Rugby World Cup, France-South Africa 28-29, Springboks in the semi-final

It is South Africa that completes the picture of the 4 magnificent finalists of the Rugby World Cup: in Saint-Denis, at the end of a fantastic match, the reigning world champion Springboks defeated hosts France 29-28. South Africa will face England on Saturday in a repeat of the final from 4 years ago. For South Africa (which did not play in the first two editions) it will be the sixth semi-final in 8 participations (they then won the title 3 times). For France, the huge favorite on the eve, it was an even more bitter defeat than that of the 2007 home World Cup, where they reached at least the semi-final.

Furious

—

The French start off furiously, they lay waste to their opponents’ 22 meters and break through in the 4th minute: from a ruck a stone’s throw from the line, Antoine Dupont serves Damian Penaud short and quickly to his right, who touches the prop very quickly Cyril Baille, who, served by the winger, becomes the winger and smashes at the flag (Thomas Ramos converts). France seems to be overflowing, they come close to another goal (saved by Eben Etzebeth) after a furious percussion from hooker Peto Mauvaka, but then in the 9th minute from a less than formidable kick by Cobus Reniach that skips the first line of defence, the ball falls without to be touched by no one on the run of Kurt-Lee Arendse, who emerges behind Ramos, collects and flies towards the goal all alone. And in the 18th minute the result was reversed: Manie Libbok’s high kick towards the right wing, Cameron Woki messed up in the air and gave the ball to Damian de Allende, who collected it and flew away, stopped two steps from the goal by the center then he immediately gets back to his feet and after possession retained for two phases by his forwards, it is he who receives Reinach’s short pass and breaks through (Libbok only converts the second). France shakes up immediately, Jonathan Danty’s breakthrough forces the Springboks to commit a foul in front of the posts, Dupont beats quickly and with a brilliant pass frees Mauvaka to the right flag for the equalizer (which remains so because Cheslin Kolbe is lightning and sprints to stop Ramos’ attempt at transformation). Kolbe who in the 26th minute, after a ball stolen by the South Africans in the defensive 22 and after Jesse Kriel’s brilliant grubber, picks up the ball and runs away uncatchable for a goal (which Libbok converts). In the 31st minute, from a touch point 5 meters away, the French organized some pick and go phases until Baille broke through, with Ramos converting to make it 19-19. Just before the break, a dangerous clash between Etzebeth and Uini Atonio: the head-to-head match cost the South African second row the yellow card and Ramos took the free kick which sent the Bleus leading 22-19 into the break.

Overtaking

—

The pace does not slow down at the start of the second half, but unlike the first half, the very high speed and the good play do not translate into points: the Bleus produce an enormous effort by occupying the opponent’s half of the field, but the South Africans defend themselves ferociously, while conceding in the 53rd minute the free kick with which Ramos scores the +6. In the 67th minute, however, the French were forced to defend the goal line, they conceded two fouls and on the second lead it was Etzebeth himself who overflowed into the goal with a couple of opponents clinging to his back. Handre Pollard (who replaced Libbok) converted, in the 69th minute he put in a free kick from 52 metres, then on the other side 3 minutes later Ramos hit the posts, bringing his team back to -1. But the teams are at the end of their strength, with the French, if we want to be precise, feeling the brunt of the pressure and disadvantage the most. With all the strength and courage that remains, however, France manages to get out of their 22 to return to the opponent’s half of the field, with time running out they maintain possession in search of a free kick, but on the attempt to advance it is prop Reda Wardi to let the ball fall from his hands and condemn the Blues to elimination. And to give South Africa the semi-final.