South Africa's RG Snyman celebrates with teammates after scoring the only try in Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and South Africa at the Stade de France. Photo: AFP / Emmanuel Dunand
Replacement first five-eighth Handre Pollard kicked a last-gasp penalty as South Africa somehow found a way to get past a dominant England on Sunday and claim a 16-15 victory that sent them into a World Cup final against fellow-triple champions New Zealand.
It was a second successive single-point victory for the Springboks after they beat France 29-28 and means the two superpowers of the sport will meet in the final for the second time, after South Africa triumphed on home soil in 1995 in their first appearance at the tournament.
"It was really ugly but that is what champions are made of," said Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
"Credit to England. They were written off before the World Cup but pulled themselves together and showed who they are. They are not a team you take lightly but to my team, we found a way to fight back into the game."
The defending champions looked on the verge of defeat as England's kicking game kept them pegged back in their own half on a rainy Paris night, but they hit back with a try by RG Snyman before replacement Pollard landed a penalty from the halfway line to snatch victory.
South Africa score the only try in the Rugby World Cup semi-final match against England at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Photo: AFP / Anne-Christie Poujoulat
For most of the match, however, it looked as if it would be 2019 runners-up England returning to the final. On a rainy Paris night, England played a perfect tactical game, kicking accurately, chasing hard and forcing South Africa into errors.
Coach Steve Borthwick had promised he had a plan to unsettle the world champions but there was nothing radical about their approach as they kicked relentlessly in the rain and outplayed the Springboks in the air.
England forced South Africa into the sort of errors they avoided in their epic quarter-final win over France.
England's control and accurate pressure earned Owen Farrell two early penalty opportunities, both of which he slotted for a 6-0 lead.
After 15 minutes South Africa won a kickable penalty but, lacking faith in Manie Libbok, they kicked for the corner and were turned over and they did the same a minute later, and lost possession again.
Jesse Kriel and Manu Tuilagi confront each other during the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and South Africa at the Stade de France. Photo: AFP / Anne-Christine Poujoulat
Libbok did slot one over but he looked off the pace and was taken off after 31 minutes, replaced by Pollard, who soon landed a penalty.
England, however, maintained their disciplined approach, gaining ground from their deep kicking, and another Farrell penalty gave them a deserved 12-6 halftime lead.
There were more changes for South Africa in the first five minutes of the second half as Faf de Klerk and Willie Le Roux came into the backline and they lost inspirational lock Eben Etzebeth.
The champions still struggled to get any sort of continuity and England stretched their lead to 15-6 with a brilliant 47- metre Farrell drop goal.
England's Alex Mitchell braces checks inside South African lock Eben Etzebeth as he runs with the ball during the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final match at the Stade de France. Photo: AFP / Anne-Christine Poujoulat
Heavy price
With half an hour to go all the South African replacements were on as their coaches desperately sought to find a foothold, though England were to pay a heavy price for their failure to turn their dominance into any more points.
The Springboks had barely been our of their half before a superb touchfinder by Pollard enabled Snyman to charge over for the first try of the match.
Damian Willemse of South Africa claims possession during the Rugby World Cup semi-final against England. Photo: Photosport
Pollard converted to close to within two points 10 minutes from time and they were awarded a scrum penalty on halfway with three minutes to go.
Pollard, called up to the squad midway through the tournament, slotted it with the minimum of fuss.
It was the first time South Africa had led and they defended England's final assaults strongly until a knock-on ended the challenge.
"We came here believing we would win and the players deserve enormous credit for that," said Borthwick.
"We have a very smart group of players that are learning very quickly because we have had to do it very quickly. The opposition have had four years and we have had four months. That is why the players deserve enormous credit."
* See how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog
- Reuters