Rugby World Cup semi-final results: South Africa def England to set up final with All Blacks

England have had their World Cup dreams stolen as defending champions South Africa snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a pulsating semi-final.

South Africa's hooker Bongi Mbonambi (R) raises his arms and sinks to his knees after the victory. Picture: Getty

Frustrated Wallabies fans will beg to differ but the 10th and arguably best Rugby World Cup will end with the sport’s ultimate confrontation between the game’s timeless powerhouses after South Africa beat England in a heartstopping semi-final.

In a repeat of the famous 1995 decider, the 2023 Rugby World Cup final will now be contested between bitter rivals New Zealand and South Africa in Paris next weekend after the Springboks defeated England 16-15 in the second semi final at the Stade de France early on Sunday morning.

The All Blacks sealed their place 24 hours earlier by thumping Michael Cheika’s Argentina 44-6 so will likely go into next weekend’s final as slight favourites but will be on high alert against a South Africa side that never says die.

“It was really ugly today but that is what champions are made of,” South African captain Siya Kolisi said.

“Credit to England, they have worked hard. They were written off before the World Cup.

“It was ugly but like it was last week but we found a way to fight back and get back into the game. I am really proud of the fight that was shown.”

Handre Pollard kicked South Africa into another World Cup final. Picture: Getty

South Africa can count themselves to beat the English, who only went behind in the 78th minute after leading by nine points with 11 minutes left on the clock.

The defending champions clawed themselves back into the game when substitute lock RG Snyman scored the only try of the match after barging over in the 69th minute then earned a decisive scrum penalty that decided the outcome.

The Boks got their noses in front for the first time when Handre Pollard - one of South Africa’s heroes in 2019 - calmly landed a booming penalty from near halfway two minutes from the end then defended like their lives depended on it til the final whistle blew.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s a lot of relief in this moment,” Pollard said.

“We weren’t at our best tonight, especially in that first half. We knew we had so much more to give but fair play to England, I think they put us under pressure in exactly the right areas.

“But jeez the fight we showed never giving up, it is what we stand for as a team and as a nation.

“It was a big moment but it is what you want as a player on this stage, to have moments like that as a fly-half is what you live for. It was fun.”

South Africa's RG Snyman (R) surges towards the tryline to score the semi-finals only try. Picture: AFP

Given little hope of toppling the defending champions after battling during the earlier rounds of the tournaments, the Poms delivered their best performance in years when it mattered but it was not enough.

The English hit their straps at the right time after a dismal run of form since losing to the Springboks in the 2019 final in Japan when Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was in charge of the old enemy.

The English sacked Jones late last year and have struggled to show any signs of improvement under Steve Borthwick but have steadily grafted away and almost pulled off a massive upset only to be cruelly denied at the death.

“Immense credit to South Africa to come back and find a way to win. Great credit to them, they are the number one side in the world. They are the world champions for a reason,” Borthwick said.

“Right now is not the moment for dissecting the game. They found the way to gain

“This is a really talented group from the experienced to the not so experienced. They are very disappointed today, but we’ll reflect on that, find what we have to do better and we’ll be a better team next Friday.”

South African players celebrate their last-gasp victory - and another World Cup final berth. Picture: Getty

England have never been a flashy team and their highlights reel against South Africa won’t take long to watch because all their points came from the boot of their oft-maligned five-eighth Owen Farrell.

Both teams executed more high kicks than the dinner show at Moulin Rouge but that suited England as Farrell slotted four first half penalties to give his side a 12-6 lead at the interval.

It wasn’t the sort of running rugby William Webb Ellis envisioned when he supposedly picked up a soccer ball and dashed off with it in his hands but it was never going to be because the big matches at Rugby World Cups are often as much a test of nerves as skill.

Long suffering Wallabies fans know only too well that the Poms love a drop goal and when Farrell nailed a long range attempt in the 53rd minute the English looked home but the South Africans had other ideas.

“After a difficult loss like this all that stands with me is how proud I am to be English,” Farrell said after he and his players slumped to the turf in disbelief when the match ended.

“You can always look back at things but South Africa are a top, top side. They have shown that over the course of the World Cup.

A dejected Owen Farrell soaks up the defeat. Picture: Getty

“We have been on a different journey over the course of this and I’m just proud of where we’ve been at these last couple of weeks and where we’ve built to and where this team can go from now on.

“I’m unbelievably proud of this group and what they’ve done over the last five months. Whatever happens going forward this team is going to be good.”

England will now face Argentina in the third place playoff next Saturday morning while both New Zealand and South Africa will be chasing their fourth titles in the final on Sunday morning.

The only time they have met in the title bout was in 1995 at Johannesburg when the South Africans winning after a drop goal in extra time, and Nelson Mandela famously presenting the trophy wearing a Springboks jersey.

“Like at the previous World Cup, it takes something special to unlock it. It’s always going to be tight,” Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber said.

“It’s going to be a final, it’s going to be tight. They are an excellent form, if you look at their last few games you’re not going to get close to 30-35 points you won’t be in the mix.”

Originally published as Rugby World Cup semi-final results: South Africa def England to set up final with All Blacks