Key posts
But Farrell hits back again
Such a kicking contest this is. Did we ever expect any different? Neither side wants the ball. England enjoy the kick-chase yet again. South Africa are illegal at the ruck and penalised, which suits Farrell’s boot just fine. He puts in his shot and England get back their six-point lead.
England 9-3 South Africa after 24 minutes
Excellent kick from Libbok
Mitchell is done for sealing off in the tackle and Libbok sets it up a penalty from a way out. About 40 metres. Never mind, he’s nailed it.
Farrell is losing his mind out there. Going nuts areas. Cool it, man.
England 6-3 South Africa after 20 minutes
Referee Ben O’Keeffe is having words with the captains
“When I blow my whistle, I will not accept any pushing or shoving,” he says, straight after some pushing and shoving. England have been going hard into the tackle and stopping South Africa from making any real ground.
It came another Springboks maul ends with England holding the ball and the players start laying into each other. Tuilagi is called out by O’Keeffe for rushing in on Reinach, prompting boos from the stands.
South Africa get a penalty.
England 6-0 South Africa after 15 minutes
England have another penalty
There are a tonne of South Africa supporters in the stands. Maybe that’s just the camera angles, but it sure looks Boks-heavy. Whoever they are, they are making noise.
South Africa get some possession, at last, but Stewards scoops up a Libbok kick, allowing Mitchell to kick to touch. They are deep in the Springbok’s half. Eight metres from goal, to be more specific. And poor Mbonambi’s throw isn’t on target.
Kolisi was over the ball and is done for not releasing. He isn’t happy about being penalised, but the referee says the ball was there for England and not contestable. Farrell makes no mistake from close range.
England 3-0 South Africa after 10 minutes
England have started tactically
And done so with gusto. It has rattled South Africa. But, if early signs are anything to go by, it could be scrappy. Mbonambi loses his first lineout throw to Itoje. England contest the box kick forward but it comes off Steward for a Springbok lineout.
After May contests a massive kick from Farrell and proceeds to knock it on, the first scrum is set.
England 3-0 South Africa after six minutes
Peep! Off we go!
Owen Farrell kicks off proceedings. Quite literally, he kicks a penalty before we’ve had time to blink get England on the scoreboard in the wet. His (initial) kick-off was gathered by Marchant and then, on the subsequent attack, Du Toit is penalised at the ruck and Farrell puts it neatly through.
England 3-0 South Africa after two minutes
The revenge narrative
There are reminder of history everywhere at Stade de France from South Africa’s 2019 RWC final win over England. The Springboks have 15 players remaining from that 32-12 triumph and England 13 remaining players from that loss. Eddie Jones is gone from England’s camp and it is perhaps partly Borthwick’s quieter style which has meant less attention on England this time around. Regardless, it is nigh on impossible to believe that match four years ago is not on the minds of players, who are, as we speak, walking out onto the ground. Good atmos.
The coaches
Boks head coach Jacques Nienaber says ”we’ve got ot play the conditions out there. That’s going to be the key.” What Nienaber means is that it’s been pissing down in Paris and looks grey out there now.
Steve Borthwick, meanwhile, talks about his three changes to England’s starting side. “They’re right for this game tonight and that’s a sign of the strength of the team to bring payers of that standard into the starting team.”
A look back at yesterday’s match
Peter FitzSimons writes that the All Blacks have proved some things are inevitable:
It was more a quarter-final match played on the date of the semi-finals by error of seeding, transplanted here by cosmic mistake – just as last week’s Ireland v All Blacks thriller, and the epic clash between the Springboks and France decided in the last second were semi-finals played early.
Going into this match we all expected the Pumas to be valiant, creative and daring, only to be crushed by a runaway All Blacks bulldozer.
My rugby friends? Just that happened before our very eyes – everything we had predicted, and feared.
Will Jordan crosses for his third try as the All Blacks secure a place in their fifth World Cup final.Credit: Getty
Teams
A hint may lie in the changes – ie which team has made a lot and which team has made none. South Africa are unchanged from their 29-28 epic quarter-final over hosts France. England, converesly have made eight changes, with head coach Steve Borthwick opting for Joe Marler move in at loose-head over Ellis Genge and George Martin getting the nod over Ollie Chessum.
With Marcus Smith out following his head injury against Fiji, Freddie Steward is back at full-back.
England: Freddie Steward; Jonny May, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell (c), Alex Mitchell; Joe Marler, Jamie George, Dan Cole; Maro Itoje, George Martin; Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Ben Earl
Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Chessum, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence
South Africa: Damian Willemse; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe; Manie Libbok, Cobus Reinach; Steven Kitshoff, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe; Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert; Siya Kolisi (c), Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Duane Vermeulen
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Handré Pollard, Willie le Roux
