Handre Pollard’s long-range penalty gave the Springboks enough of a buffer to see out a victory over France and secure a place in the World Cup semi-finals.
Having trailed France by six points in the second half, the Springboks produced an incredible response and formed a defensive rearguard to seal a thrilling 29-28 victory in Paris on Sunday night.
THAT MATCH 🇿🇦#RWC2023 | #FRAvRSA pic.twitter.com/ArZhQewn9q
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 15, 2023
For most of the match, France dominated territory and possession, creating plenty of try-scoring opportunities and when they went 25-19 up in the second half, it seemed a question of when they would land the knockout blow on the defending world champions.
French dreams shattered 💔#RWC2023 | #FRAvRSA pic.twitter.com/d7mBRWYFE2
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 15, 2023
However, a bulldozing try from Eben Etzebeth got South Africa back on track, with Pollard landing the conversion to give the Boks the lead for the first time since the 27th minute.
When the Springboks won a breakdown penalty from defensive pressure on the halfway line, Pollard stepped up to calmly slot the 51-metre kick with jeers ringing out around the hostile Stade de France.
France made it a nailbiting finish when fulback Thomas Ramos slotted a penalty of his own to make it a one-point game, but South Africa stood firm in the closing stages, slowing Les Blues’ free-flowing attack to a near-standstill, before ripping the ball away and sending it into the stands.
This all came after an incredible first half, which saw both teams score three tries each. The game was deadlocked at 19-19, before Etzebeth was sent to the sin bin for making head-on-head contact in a tackle, with Ramos slotting the subsequent penalty to allow France to take a narrow lead into the break.
6 – Six first-half tries have been scored in #FRAvRSA, the most ever in the first half of a men’s @RugbyWorldCup knockout match; it is also the first time South Africa have conceded more than two tries in the first half of any #RWC match. Unprecedented. pic.twitter.com/GpFa7TWy4G
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) October 15, 2023
The Springboks will take on England, who had to fight to beat Fiji earlier on Sunday, in the second semi-final next Saturday.
Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP