England suffer heartbreak after South Africa rally to reach Rugby World Cup final

I’ve seen him do that a few times, so I was ready for anything. But he’s a top class kicker and that’s a clutch kick if ever I’ve seen one, so fair play to him.

South Africa are lurking at every breakdown arm wrestling England as they try to run it back.

De Klerk moves the ball slowly before exiting well to half-way. England now have one more opportunity from the line-out. They go all the way over the top. Feeding Farrell who is hammered, but the ball goes back to England.

Pollard lines up from the half-way line just to the right. He should make this, and he does! The Boks hero from the quarter-final hammer the ball through the sticks. With three minutes to play, England go behind for the firs time.

The scrum immediately moves sideways and South Africa have a penalty. Genge is penalised for dropping to his knee. George is unhappy, but Pollard points for the posts. Could the scrum-half do it for a second game in a row.

The scrum re-sets for a second time. The game is balanced on a knife edge as Swing Low reverberates around the Stade de France. 

The scrum moves sideways, but England survive. After South Africa hang one high to Steward, he makes his first mistake of the game, kicking one straight up. When the ball comes down, England knock-on. This is a dangerous position to concede a scrum, especially with Handre Pollard’s boot. England cannot concede here. 

Lawrence come into the England backline to replace Tuilagi. The Sale man has gone about his work doggedly all night, defending obstinately and carrying hard.

South Africa reprise their alpha-flex from the France game and call for the scrum. Tremendous pressure here on Kyle Sinckler.

The South African scrum has clawed them back into the game, swinging the momentum. England must regather themselves. Care launches his box-kick too far. and Pollard calls a mark. He drives it to Steward, who challenges in the air, palming it to Itoje. Afte a phase in-field, Farrell hangs it up, and Le Roux calls a late mark. 

The ball is dropped by Mostert as he is lifted on the re-start, and it spills to Danny Care. The Boks to well to turn though and bundle the scrum-half into touch. Pollard clears down the throat of May in midfield.

The rain lashes down as the two front rows pack down. George suggests to the referee that Nche is stepping to the left to get an angle on Sinckler, but the Boks win another penalty. It’s wide out to the right and on half-way, but Pollard can hit them from here. He decides against it though and kicks to touch deep inside the England 22. That’s a fantastic kick.

O’Keefe calls once on the maul and England hoist it high – the ball is caught well by the Boks. De Klerk then clears to Steward, and England have a protective shield of white shirts around him. Farrell launches to the skies, putting pressure on through Daly. The winger challenges Arendse, but it comes forwards off his arm. Another test for England’s scrum. This one is inside their own half, and therefore within kicking range should they concede a penalty.

England penalty! Mbonambi is furious. Kolbe tries to take on May brunt for brunt and comes off second best. May then gets on the ball with support and wins the penalty. It’s been an extraordinary physical effort. England still have just under a quarter of the game to go though.l

With this scrum pressure, O’Keefe may consider a yellow card soon. The Boks shorten the line-out, but again it’s too low from Mbonambi. England hoick a wild kick up-field which is caught by the Bok backline. Now they put it through the hands for more or less the first time.

South Africa’s scrum is just staring to get on top of England. Genge and Sinckler must dig in here. This time Sinckler is penalised for dropping his bind, and Pollard clears to just inside the England 10.

O’Keefe has a word with both teams about the water boys running on. Each side is desparate for a breather before the scrums, but it’s slowing the game down.

England disrupt with another high ball, but then are pounced on by South Africa defenders. Borthwick’s side retain it though, and Earl suddenly goes on the charge. He knocks on and Pollard hits a cross-fielder. The ref calls advantage over, and May takes a superb take above his head with Kolbe lurking. Genge then hurtles into the South African defence but knocks on. Springbok scrum.

This time Danny Care fronts up. South Africa try to exploit the blindside with Fourie offloading to Mbonambi, but care dives low to bundle the hooker into touch. England retain their own line-out, feeding Curry on the gallop.

Very tough call from O’Keefe. Sinckler sticks an early hip out, but he then drives through Nche. It looks like Nche may have forced him to bear in though. The referee blows up with the ball at Earl’s feet. South Africa clear to half-way.

If England can work this ball back, they have a golden opportunity. Up against them is the behemoth Ox Nche – whose life motto is salad doesn’t win scrums. That should give you a flavour of the man.

South Africa are at sixes and sevens. Owen Farrell is producing a kicking masterclass. This time he drives a low grubber behind Arendse, forcing him to back pedal. Under pressure from the rushing Daly, the ball bounces awkwardly for the winger and he knocks on. Farrell pumps the air, egging his team on. First scrum England with their revamped front row, right on the Boks five.

South Africa have emptied the bench. As South Africa play off the top, Ellis Genge this time puts in a thunderous tackle, ricocheting the Boks backwards. As South Arica hoist high, Steward is imperious in the air and claims it. 

