South Africa ruin France World Cup dream and set up England semi-final

Quarter-final weekend, as it had always threatened to, saved its best for last. An extraordinary match of fluctuating fortunes ended with French players scattered across the turf, part in despair, part exhaustion. After Ireland’s agonising failure to consummate their supremacy at the top of the world rankings on Saturday, here the hosts were denied the chance to prevail at their own World Cup. Another in the eye for the global north. South Africa it is, brimming with all that World Cup know-how, who progress to meet the only team left in the tournament from the north, England.

But that is for another day. What a game we witnessed, the brilliant French so free-running throughout dashed against granite Springbok rock.

France opened the scoring in the fourth minute, having already pulled the Springboks this way and that. From an attacking lineout established by the onslaught, a phalanx broke free, led by the mighty Uini Atonio. That was halted somehow, but Antoine Dupont went blind, where Damian Penaud sent Cyril Baille over in the corner.

The French were on a mission. Moments later, Peato Mauvaka was streaking clear, the hooker stepping and sprinting like a back. From that attack, Eben Etzebeth stepped to assume the role of pantomime villain, which he did deliciously and with aplomb throughout a pulsating first half. The crowd were sure his deliberate knockdown out wide was illegal, but they are only so if they go forward. South Africa’s line survived this second assault.

If France were setting the pace with ball in hand, the Springboks tried them out with ball in air. Weakness identified. Two tries accrued in the next 10 minutes, either side of a missed penalty by Thomas Ramos. Duane Vermeulen defused another France attack, and Cobus Reinach sent up an up-and-under. In the chaos of its landing, Kurt-Lee Arendse reacted fastest for a free run to the line.

Next to send the ball skywards was Manie Libbok. This time, Cameron Woki was unable to gather. Off went Damian de Allende. When he was scythed down short, he was quick enough to his feet to accept Reinach’s feed from a ruck and scoot over for South Africa’s second.

The rugby was breathless. France came again and equalised four minutes later. Jonathan Danty’s carry was fearsome. When South Africa infringed, Dupont went quickly to put Mauvaka over.

Etzebeth was in Dupont’s face again a few minutes later. When the ball went loose, Pieter-Steph du Toit fed Jesse Kriel, whose chip ahead was gathered by Cheslin Kolbe for South Africa’s third.

Ten minutes of the half remained; 10 points scored, by which France retook the lead for half-time. Duppont’s chip to the corner had Kolbe scrambling, and from the lineout Baille burrowed over for his second. Parity again. That was disrupted only with the last kick of the half, Ramos’s penalty, following a yellow card for Etzebeth after an accidental clash of heads, taking France into a 22-19 lead at the break. France only upped the tempo on the resumption, trying to take advantage of Etzebeth’s absence.

Forwards and backs came at the Springboks with equal force and dexterity. Matthieu Jalibert stepped this way and that from a scrum; Mauvaka created havoc on the wide outside. South Africa’s defence held, somehow. All the more remarkable that the only points they conceded in the third quarter were from a penalty at a scrum after Etzebeth’s return. After all they had withstood, the mere slip of a loose-head’s foot – no matter, the concession of three points ensued. Ramos extended France’s lead to six points.France did not stop there, but when they knocked on just outside the 22, South Africa broke out from the scrum, unpicking France’s midfield, then chipping deep. When Dupont was caught by De Allende, South Africa chose to tap the penalty. After the characteristic series of charges, the snorting Etzebeth was fed the ball. Jalibert was no match for him, and South Africa had a fourth try, Handre Pollard’s conversion moving them into a one-point lead.

Pollard, from inside his own half, and Ramos exchanged penalties to maintain the precarious balance as the game entered its final minutes.

But French nerves were starting to fray now. Jalibert had earlier sliced one penalty from the edge of his 22 back into it, then Ramos sent a 22 drop-out straight to touch. South Africa pressed again, but a knock-on had France scrumming down 10 metres out from their line. Away they went, running it down the right into South Africa’s half.

Kwagga Smith was there again to disrupt, but the French had one last chance of their arm as the clock turned red. It was brilliant, it was breathless, but now it was desperate too. When Reda Wardi knocked on as he charged, the Springboks swooped to clear. Another semi-final for the south. More desperation for the pride of the north.