The Springboks have progressed to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals following their narrow hard-fought 29-28 victory over hosts France at the Stade de France on Sunday.
South Africa will now confront England in the last four, who booked their place in the semis after beating Fiji during their quarterfinal early encounter.
The Bokke also placed themselves in pole position for the dream final that many rugby enthusiasts dream of – New Zealand vs. RSA, that’s if both make it past the last four, which is most likely.
A final between the two giants would also cement the long-standing dominance of the Southern Hemisphere in the in the Rugby World Cup.
The fall of France at the hands of SA marked the painful end to any hopes the Northern Hemisphere would turn things around after another strong force from the North – Ireland, were knocked out by All Blacks on Saturday.
It was a thrilling quarter-final match-up in Paris as the host nation took on the reigning world champions.
It was end-to-end stuff in the first half, as both teams took the game to each other – reacting to a boisterous Paris crowd.
It didn’t take long for the home side to register the first points of the game, as prop Cyril Baille got to the try-line straight away from a lineout.
Thomas Ramos made no mistake and added the extra points with his superb penalty conversion kick.
South Africa made an instant reaction, as Kurt-Lee Arendse took advantage of a dropped catch, after Mannie Libbok’s well-worked kick.
The Boks took the lead in the 18th minute, thanks to a Damian de Allende try, who also capitalised on another dropped catch from the French defense.
Le Bleu did, however, hit back straight away and tied the score to 12-12 when hooker Peato Mauvaka caught the SA defense napping and went over the line in the corner. The score remained level after Kolbe caught Ramos’ conversion out by charging it down.
The tempo and the intensity of the game was at its highest, as both sides showed their class – playing at the top of their game.
Cheslin Kolbe retained the Springbok’s lead, when he flaunted his pace down the left wing and scored their third try of the game.
The home side were not having it, as Baille got his second try of the game while Ramos added three more goals on the scoreboard to go into the break with a narrow 22-19 lead.
The second half was pulsating for both teams, as the stakes were high with neither side looking comfortable on the ball.
France extended their lead through another Ramos penalty, but Boks lock Eben Etzebeth showed his power in the 67th minute and surged over the line to take the score up to 25-26 in favour of the Boks.
Substitute fly-half Handre Pollard took the Springbok’s lead to 29, when he made no mistake with his penalty conversion.
The home side added three more points to the scoreboard but it was not enough as they fell short with one point and bowed out of the world cup.
