Defending champions South Africa edged France 29-28 in a nail-biting contest at the Stade de France on Sunday to set up a semi-final clash against England and crush the hosts’ hopes of winning a maiden Rugby World Cup title on home soil.
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The Springboks withstood a Paris storm and trailed 22-19 at half-time, before a try by Eben Etzebeth and a Handre Pollard penalty sealed the narrowest of wins for the World Cup title holders.
That either side should lose in the last eight seemed unjust given the breathtaking display of rugby delivered over 80 scintillating minutes at the Stade de France.
Three tries apiece in an astonishing first half, bone-juddering tackles throughout, blistering line defence and exquisite individual skills left the almost 80,000 squeezed into the packed Paris stadium agog.
Ultimately, experience made the difference for the three-tie champions against a French team playing their first knockout game since coach Fabien Galthié took over four years ago.
France captain Antoine Dupont returned from cheekbone surgery, but the mercurial scrumhalf ran out of steam and ideas as Les Bleus could only score through tries by Cyril Baille (2) and Peato Mauvaka, Thomas Ramos adding 13 points from the tee.
Smart box-kicking by the Springboks had kept French hearts permanently in their mouths with Thomas Ramos looking less than steady under the barrage of high balls, and it was the Springboks who won a second half tactical arm-wrestle thanks to their power.
The French suffered only their second defeat in 26 home tests under…