England continue to hurtle into South AFrica in attack, winning the physical condition. This time Chessum flies up into his Leicester team-mate Pollard and forces the mistake. England kick deep before the Boks return serve to Steward. It’s a tricky one that whirls around in the Paris night, but he catches well and calls the mark. On comes Sinckler for Dan Cole.

What a moment, and what a competitor! The England captain steps up from half-way, way out to the right, and laser beams an inch-perfect drop goal that sails through the posts. Breathtaking work from the skipper. England go beyond a converted try.

Daly is having one of his greatest England performances. He puts in another tremendous tackle, and England win it back.

The replacements make an immediate impact. They thunder through the scrum, brutally reaping the ball back. As the ball comes out, Pollard puts in a pin-point cross-field kick to Kolbe, who dribbles ahead into space. Le Roux is in behind with green grass ahead, but the ball wins the race and goes dead. That’s a sighter of the danger the SPringboks pose. England make changes.

South Africa empty the bench. Kolisi and Vermeulen join Kitshoff on the bench. Fourie comes on, as does Kwagga Smith. It’s only Vincent Koch still on the bench.

For rugby nauses, and I would like to think to amateur enthusiasts, this is an enthralling contest. But there has been a notable absence of any backline play so far. As South Africa swing it out for what I think iis the first time, the referee spots a knock-on. Back to the forwards! England have a scrum right-field around half-way. 

Itoje disrupts Kolisi this time. It’s a knock-on, but he is winning the psychological battle so far. de Klerk puts up a frighteningly high kick, but Steward takes with aplomb. Marler then tells de Klerk to stop being daft off the ball and gives him a healthy shove. Tough love from the big prop.

The scrum re-sets a couple of times, and Ben O’Keefe summons both sides for a word. On the third attempt it holds firm. Farrell is asking how long. As O’Keefe calls use it, England collapse. They stayed in the fight just long enough. George Martin then hammers Snyman backwards and Itoje rips Kitshoff ruthlessly in the tackle. Mitchell errs though for more or less the first time, kicking straight out.

So much had been made of the battle between Etzebeth and Itoje in this game. South Africa have decided to play their hand early. But how significant could it be for England to keep their powder dry with Genge and Sinckler on the bench?

I’ve not seen that before. The ball slips clean out of George’s hand off the line-out and flies up straight into the air. He looks on mystified. George will have to settle his nerves quickly. Arendse then disrupts England with his kick chase, forcing the knock-on. South Africa scrum left-field.

The scrum sets solid before eventually caving. O’Keefe calls to use it though, and South Africa clear to the 22. It’s well struck, but not a particularly effective exit. The man-mountain RG Snyman comes on for Etzebeth. That’s a huge early call.

It’s England who cave to the pressure this time, as Jamie George’s throw angles not straight. Scrum South Africa. This first effort of the half should give us a good picture of what’s to come, and if any tactical changes have been made. Still no forward changes for the Boks. 

de Klerk comes on for Reinach, is this planned or retribution for that poor kick. England launch one high into the air for Farrell, who does brilliantly to scoop the ball back. Dogged work form the England captain. Everyone is onside, but England keep their cool, and Farrell, off the next phase, dribbles a ball through to the corner, forcing Willemse to flap it into touch. Le Roux comes on for the Boks – that’s all their backline changes exhausted already.

England disrupt the line-out, but Kolisi sweeps up as the ball bounces up. It’s another poor throw from Mbonambi. Reinach follows this up with a poor kick which goes straight up. England hand it wide right for May to chase and flap back. The ball is loose and Marchant dives on it, looking up into the eyes of the oncoming South Africans like a cornered animal. He makes the wisest decision he can which is to not move at all, and the Boks are penalised for diving on him on the floor. England clear up the line. 

South Africa kick-off through Pollard, hanging the ball high and deep right for Lawes again. He catches well and England resort to Mitchell who clears to touch. It’s just short of England’s 10.

Bryan Habana assures viewers the Springboks have received the hairdryer treatment at half-time. They wait for England, eager to get proceedings back under-way.

Are England winning the physical battle in the first half? Have the Boks made the right decision to take of Libbok? Have your say in the comments section!

Farrell bisects the posts with a laser-beam boot, and England stretch their lead. Borthwick’s side need a clean exit here.

Willemse shows great skill, chasing and successfully taking his own kick, but he is bundled into touch by Mitchell. England show better disguise at the line-out, setting a maul for Mitchell to clear. The scrum-half evade a flying mitt from Etzebeth to float one high into the sky. May chases and is taken out as he goes to leap for the ball, milking a penalty. It’s another tight call, but one that plays in England’s favour. Farrell lines one up from 40 metres out, around the 15.

George converses with Cole about the line-out call, and in the end they decide to play it cute to Itoje at the front who pops back to his Saracens club-mate. George grubbers up the line for South Africa to clear, and England call the mark.

The scoreboard doesn’t really reflect how domina