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South Africa beat France 29-28 to book semi final clash against England

South Africa beat France 29-28 to book semi final clash against England

By Navitalai Naivalurua
16/10/2023
[Photo: World Rugby]

South Africa kept the defence of their World Cup title alive with a thrilling 29-28 victory over France in one of the greatest matches in Rugby World Cup history.

Eben Etzebeth's powerful surge saw the Springboks to come from behind to end France's 18-game winning run on home soil and book a semi-final clash 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.

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.

Looking at the semi finals, Argentina will meet the All Blacks at 7am Saturday and England will play the Springboks at 7am Sunday.

Both games will be played at Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

FNRL
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