South Africa edge England in Rugby World Cup thriller to reach second-consecutive final
Pieter-Steph Du Toit of South Africa celebrates following the team's stunning victory over England at the Rugby World Cup. (Getty Images: David Rogers)
South Africa is through to the Rugby World Cup final, edging England in a thrilling contest at the Stade de France 16-15.
The Springboks trailed a brave England for the majority of a bruising contest, until substitute Handre Pollard nailed a clutch 49-metre penalty in the 78th minute.
Owen Farrell kicked four penalties from four attempts and slotted a monster drop goal to give England a 15-6 lead with 25 minutes to go.
However, a try to giant lock RG Snyman with just over ten minutes remaining brought the defending champions back to within a single score, before Pollard's late heroics.
"It's unbelievable, it's a lot of relief in this moment," Pollard said after the match.
"Fair play to England, I think they put us under pressure in exactly the right areas.
"But jeez the fight we showed never giving up, it is what we stand for as a team and as a nation."
England came into the match enormous underdogs in what was a repeat of the 2019 final — but showed a spirit and drive that had been almost entirely absent in recent years to come out firing, applying a clear game plan in soaking wet conditions.
The English tackled hard and put the Boks on the back foot, with Farrell nailing an early penalty to settle any nerves.
Kicking is key in wet contions. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)
"Credit to England, they have worked hard. They were written off before the World Cup," Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said.
"The team pulled themselves together and showed who they are. They are not a team you take lightly."
Farrell added to his tally soon after before starting Springboks flyhalf Manie Libbok responded.
England still had all the momentum though, despite kicking the ball away at almost every opportunity, and Farrell scored a third penalty to further extend their lead.
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber had seen enough about the way the game was going to remove Libbok after just half an hour to introduce Pollard, who scored a crucial penalty soon after coming on to narrow the gap.
Farrell scored another penalty though just before half time to take England six points clear at the break.
The England skipper was nerveless throughout, his massive drop kick early in the second pushing England out to beyond a converted try.
England continued to push and put the Springboks under pressure, earning repeated possessions in the South African red zone but, tellingly, failed to capitalise and score the try that would have made the game secure.
Handre Pollard's kick gave South Africa the lead for the first time in the match with two minutes left. (Getty Images: David Rogers)
With little over 10 minutes remaining, the Springbok's scrum was finally in the ascendancy, winning a penalty from which Pollard's brilliant touch-finder gave the Springboks excellent field position.
The quick ball off the lineout gave Snyman the chance to burrow over and reduce the gap.
Then another scrum penalty gave the Boks flyhalf the chance he needed to send South Africa to another final and maintain their unbeaten record in World Cup knockout matches at the Stade de France.
South Africa will now play New Zealand in next week's final.
"It was ugly today like it was last week but we found a way to fight back and get back into the game," Kolisi said.
"Next week is going to be hard, it's going to be special but may they [the supporters] stay with us and hopefully we can defend it."
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
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We'll wrap things up here
Well, what a performance from South Africa.
The world champions were made to dig so deep to win that game by an England side that nobody gave a hope to.
England came with a game-plan that you wouldn't hang in the Louvre, but would have been plastered on the wall of every single England fan had it come off regardless.
South Africa are into another World Cup final.
We'll be back for that and I hope you will too.
Thanks for joining me this morning, we'll see you next week.
Springboks 'World Champions for a reason'
"Immense credit to South Africa to come back and find a way to win," England coach Steve Borthwick says.
"Great credit to them, they are the number one side in the world.
"They are the world champions for a reason."
'That is what champions are made of': Kolisi
Here's the Springbok captain Siya Kolisi after his side earned back-to-back one-point wins in consecutive weeks.
"It was really ugly today but that is what champions are made of," he says.
"Credit to England, they have worked hard. They were written off before the World Cup. Coach Steve [Borthwick] and Owen [Farrell] and the team pulled themselves together and showed who they are.
"They are not a team you take lightly, all credit to them for being in the semifinal today.
"To my team as well it was ugly today like it was last week but we found a way to fight back and get back into the game.
"I am really proud of the fight that was showed, especially the guys who came off the bench once again.
"England did so well in the kicking game, they outplayed us in that. Our discipline was awful in the first half, especially in the key areas where they could take the points.
"But I thought we fought back in the second half, we showed who we are and what we can do with a full 23."
England are heartbroken
That will take some getting over for England.
They had that game in the palm of their hand.
They had no right to have that game in the palm of their hand, but they did nonetheless.
It took all of the reserves of the best team in the world to beat an England team that six weeks ago were limping into this tournament.
Handre Pollard is player of the match
"It's unbelievable," Pollard says on the field to World Rugby.
"It's a lot of relief in this moment.
"Frustrated we weren't at our best tonight, especially in that firsthalf.
"We knew we had so much more to give but fair play to England, I think they put us under pressure in exactly the right areas.
"But jeez the fight we showed, never giving up, it is what we stand for as a team and as a nation."
He pays credit to the Springboks scrum to give him the chance to win the game.
