@Springboks
The Springboks rumbled into the 2023 rugby World Cup semi-final with a narrow, hard-fought 29-28 win over Rugby World Cup hosts France at a packed Stade de France in Paris on Sunday night.
The win keeps their dreams of a fourth World Cup title alive, as they now face England in a rematch of the 2019 final in Japan.
France got off to a blistering start, scoring in the fourth minute. The Boks however, hit back almost immediately to begin a ‘tit-for-tat’ scoring streak that saw six tries being scored in the first half.
The Boks tries came from Kurt-Lee Arendse, his 13th in 13 tests, Damien de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, who scored from a mid-field turn-over and kick through from Jessie Kriel, and Eben Etzebeth, who took three French defenders with him as he carried over the line in the 68th minute.
Mannie Libbok kicked two conversions, while replacement flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked one conversion and goaled a 52 metre penalty.
Kolbe also saved two points by charging down a conversion attempt by Thomas Ramos.
Former World Cup winning captain, John Smit, who raised the trophy in 2007, said the team knows how to deliver. “The whole team had to keep up the pressure. It’s a championship team,” he said.
Player of the Match, Bongi Mbonambi said it was a team effort. The stand-in Captain gave credit to the team and the coaching staff.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, we still have two games to go,” he said
Coach, Jacque Nienaber, gave credit to the French for tight game. “Fortunately, for us we were on the right side of things,” he said.
“With the yellow card to Eben we had to come up with solutions, which they did during the game,” Nienaber said.
Speaking post-match, Captain Siya Kolisi paid tribute to the French team and the crowd.
He also paid tribute to his team, giving credit to the bench for “making a difference” when they came on. Kolisi also praised the public at home for the support shown to the team, saying “we are playing for the nation”.
“Win or lose, this is what they will see from the team,” Kolisi said.
The Springboks face England in Paris next Saturday, while New Zealand will play Argentina the day before for a spot in the final.
_CMSthumbClick.png)
