France v South Africa - Rugby World Cup LIVE: Springboks to face England in semi-final after knocking out Les Bleus

South Africa will face England in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals after overcoming hosts France 29-28 in a scintillating quarter-final.

Six tries were scored in the first half of a knockout match for the first time in World Cup history as two of the world’s best sides showed their quality at the Stade de France on Sunday.

Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe and Damien de Allende went over inside the opening 30 minutes, though France had the half-time lead when Thomas Ramos – who had earlier seen a conversion attempt charged down – converted a penalty following a high tackle from Eben Etzebeth, who was sent to the sin bin.

France were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage, though, and Etzebeth was South Africa’s hero as he bundled over with 13 minutes remaining.

Substitute Handre Pollard then stepped up, converting the extras and what proved to be a game-clinching penalty, with Ramos’ subsequent three points not enough to inspire a late turnaround, and the Springboks will now face England in a repeat of the 2019 final.

In the midst of the RWC quarter-finals, the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season kicked off this weekend in England! 

In 2023-24, TNT Sports will bring you every match from the Investec Champions Cup, as well as a selection of matches from the Gallagher Premiership Rugby, EPCR Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup.

One of the all-time classics comes to a close. That was a simply incredible World Cup quarter-final, but France - the pre-tournament favourites - are gone.

The semi-final line-up will be Argentina v New Zealand and England v South Africa.

It's all over in Paris, and the world champions are through to the semi-finals at the hosts' expense! It's South Africa who will face England, in a repeat of the 2019 final, and France's hopes of winning on home soil are dashed.

The ball comes out! It's spilled in the ruck and South Africa scramble to win it. It gets booted out of play and that is it!

We're into additional time now... South Africa can't afford any mistakes. They have to hold out here...

Incredible defending! Penaud leads a superb counter-attack from Les Bleus, and it looks as though France will be able to find a gap... But South Africa manage to recover, with the Springboks racing back in order to block their hosts' path.

For a moment, the South African fans think they have what would surely have been a game-clinching penalty, but it is actually a scrum. The Springboks nevertheless keep the pressure on, keeping France pinned back right on their line.

Out on the full! Another mistake from the French, as a Jailbert finds himself rushed under pressure and sends a kick straight out of play. It's a South Africa scrum right on France's 22.

Kolbe, of all the players, finds some space and decides to take on a drop-goal attempt. It's a heart-in-the-mouth moment for France, but Kolbe's effort drops just wide of the left-hand post. Just over five minutes remaining...

The deficit is cut to just one point as France find an immediate response through the boot of Ramos. Les Bleus' full-back showed nerves of steel, there, but he got the job done, and now it's a one-point game.

With just over 10 minutes left to play in Paris, South Africa have a four-point lead! They took the option of the points this time, and Pollard was again at his best to punt the ball between the sticks. It dropped just over, and now it's a four-point lead for the Springboks!

No mistake from Pollard, who sends a simple conversion through the sticks to edge the Springboks ahead. It's South Africa who have drawn first blood in the second half. Can they hold on from here?

Etzebeth goes over! It's a powerplay from the Springboks, who turned down the option of going for the posts from a penalty and instead elect to run it... And the aggression pays dividends as the big man drives to the line and bundles his way through.

Arendse has put in a monumental shift for South Africa, and he has established himself as a star since making his debut for the Springboks last year.

We're into the final 20 minutes of regulation time at the Stade de France and this match remains firmly in the balance.

An incredible stat, meanwhile, from Opta, who have revealed that South Africa spent just 99 seconds of possession in France's half during the opening 40 minutes, in which the Springboks of course scored three tries.

Penalty to South Africa! Fantastic work in the scrum from the Springboks, who win the ball within 15 yards of the French line and put it out of play for a line-out.

With plenty of fresh legs on, it seems like the world champions sense a real opportunity here... But, they then go and lose the line-out!

The sloppiness - perhaps through fatigue - is really setting in now, as Jalibert slices a penalty backwards!

That gives South Africa the chance to start an attack from high upfield, and Kolbe can't be held back as he punctures a hole in France's line and gets the Springboks onto the front foot.

After a penalty advantage comes to nothing, Ramos elects to take the points, and he duly sends his effort down the middle to nudge France further ahead. Could those extra points be crucial?

That glut of South Africa substitutions has just disrupted the flow of this match, which is staggeringly more cagey than it was in the first half, albeit that's perhaps to be expected.

The good news for the Springboks, though, is that Etzebeth has returned from the sin bin.