France 28 South Africa 29 - as it happened

Full-time: France 28 South Africa 29

Right, time for bed after a ridiculous 48 hours of rugby. Two brilliant contests between the top four nations in the world, what a shame it came in the quarter-finals, not the semis.

Here’s Gerry Thornley’s match report from Paris. Goodnight all.

[ France knocked out of home Rugby World Cup after South Africa comeback ]

Yet despite the impact of the bench and the malfunctioning French set-piece, the hosts can point to that first half. They were so good, supremely physical and dominant. They took out France’s strengths, line speed and the breakdown, with accurate clears and by playing at 9. They should have been 20 points up, such was the run of play, but they made three mistakes. Twice they spilled the ball in the air, once in contact, and South Africa broke and scored on each occasion.

Just like last night, one side that was on the backfoot more often than not was clinical with their few opportunities and ended up winning.

Here is the Eben Etzebeth score that made all the difference in the end. It doesn’t show in the clip, but the two or three carries before that were all from the bomb squad, sucking in the French defence and leaving Etzebeth one-on-one with Jalibert. No chance.

South Africa have done it. France couldn’t sustain their first half tempo and physicality. The famous bomb squad does its job, the replacement frontrow dominating the scrum and then the rest of the forward replacements showing what they can do in the carry late on to secure the vital score.

What a game, what a Test match. Could easily be the game of the tournament, after last night made a big play at that gong. Another reminder, if we needed one, of the sheer madness of this draw as the world’s number one and two sides go out in the quarter-finals.

FRANCE ARE OUT OF THE WORLD CUP

Wardi makes a big carry, potentially getting into drop-goal range but Faf de Klerk rips it out of the tackle. That is that. South Africa march on, surefire tournament favourites now.

79 mins: Wow, France break from deep from Penaud but they lose the ball at the following ruck. South Afrcia now just need to hang onto it for a minute and France are out!

France get it back just short of halfway. They have 40 seconds...

77 mins: More drama! Pollard was deep in the pocket for the drop. De Klerk tries to find him but throws it into Woki who was on the floor on the wrong side. O’Keefe doesn’t give a penalty, presumably not wanting to reward de Klerk for trying to buy a penalty, and the ‘Boks then knock on trying to regather.

75 mins: You’ve got to be joking me. Ramos puts the 22 restart out on the full. South Africa have a scrum right on the 22 and their set-piece has been dominant in this second half. That could be game over for France.

74 mins: Wow. Bizarre from Kolbe. South Africa make plenty of yards from a maul and he must think they’ve earned an advantage. Filling in at scrumhalf, he attempts a dropgoal straight from the back of the maul but it’s well wide.

71 mins: Penalty France. Jalibert gathers a chip and chase and France are in the 22. De Klerk cynically plays Dupont offside and it’s a penalty in front of the posts. That really should be yellow, but he gets away with it. Ramos has an easy kick to narrow the gap to one.

No mistake. France needed that score.

68 mins: Penalty South Africa! There’s that bench impact again. Deon Fourie makes a huge hit, knocking France back and Kwagga Smith is straight in over the ball. Pollard will have a shot at goal from halfway. The French crowd boos as replays show that Smith’s hand was clearly on the ground.

No matter, Pollard slots it from halfway, as you do.

TRY EBEN ETZEBETH

South Africa will have the lead. Their bench is having a huge impact, first with the scrum penalties and now with the forward carries as phase after phase they make ground and get quick ball. In the end, it’s the starting lock Etzebeth who powers through Jalibert and over the line. Pollard converts from in front of the posts to put the ‘Boks into the lead!

65 mins: Penalty South Africa! They have advantage for a scrum penalty, break, chip into the 22 and flood Dupont as he gathers on his own line. He doesn’t let go and O’Keefe pings him. South Africa are going to tap and go...

63 mins: France have an attack of their own as Fickou pressurises Kolbe into a spill in the air. With advantage over, Ollivon spills as de Klerk brilliantly tap-tackles him just as he was about to pass and put a teammate into space.

South Africa get a free-kick at the scrum due to Wardi being unstable. They go straight back for another scrum. Peato Mauvaka is off. If France hang on, he’s man of the match hands down. Pierre Bougarrit is on at hooker.

61 mins: France’s defensive line is ferocious. Ollivon is absolutely everywhere and he manhandles de Klerk as soon as he gathers. A few phases later, de Allende is smashed man and ball but gets the offload away. Le Roux wasn’t expecting it and spills forward under pressure. It’s the first time France’s defence has been tested and they pass with flying colours.

Du Toit is gone for a HIA, Vermeulen is back on.

60 mins: South Africa lose the lineout! Snyman’s lifters don’t get him in the air and he can’t hang on. Ollivon comes away with the ball. Dupont eventually clears as Kolbe runs it back again. This time Ollivon stops him before he breaks the line.

58 mins: France scream for a knock-on with the defence under pressure and they get it. It was a brilliant attack, Kolbe running back a kick to great effect as he broke the line. Smith then smashed through Penaud to keep the momentum going, albeit the wing does just enough to get him to deck. A phase later, South Africa spill in contact.

PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA! Atonio is off as Aldegheri comes on and Nche makes mincemeat of him in the scrum. South Africa go to the corner. Huge moment in the game.

56 mins: For the first time all game, South Africa string some phases together. However, there is Mauvaka to get in over the ball, cashing in on an isolated Kwagga Smith. It’s harsh on Smith, who put in a monumental carry but that only served to take him away from his support.

However, Jalibert skews the relieving kick, sending it backwards and into touch. France have the ball, but back inside their own 22.

53 mins: Ox Nche’s first act at the scrum is to give away a penalty. Ramos will have an easy kick to add to France’s lead.

He duly slots the kick, and France are six points up.

51 mins: France want a penalty but they’ll only get a scrum. Kitshoff reaches over the top of the breakdown to bat the ball out of Dupont’s hand. While we wait for the scrum, Kwagga Smith, Ox Nche and Willie le Roux are on, Kitshoff, Vermeulen and Damian Willemse are gone.

Wardi is on for Baille in the frontrow for France, Cros for Jelonch in the backrow.

48 mins: France break off the scrum, Ollivon and Jalibert combining beautifully. Yet again, though, a spill costs them. This time from Ramos inside the 22.

47 mins: Faf de Klerk’s first involvement is to get into a communication breakdown with du Toit. The backrow wasn’t ready for the pass, it comes anyway, hits his hands and goes forward. Scrum France.

46 mins: Wow. There was no room down the shortside at all but somehow Dupont finds a sliver and breaks. His chip is dealt with well by Willemse under pressure but France immediately win it back. Kriel takes a gamble to come up out of the line and it pays off, South Africa earn a turnover and are able to clear.

Big calls from South Africa. The halfbacks, Reinach and Libbok, are gone. De Klerk and Pollard are on. RG Snyman is also on for Franco Mostert.

44 mins: What a time to drop the ball. Alldritt comes up with a brilliant breakdown steal and the subsequent offloads send Mauvaka and then Ramos tearing into the 22. For one of the first times today, the ball reaches Penaud at first receiver and that extra width allows the Boks use their famous linespeed. Penaud spills under pressure.

42 mins: Kolbe recovers scrappy ball at the back of a scrum which France pulverise. He kicks across the park and it rolls into touch just beyond the France 10m line.

That break wasn’t long enough given the breathtaking nature of the first half. News from Paris is that Etzebeth’s card stays at yellow, the change of direction from Atonio was enough mitigation.

France kick off the second half.

69 per cent territory and 59 per cent possession for France in that first half. They will be kicking themselves that three errors, two in the error, one with ball in hand, have gifted France three scores. The game would be out of sight without those.

South Africa’s linespeed has been completely nullified by France playing exclusively off nine, regularly getting over the gainline with their forward carriers. At the breakdown, France’s speed of ball is rapid. The ‘Boks cannot slow them down at all. A performance of the ages from France, if they cut out the errors.

Credit to South Africa, though, they have had three opportunities and scored three times. Clinical.

HALF-TIME: FRANCE 22 SOUTH AFRICA 19

Ramos adds a penalty to take France into the lead ahead of the break.

40 mins: Kitshoff gives away his second penalty at the half, again for playing the ball at the ruck when he shouldn’t have. Ramos could have a shot to send France into the halftime sheds in the lead.

Uh oh. We’re checking for foul play from Etzebeth. Could be trouble for South Africa...

Yep. Etzebeth makes head-on-head contact with Atonio in the tackle. It meets the yellow card threshold and the TMO bunker will have a look. I think he bends at the hips just enough, with a slight change of direction from Atonio, so I think he won’t see red. They’ll have the whole of half-time to figure it out.

37 mins: This is interesting. Willemse marks a ball inside his own 22 and immediately calls for a scrum. This was seconds after another scrum 50m up the pitch. I’m sure his frontrow will thank him for that.

That’s why South Africa win the scrum. Baille gets pulverised by Malherbe and the ‘Boks get a penalty. However, Libbok fails to make touch. The touch judge had his flag up but O’Keefe says Bielle-Biarrey kept it in. The AR had his back to the wing keeping it in. Terrible officiating.

35 mins: For once, a South African kick doesn’t lead to a score. Willemse would have been in if he could gather, but it bounces off his fingertips and rolls forward.

TRY CYRIL BAILLE

Two French frontrow forwards have a double! France don’t maul at the lineout, going quick off the top and they catch South Africa unawares. After a handful of destructive carries, Baille barges over from close range. Ramos adds the easy extras.

30 mins: Another kick. Dupont grubbers in behind but Kolbe wins the race. However, his momentum takes him out into touch. France have a lineout 5m out.

29 mins: Now France nearly score from a kick in behind. Penaud wins the race to his own chip and chase but the bounce sees it evade him. Reinach is delighted to find it in his own hands and does well to stay in play. Libbok eventually clears.

TRY CHESLIN KOLBE

Another try out of nothing from South Africa. What in the name of god is going on? South Africa force a loose ball in the collision. It’s immediately flung wide, Kriel kicks into the 22 and with no one home Kolbe has far too much pace to gather and score.

This time, Libbok adds the extras.

25 mins: South Africa are furious with Ben O’Keefe and they should be as Ramos clearly spills in the air but play is allowed to continue. Meanwhile the French fans are calling for an elbow to the face of Dupont after seeing it on the big screen. Good luck to the officials.

TRY PEATO MAUVAKA

France are level. Their attack is frantic, full of errors but crucially the ball goes backwards. Danty barrels into the 22 but Kolisi disrupts the ball. Dupont does so well to make sure the ball is still on the French side. When a penalty comes a phase later, he takes a quick tap, fires to Mauvaka and the Toulouse hooker finishes in the corner through two defenders. What a game.

Just when you thought we didn’t have enough action, Kolbe manages to charge down the conversion! What is going on?

TRY DAMIAN DE ALLENDE

Another score out of nothing. A backline move looks to be all at sea after a handling error but South Africa get another score off poor kick defence. Woki fails to gather a high ball, de Allende gathers and hares off into the 22. He’s hauled down short, but gets back to his feet to finish from close range a few phases later. France playing all the rugby, but they’ve made two mistakes in the air and South Africa have scored twice.

Libbok shanks the conversion, that is a bad miss.

17 mins: Another kick sends Bielle-Biarrey chasing the ball in behind. South Africa gather and look to run it back, earning a penalty when France play the ball on the floor.

15 mins: Kitshoff thinks he’s stolen the ball on the floor for South Africa but he was in the side. Ramos calls for the tee for a long-range shot. It’s 5m in from touch right on halfway.

Off the post! He didn’t have the legs either. Willemse makes a meal of clearing, spilling it backwards and then failing to find touch.

12 mins: France think they can break again but a spill ends the attack. Penaud contests a box-kick well, Mauvka dives on it and sprints into the 22 only to lose it in contact.

TRY KURT-LEE ARENDSE

This game is not disappointing the hype. Vermeulen counterrucks, Reinach kicks in behind, it bounces off someone and Arendse reacts quickest to speed off into the corner. France should have scored, moments later South Africa do.

Libbok’s kicking has been much-maligned of late, but he nails his first effort from the touchline, curling it back in beautifully.

7 mins: Wow, France could have a penalty try but Ben O’Keefe says no. Mbonambi spills in midfield, allowing opposite number Mauvaka to break. Quick ball results in an overlap out wide, which Etzebeth disrupts by sticking out a hand. France scream for a deliberate knock and a penalty try, but referee O’Keefe says the ball went backwards. South Africa clear. Huge call.

TRY CYRIL BAILLE! WHAT A START FROM FRANCE

Wow. France throw nearly everyone into a lineout maul and it comes so close to driving over from 20m out. South Africa are blown away, they take the maul down illegally but no penalty comes. No matter, quick hands from Dupont and then to Penaud send Baille over in the corner. Ramos adds the extras from the touchline.

3 mins: Another chip and chase, this time from Penaud. Willemse does well to rise up and block, but it ricochets into touch inside the South African 22. Explosive start from France.

2 mins: Eben Etzebeth is knocked back in his first carry, not often you say that. Libbok goes to the air and Ramos takes it brilliantly under pressure. CHANCE! Jalibert chips and chases, gathers, before the ball is recycled and kicked in behind. Bielle-Biarrey nearly gets to it over the line but the ball squirts loose and dead. South Africa survive.

1 min: Time for kick-off. Antoine Dupont has his scrumcap on but it’s the ‘Boks who will kick things off. Mannie Libbok launches it high into the Paris sky as the crowd erupts.

Here come the teams for the anthems. They’ve got the choir to sing La Marseillaise in a very low key, meaning it’s not as loud as it normally is. What a pity, normally one of the great anthems, that’s twice now so far in the tournament that organisers have made a mess of it.

We must be accurate. We’ve obviously got some plans up our sleeves, hopefully they give us some opportunities and we take it.

—  South Africa coach Jaques Nienaber

South Africa’s boss pre-game on France’s penchant for a fast start. Both sides, actually, tend to start quickly. Per Opta, only New Zealand (eight) have scored more tries in the first quarter of their games than France or South Africa (six each). The Springboks also are also one of three sides yet to concede a try in the opening quarter.

An Irish angle to this evening, just in case anyone is prepared to have any skin in the game once again after the disappointment of last night.

Here’s how both sides made it to the knockouts:

France

Won 27-13 vs New Zealand

Won 27-12 vs Uruguay

Won 96-0 vs Namibia

Won 60-7 vs Italy

South Africa

Won 18-3 vs Scotland

Won 76-0 vs Romania

Lost 8-13 vs Ireland

Won 49-18 vs Tonga

From one talismanic scrumhalf to another. South Africa have dropped theirs, Faf de Klerk is on the bench. In a shock call, Cobus Reinach starts in his stead. Mannie Libbok is still trusted at outhalf with Handre Pollard, the more recognised goal-kicker, on the bench.

Duane Vermeulen also starts in the backrow with Jasper Wiese, who has been the first choice eight throughout the tournament, not even in the matchday 23.

The French team. There’s only one piece of news really, and it’s the big man. Just weeks after suffering a cheek injury that required surgery, Antoine Dupont is back. He has a plate in his face and, in all likelihood, would not be playing if it wasn’t such an important match, but he’s in and he leads his side out.

Another day, another Rugby World Cup quarter-final. This is the final game of the weekend, and it could easily be the pick of the bunch. It will be a tough gig to live up to the drama of last night’s action, but France look to keep alive their dreams of a World Cup victory on home soil in their clash with defending champions South Africa.

Kick-off is at 8pm, we’ll be building up to the action over the next few hours.