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Tonight’s match will be refereed by Ben O’Keeffe. Both teams will be familiar with the New Zealander, as he had the whistle in South Africa’s loss to Ireland, and France’s gritty victory against Uruguay. O’Keeffe leads an all-New Zealand panel of match officials as he will be assisted by Paul Williams and James Doleman. The TMO is Brendon Pickerill.
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This match will also be a battle between two excellent defensive systems. The Springboks have conceded just four tries overall, while France have conceded only five.
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Expect an electric start to this match. Only New Zealand (8) have scored more tries in the opening 20 minutes of their games than either France or South Africa (6 each).
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History is definitely favouring the hosts, as France have lost just one of their last 28 matches on home soil – against Scotland in March 2021 – and have won their last 18 games on French soil. Antoine Dupont has not lost a match as captain, and Maxime Lucu has been on the winning side in every test he has played.
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With 880 caps in the starting XV, it’s South Africa’s second-most experienced test lineup ever. Most of those caps are in the run-on pack, who have 623 caps between them – more than any other front eight in Springbok history.
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Jacques Nienaber has retained 13 of the 15 players who faced Ireland in the big pool match in round three. The notable changes come at scrumhalf, where Cobus Reinach gets the nod to partner Manie Libbok – who made his international debut against France last November – ahead of Faf de Klerk. In the pack, Duane Vermeulen starts in place of Jasper Wiese, who has been left out of the matchday squad entirely. Nienaber has also opted to deploy a 5-3 bench split for the second consecutive match, with De Klerk and Handre Pollard joined by veteran fullback Willie le Roux as replacement backs.
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South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Willie Le Roux.
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The big team news for France sees the return of captain Antoine Dupont, just 24 days after the scrumhalf suffered a fractured jaw in the pool match against Namibia. Dupont comes straight back into the starting lineup, with deputy Maxime Lucu dropping to the bench. France coach Fabien Galthié has named a 6-2 bench split for the second time this tournament, with Sekou Macalou offering a utility option by being able to play in the back row and on the wing. 12 of the starting XV that defeated South Africa in Marseille in 2022 have been named again for tonight’s clash.
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France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille. Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Yoram Moefana.
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The most recent clash between France and South Africa was last November in Marseille. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Antoine Dupont were both sent off in a hard-fought encounter in the Mediterranean port city, as Les Bleus came from behind to win 30-26 thanks to a late try from prop Sipili Falatea and a last-gasp penalty by Thomas Ramos.
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This will be just the second World Cup meeting between these two teams. The first came in the 1995 semi-finals, a game that was almost called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Kings Park in Durban, which would have seen France progress to the final due to South Africa’s inferior disciplinary record. The game went ahead and the Springboks saw off a French onslaught – including a controversial late ruled-out try – to win 19-15.
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The Springboks have the upper hand in 110 years of rugby history between the two nations. They have won 27 of the 45 matches played, including seven of the last eight, while France have claimed 12 wins, with six draws down the years.
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South Africa, meanwhile, started strongly with wins against Scotland and Romania, but missed out on the opportunity to finish on top of Pool B after a narrow loss to Ireland. The Springboks did bounce back with a bonus-point win over Tonga, a game that saw star flyhalf Handre Pollard make his return from injury.
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Tournament hosts France come into this game in excellent form, going through the pool stages unbeaten to top Pool A, after opening their campaign with a come-from-behind win against the All Blacks, before pummeling Namibia, battling back against Uruguay and thrashing Italy.
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This will be the last of the four 2023 World Cup quarter-finals. Argentina produced a late flurry to beat Wales, while Ireland’s playoff curse continued as they were stunned by a defensively-excellent All Blacks side. The winner of tonight’s match will face England, who have beaten Fiji, meaning there could be a re-match of the 2019 World Cup final, if the Springboks progress.
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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Rugby World Cup quarter-final between France and South Africa at the Stade de France in Paris.
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KICK OFF! 0-0. The anthems have been sung with much gusto and South Africa get this World Cup quarter-final underway in Paris. The Springboks are playing from left to right.
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France go close! So nearly a sensational start for the hosts as youngster Louis Bielle-Biarrey is beaten in a race to a kick over the Springbok defence by Kurt-Lee Arendse, who grounds it to earn a goal-line drop-out.
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TRY, FRANCE, BAILLE! 5-0. France draw first blood! It all comes from a massively powerful driving maul, before excellent hands from Penaud put loosehead prop Baille over in the corner.
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CONVERSION, FRANCE, RAMOS! 7-0. Ramos lands the touchline conversion.
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TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, ARENDSE! 7-5. The Springboks strike back! It has been all France so far, but Arendse latches onto Reinach’s kick and sprints clear to score
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CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, LIBBOK! 7-7. Libbok’s conversion swings in at the last moment to level the scores.
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What a start to this quarter-final! France have dominated the early possession and territory, but a momentary lapse of concentration allowed Arendse to strike for South Africa. The Springboks have earned a scrum inside their own 22 after a knock-on from France.
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The first scrum of the match is solid from both teams. Willemse clears up to the halfway line.
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PENALTY MISSED! Ramos’ long-range attempt for France falls narrowly short of the crossbar.
