brutally hooked after a poor start from South Africa. Pollard kicked a penalty within minutes of getting his semi-final underway. He went on to add a vital conversion to move within two points with 10 minutes remaining. The Leicester Tigers fly-half kicked the match-winning penalty in the 78th minute to earn South Africa a place in the World Cup final.
Player of the match - Handre Pollard
Pollard changed the trajectory of South Africa's semi-final not only with his all-important kicks, but additionally with his game management. Pollard was called up to the RWC squad on the 18th of September after missing out on initial selection, but has proven why he continues to be a key asset to the team.
Player ratings
England XV: Steward 8, May 7, Marchant, Tuilagi 6, Daly 7, Farrell (capt.) 8, Mitchell 8; Marler 7, George 6, Cole 7, Itoje 8, Martin 8, Lawes 8, Curry 7, Earl 7
Replacements: Dan (n/a), Genge 6 , Sinckler 6, Chessum 7, Vunipola 6, Care 8, Ford (n/a), Lawrence (n/a)
South Africa XV: Willemse 6, Arendse 8, Kriel 8, De Allende 8, Kolbe 7, Libbok 5, Reinach 7; Kitshoff 7, Mbonambi 6, Malherbe 8, Etzebeth 8, Mostert 8, Kolisi (capt.) 8, Du Toit 7, Vermeulen 7
Replacements: Fourie 8, Nche 8.5, Koch 8, Snyman 9, Smith 7, De Klerk 8, Pollard 9, Le Roux 7
Match highlights
- 3’ - Owen Farrell kicks the first penalty
- 10’ - Farrell adds a second
- 21’ - Manie Libbok gets South Africa on the board with a penalty, ten minutes before being replaced
- 24’ - Farrell extends England’s lead to six points
- 35’ - Handre Pollard takes charge of the kicking and slots a penalty
- 39’ - Farrell puts England further ahead before half time with another penalty
- Half-time: England 12-6 South Africa
- 53’ - Farrell kicks a drop goal, England’s final points of the semi-final
- 69’- RG Snyman scores a crucial try for South Africa, the only one in the match
- 70’ - Pollard adds the conversion
- 78’ - Pollard steps up to kick South Africa into the lead, ultimately winning the match
- Full time: England 15 - 16 South Africa
Key stats
- England continued to be unable to score a try against South Africa at a men’s RWC, Will Greenwood is the only player to have scored a try against them at the competition.
- England have lost two out of six Rugby World Cup semi-finals.
- South Africa have now won four out of six RWC semi-finals.
- South Africa become only the fourth team in the competition's history to make it to the final as defending champions.
- Handre Pollard extends his lead as South Africa’s leading semi-final points-scorer with 37 points. He additionally scored 22 points in their RWC2019 final victory.
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