Incredible rugby in RWC quarter-finals
Fast, attacking rugby ruled the Springboks vs France clash, with the teams delivering seven tries between them in an end-to-end blitz, particularly in the first half.
What a game for the Springboks, what a weekend of rugby for the world!
Just 23 combined points separated the four quarter-final matches of the 2023 RWC in one of the greatest weekends of rugby in history.
Upsets, towering performances and the most nail-bitingly tense Bok game in recent memory – last weekend had it all.
On Sunday night, South Africa faced off against a fierce French team at Stade de France in Paris, eventually clinching the titanic clash by just one point in a 29-28 victory.
Fast, attacking rugby ruled the evening for both teams who delivered seven tries between them in an end-to-end blitz, particularly in the first half.
The French were largely on top early, earning more possession, territory and points, while the Springboks had to make 66 more tackles than their counterparts.
But the South African men never let too much scoreboard pressure build, hitting back at every French point through clinical tries from Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee
Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe – who also delivered a moment of magic when he charged down a Thomas Ramos conversion.
The second half was more measured as the intense physicality caught up with the teams.
South Africa eventually cleared their bench, with Deon Fourie, Kwagga Smith and Handré Pollard making telling contributions, including a 52-metre penalty from Pollard which would prove the difference alongside an Eben Etzebeth try.
Etzebeth was simply immense throughout, as was Jesse Kriel and Kolbe among a host of other decisive performances.
In a game decided by close margins, the Boks’ superior late game management bodes well going forward.
They face England at the semi-final stage on Saturday at 9pm.
To earn their berth, England had to fight off a late charge from the flying Fijians to claim a 30-24 victory in Sunday’s earlier match.
On the other side of the draw, Argentina proved that talk of Northern Hemisphere rugby’s impending dominance was premature when they sank Wales 29-17.
New Zealand followed suit against pre-tournament favourites Ireland in one of the defining test matches of the decade, ultimately winning 28-24.
Although the Bok game will be seared into South African minds for good reason, the New Zealand vs Ireland clash saw international rugby at its absolute best.
Ireland were riding high as their Six Nations winning, unbeaten in 2023, ‘golden generation’ team sought to beat a New Zealand team perceived as comparatively weak.
But the weight of history again proved too heavy for the Irish who have never progressed past the quarter-final stage of a World Cup.
Knockout know-how and massive performances from big men Sam Cane and Ardie Savea showed that the All Blacks are still a force.
New Zealand face Argentina in their semi-final on Friday at 9pm.
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