South Africa used all of its World Cup-winning experience to close out a thriller against hosts France.
The 29-28 win is yet another contender for game of the year as the Springboks’ defence proved the difference in the end.
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As for France, they will rue the missed opportunity as yet another Northern Hemisphere powerhouse falls to their Southern rival.
So what did we learn?
1 GREATEST WEEKEND OF RUGBY
The past weekend of games may have just been the greatest group of quarter-finals games played ever in Rugby. Or quarter-finals in general.
Every game showed the sport at its best, with Ireland-New Zealand a red-hot favourite for match of the tournament/year. This game will join in on the shortlist, with the Springboks holding on at the end to upset tournament favourites France.
Three out of the four games went down to the final whistle. The only game not to witnessed Argentina launch a late comeback to defeat Wales
World Cup organisers have come under heavy fire for the lopsided draw.
However, it has produced four memorable World Cup finals that will be watched for years to come.
2 EXPLODED
France’s half-decade-long plan to claim the home World Cup is over after running into a world-class Springboks side.
The defending champions can largely thank the impact they got from their ‘bomb squad’ off the bench.
The forward pack monstered the French at scrum-time towards the end of the match, earning some crucial penalties.
Faf de Klerk was sensational as a finisher, emerging in all the right places when they needed it. He was joined in kind by Handre Pollard and his clutch kicking to close out the game with a booming penalty from over the halfway line.
France are now left to sit and ponder what could’ve been alongside the Irish. Both sides have been the standouts in the past two years, but leave the World Cup two weeks earlier than expected.
3. BOMBS AWAY
The Springboks may have just shown the formula to tame the red-hot French side, tormenting them with a series of bombs.
The indecision at the break proved costly, first setting up a try to Kurt-Lee Arendse where the winger just picked up the loose ball, followed by a similar try to Damian De Allende ten minutes late.
Cobus Reinach’s kicking was near-perfect, justifying his selection with some nice touches to set up De Allende.
It kept the Springboks in the contest long enough for their defence to take over and close out the win.
4. SPEED KILLS
Within a four-minute period, Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe demonstrated why there is no substitute for pure pace.
He changed the momentum of the game after Mauvaka’s try, charging down the Thomas Ramos conversion. It proved to be very valuable
Kolbe then found himself in space outside Jesse Kriel and the centre recognised this instantly, putting the boot on the ball and allowing the winger to do what he does best.
The winger is yet another big-game player that shone in the quarter-finals, evoking memories of 2019.
5. THE MAGIC MAN
The legend of Antoine Dupont continues to grow, with the scrum half showing his value in a freakish 12-minute period even in defeat
It started when he caught the Springboks napping off a five-metre tap, throwing a bullet pass to set up hooker Peato Mauvaka in the corner.
His perfect grubber gave Cheslin Kolbe no choice but to take the ball into touch, eventually leading to Cyril Baille’s second.
He capped off by proving he’s not just an attacking threat, stopping a promising Springboks attacking move by timing his tackle perfectly to dislodge the ball and force the turnover.
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