"Firstly the scrum penalty, that is what got us the opportunity. It was just a credit to them, they were unbelievable," he says.
"It was a big moment but it is what you want as a player on this stage, to have moments like that as a fly-half is what you live for.
"It was fun."
SOUTH AFRICA WIN!
England knock the ball on and it's over!
There is a lot of push and shove after the whistle but it means nothing now.
What a game.
This Springbok team just don't know when they are beaten.
They led for just two minutes of that game. The most important two minutes. The only important two minutes.
79' England lineout on half way
England go long in the lineout and the ball is picked up on the bounce!
England have the ball and are edging towards the South Africa half.
Ball control is so vital here - so is discipline on the other side of the ball.
England go from left to right, right to left, there is no time but there is no progress being made!
77' Penalty South Africa!
Ben O'Keeffe was quick to blow the whistle as the Boks drove the scrum sideways.
The Springboks celebrate and England are on their knees.
It's 49 metres out on the angle.
POLLARD NAILS IT!
SOUTH AFRICA LEADS FOR THE FIRST TIME! 16-15!
75' Scrum South Africa
On half way - it was a really poor chip kick from Elliot Daly and he loses it forward as he attempts to gather on half way.
Another massive scrum here - Pollard will fancy himself from this range - even in the wet conditions - if the Boks can milk a penalty here.
Ben O'Keeffe resets a couple of times as "Swing Low" rings around the Stade de France.
73' South Africa win the kicking duel
Another aerial battle ensues as both sides want the ball to be dropped by their opponents.
The kick from Farrell is just too long and, after a fair while, Handre Pollard decides he wants a mark right on the 22. Very late call and the crowd don't like it.
He opts for a scrum - we saw that last week and I think it's a good option again - the Boks have got the upper hand there of late and a big penalty here will release the pressure.
69' SOUTH AFRICA SCORE A TRY!
RG Snyman powers over!
GAME ON!
The Boks got the ball off the lineout quickly and powered towards the line with real pace the like we've not seen all match.
How England will rue those missed chances when they had a lineout in a similar position earlier in the half.
Pollard nails the kick.
England's lead is cut to 15-13.
68' Penalty South Africa
Another scrum penalty goes the way of South Africa - who use the advantage until the ball falls out of Handre Pollard's hand has he goes for a pass.
What a kick from South Africa here - Pollard has put that just outside the five metre line and England will have to stand up here in defence.
67' England knock on
England do not want the ball in their hands at any cost it feels at the moment.
Every time they win the ball off the second or third phase the ball is kicked deep by Farrell to invite the pressure back.
That time the ball is knocked on in the contest by England - just - and the Boks will have a scrum on half way.
65' England wins the penalty!
The Boks move the ball down the middle of the field but then spin it wide to Cheslin Kolbe, who is smashed by Jonny May, who then gets up and wins the ball at the breakdown!
England kick to half way for the lineout.
64' Scrum penalty for South Africa
Kyle Sinckler is pinged for putting his knee down in the scrum and the Boks kick to 35 metres out from the England line.
BUT THEY LOSE THE BALL!
England kick it straight back though and the Boks have the ball in their hands in their own half.
61' Knockons galore
Oh this is tough stuff for both teams - the ball is a bar of soap.
Both teams are knocking the ball on almost every time they hold onto it.
Passing is risky - but that's what South Africa do, handing possession back to Earl, who breaks through the line and is eventually hauled down.
Now Ellis Genge knocks the ball on.
A phalanx of doctors come onto the field to deal with the troops that are all carrying injuries, but the referee calls both captains to one side and says those running repairs can't keep happening and only serious injuries will be dealt with.
It's a Springbok scrum inside their own half.
60' South Africa win the scrum penalty!
Brilliant scrummaging from the Springboks!
There will not be a higher pressure scrum in this tournament and it was a massive push that forced the England front row up.
The Boks breath a sigh of relief - and kick for half way where they'll have a lineout.
58' South Africa knock on at the back!
Owen Farrell with a speculative kick forward towards Kurt-Lee Arendse, but gets a shocking bounce that unsettles him and then he knocks on!
It's an England scrum five metres out!
Owen Farrell screams in joy - the England supporters add their voices to the throng.
55' South Africa knock the ball on
England kick the ball out for a South Africa lineout.
South Africa try and spin the ball wide but they knock the ball on!
The rain is teeming down in Paris and that's just on the right play.
England kick the ball away - the Boks do the same and Freddie Steward takes the mark in the 22 for a free kick to allow both teams to reset.
Kyle Sinckler comes onto the pitch - his injury early in the final was so key in South Africa getting over England - so a big moment for him.
South Africa has the lineout on half way.
53' ENGLAND NAILS A DROP GOAL!
MASSIVE KICK FROM FARRELL!
England kick the ball from the 22 and then win it back straight away with a massive shove at the ruck.
Farrell gets the ball 46 metres out and smashes a drop kick through the posts - a massive kick to give England a 15-6 lead!