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TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, DE ALLENDE! 7-12. It’s another try that starts from a contestable kick for South Africa. This time, Libbok hangs the ball high and it is gathered by De Allende, who is dragged short of the tryline. After a strong carry, Reinach pops it to De Allende to fall over the tryline.
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CONVERSION MISSED! 7-12. Libbok’s second conversion attempt goes wide.
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TRY, FRANCE, MAUVAKA! 12-12. France have their second try! This game is being played at a frenetic pace. France work their way into South Africa’s 22 and win a penalty. Dupont takes a quick tap and gives the ball to Mauvaka, who bashes his way over.
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CONVERSION MISSED! 12-12. Ramos’ conversion is charged down by Cheslin Kolbe.
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TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, KOLBE! 12-17. South Africa retake the lead! It comes from an excellent counter-attack from a turnover. Kriel receives the ball in space and, spotting Kolbe in space, puts boot to ball. The Springbok winger gathers cleanly and runs through to score.
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CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, LIBBOK! 12-19. Libbok has to hurry his conversion, but it goes over to give South Africa a seven-point lead.
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TRY, FRANCE, BAILLE! 17-19. The big loosehead has his second try! France earn a five-metre lineout and, after a couple of strong carries, Baille forces his way over the tryline.
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CONVERSION, FRANCE, RAMOS! 19-19. Ramos lands his conversion to level the scores.
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Libbok knocks the ball on while trying to gather a kick in an attacking position. The game restarts with a scrum just outside France’s 22.
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France kick the ball all the way to South Africa’s 22. Damian Willemse gathers and calls the mark, but interestingly opts for a scrum, instead of a kick.
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A strong scrum earns South Africa a penalty. Libbok fails to find touch, but Reinach does kick the ball out around the 10-metre line.
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PENALTY, FRANCE, RAMOS! 22-19. Ramos splits the uprights with a penalty to give France the lead in the last play of the half.
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YELLOW CARD! Eben Etzebeth is sent to the sin bin for making contact with France prop Antonio’s head in a tackle. The Springboks are down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes.
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TMO CHECK! The TMO wants to check a head-on-head contact in a tackle from South Africa.
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HALF TIME! 22-19. France take a narrow lead into the break after a breathless first half. The first half of this quarter-final has been played at an incredible pace, with both heavyweights trading blows. The Springboks have had to live on scraps, while France have seen far more of the ball and dominated territory. However, South Africa will start the second half with 14 men, after Eben Etzebeth was yellow-carded in the last penalty of the half.
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KICK OFF! 22-19. France get this second half underway in Paris. The hosts are leading after an incredible first half, which saw both teams score three tries. It has been confirmed that Etzebeth’s yellow card, towards the end of the first half, will not be upgraded to a red.
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South Africa are forced to scramble on defence early on, after an excellent set of offloads from France, but the Springboks survive after Dupont knocks the ball on outside the 22.
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South Africa have rung the changes, bringing a fresh halfback pair on in Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard, while captain Siya Kolisi has gone off to allow Deon Fourie to come on in the back row. France go on the offensive again, working into South Africa’s 22, before the Springboks win a turnover penalty.
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France have picked up where they left off in the first half, dominating territory and picking holes in South Africa’s defence. However, the Springboks again hold out as Etzebeth makes his way back from his sin bin period to loud jeers from the home support.
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France win a scrum penalty in South Africa’s 22. Ramos will have a shot at goal.
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PENALTY, FRANCE, RAMOS! 25-19. Ramos converts his second successive penalty to take France to a six-point lead.
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South Africa get a first attacking opportunity of the half, as Arendse regathers Pollard’s kick. A powerful carry from Kwagga Smith brings the Springboks into the 22, but France win a breakdown penalty.
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Cheslin Kolbe goes on an incredible run from inside his own half to take South Africa back into France’s 22. However, Bongi Mbonambi loses the ball forward just as the Springboks start to build some momentum.
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South Africa launch a powerful counter-shove to win a scrum penalty. They turn down the three points for an attacking lineout, but France win the ball back and Dupont clears upfield.
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France work their way upfield and look set to slice South Africa’s defence open, but a crucial ankle tap from Pollard forces a knock-on near the 22-metre line.
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South Africa launch an attack from inside their 22, running the ball up to halfway, before De Allende kicks it into France’s 22. Dupont is caught alone and France concede a penalty near their own tryline.
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TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, ETZEBETH! 25-24. South Africa are back in it! The Springboks take a quick tap penalty and suck France’s defenders in with a couple of carries. The ball is spread to Etzebeth, who powers his way over the tryline.
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CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 25-26. Pollard slots his first kick at goal to take the Springboks into the lead.
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PENALTY, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 25-29. South Africa win a breakdown penalty on the halfway line. Pollard holds his nerve to convert from over 50 metres.
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PENALTY, FRANCE, RAMOS! 28-29. Ramos brings France back to within a point of South Africa with a short-range penalty in front of the posts.
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Cheslin Kolbe sends an attempted drop-goal wide after a powerful driving maul from South Africa. The game will restart with a 22-drop out from France.
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South Africa win a scrum in France’s 22. Just as Pollard lines up for the drop-goal, De Klerk’s pass to the flyhalf rebounds off Woki. The referee calls for a France scrum, five metres from the tryline.
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It’s nearly time for kick-off. It is currently a brisk 9 degrees in Saint-Denis, but the skies are clear and no rain is expected during the match.