South Africa clinched a hard-fought victory against France, winning 29-28, and has earned a spot in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2023. The game took place at Stade de France on Sunday, October 15.
In a thrilling encounter, the defending champions South Africa had to make a comeback twice to overcome the French team. France made a strong start with an early try by prop Cyril Baille. However, the hosts struggled to handle two high kicks, which allowed Kurt-Lee Arendse to sprint to the corner and Damian de Allende to score, giving the Springboks a 12-7 lead.
France managed to draw level with a try by hooker Peato Mauvaka, with Cheslin Kolbe blocking the conversion attempt from Thomas Ramos. South Africa’s wing, Jessie Kriel, scored after chasing down a deft grubber kick. Nonetheless, Cyril Baille secured his second try for France, and Ramos added a penalty following a high tackle by Eben Etzebeth, who received a yellow card, resulting in Les Bleus leading 22-19 at halftime.
Ramos extended France’s lead with a penalty, but Etzebeth scored a crucial try with 14 minutes remaining. Handre Pollard, a replacement player, converted and added a penalty, which proved to be decisive, despite a late response from Ramos.
Springboks’ captain, Siya Kolisi, commended his team’s determination, highlighting the immense support they received from their home nation. He expressed that they played for their people, not just for themselves, and acknowledged the French team for their impressive performance.
Kolisi’s early departure in the second half did not deter his team, and he urged them to victory, emphasizing the energy they needed to draw from the crowd. South Africa’s hooker, Mbongeni Mbonambi, was named the Mastercard Player of the Match and recognized the challenge of playing against the host team in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
South Africa’s head coach, Jacques Nienaber, eagerly anticipated the upcoming semi-final against England at Stade de France. He acknowledged the tight nature of knockout games and was prepared for a challenging encounter.
Raphael Ibanez, France’s team manager, expressed disappointment in their inability to convert try-scoring opportunities, ultimately dashing their hopes of winning the trophy. He recognized the tightness of the game and the need to capitalize on opportunities.
Ibanez encouraged his team to remain determined and keep believing in themselves as they faced future challenges.
