The Springboks have been placed on a collision course with hosts France in the World Cup quarter-finals, after Ireland pummelled Scotland 36-14 on Saturday night.
Ireland overtook South Africa to clinch Pool B after banking five log points from a bonus-point victory against Scotland.
The Springboks had temporarily climbed into first place in the pool after finishing their pool campaign by thrashing Tonga last week but have to settle for second place.
This means the defending world champions will face France, who finished first in Pool A, in the last eight of the World Cup.
The clash is scheduled for 9pm on Sunday, October 15 in Paris.
The previous clash between the two teams saw France come away with a 30-26 victory in Paris last November, in a game where both Pieter-Steph du Toit and Antoine Dupont were red carded.
This will be just the second time that South Africa has faced France at a World Cup. Their first tournament meeting came in the 1995 semi-finals, when the Springboks survived a French onslaught to win 19-15 at a waterlogged Kings Park in Durban.
Ireland, meanwhile, will face New Zealand at the Stade de France on Saturday.
The remaining two quarter-finals will be decided on the results of Sunday’s matches as Fiji face Portugal in Pool C, while Japan take on Argentina in Pool D. England and Wales have already booked their places in the playoffs. – SARugbymag.co.za
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