2023-10-21 23:03:03
South Africa managed to beat England (16-15), Saturday at the Stade de France, to secure a place in the final, as in 2019. Unrecognizable, the Springboks were mistreated for a long time in this meeting, managing to take the lead two minutes from time. South Africa will face New Zealand in the final.
Published on: 10/21/2023 – 11:03 p.m.
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The English were not far, Saturday October 21, from thwarting all predictions by beating (16-15) the timid and clumsy South Africans who only woke up in the last ten minutes to win this Cup semi-final. of the world by a small point.
In fairly heavy rain, the South Africans quickly took it upon themselves to test the ability of English full-back Freddie Stewart to receive the shots. In the 5th minute, this 1m96 fullback responded and allowed his team to get off to a good start in two matches, highlighted by two penalties from fly-half Owen Farrell for ground faults.
The referee of this meeting, the New Zealander Ben O(Keeffe, experienced a downpour of another kind, with whistles before and during the match. A bronca resonated at the Stade de France when his face was appeared on the giant screens a few minutes before kick-off. Having come to attend this semi-final which France would have played had it not been eliminated in the quarter-final by South Africa, many supporters thus expressed their dissatisfaction with Ben O’Keeffe, accused of having disadvantaged the Blues against the Springboks.
This referee did not lack work during the first twenty minutes of the match. He notably whistled the South Africans for several fouls committed on the ground and had to manage tense situations between several players from the two teams who fought fiercely in each ruck. Very determined, the English had a superb start to the match and deprived the South Africans of precious ammunition.
The semi-final between South Africa and England played on October 21 at the Stade de France was sometimes very tense between the two teams © AFP – Miguel MEDINA
The early return of flyhalf Pollard
The Springboks played a much less smooth game than last weekend against France, losing balls in the scrum or in touch on poorly executed throws by hooker Bongi Mbonambi. The English showed themselves to be very diligent, following to the letter their restrictive game plan based on commitment and kicking. And this strategy allowed them to lead 9-3 in the 24th minute.
This scenario pushed South African coach Jacques Nienaber to change his opener in the 30th minute, bringing in Handré Pollard in place of Manie Libbok. If the match did not gain momentum, this entry allowed South Africa to count on Pollard’s powerful kicking game and his precision against the poles. In the 35th minute, he also scored a first penalty. Owen Farrell imitated him just before half-time and the English returned to the locker room with a 6-point lead (12-6).
The appearance of the semi-final did not change upon resumption, despite numerous changes made by the South African staff. Faf de Klerk notably found his place in the scrum and Willie Le Roux the full-back position. The faults continued to come one after the other, notably the forwards due to the rain. The match became more and more choppy, without offering the public the slightest opportunity to try until the 50th minute.
Only one try in this semi-final
The South Africans woke up the public with a good scrum won in the 51st minute on an English introduction and a nice kick from Jesse Kriel in the process for Willie Le Roux who was unable to flatten in the in-goal English. Not at all impressed, the English controlled the next action with one of their favorite weapons, the drop. 45 meters from the South African posts, Owen Farrell took his chance and made a magnificent kick to increase the English lead (15-6).
The opener, Handré Pollard, distinguished himself in the 68th minute by finding, on a penalty, a magnificent touch 5 meters from the English line. The South African throw was precise this time and the Springboks finally managed to score the first try of this meeting, signed by the giant Rudolph Snyman. With Pollard’s successful transformation, the English lead shrank to 2 points (15-13).
The dominance of the forwards in the scrum allowed the South Africans to obtain a valuable penalty in the 77th minute, on the 50 meter line. Handré Pollard did not miss the target and allowed the South Africans to lead for the first time in this match (15-16).
A short lead that the Springboks, reigning world champions, were able to preserve against the English who launched a final offensive. As in 1995, the South Africans will face New Zealand on Saturday October 28. The winner of this match will win their fourth world title.
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