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RWC 2023 semi finals: Double rematch in store as we digest a wet weekend
And just like that, we’ve got a southern hemisphere Rugby World Cup final to look forward to, as all the heroics of 18 other teams over the previous few weeks are all but forgotten about.
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It’s been twenty years since a team other than New Zealand or South Africa have had their names engraved on the Webb Ellis trophy, and over-performing England’s chances of repeating the 2003 feat looked promising for the majority of their hard-fought semi final, until the dying moments changed their fate.
New Zealand, in contrast, looked like they were out for a casual training ground session, as they dismissed the threat of Los Pumas with consummate ease.
So we’re set up for another clash between the old enemies and another piece of rugby history will soon be written.
NEW ZEALAND vs ARGENTINA 44-6
The All Blacks held off the challenge of an Argentina side who had a very mixed world cup by scoring seven tries at the Stade de France on Friday night.
While there were moments in the first half that would have given Argentina fans some hope, New Zealand ultimately broke through the defence far too often and scored fairly easily, resulting in a very one-sided semi final.
It was so one-sided in fact, that New Zealand chose to play the final six minutes with just 14 men.
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Star winger Will Jordan joined the likes of Jonah Lomu, Bryan Habana and Julian Savea on a record eight tries in a single Rugby World Cup, leaving him in the position of breaking the record should he score in the final.
For New Zealand it’s another final against rivals South Africa, who they last faced in that position in 1995, losing 15-12 on the day.
Argentina meanwhile will have the task of facing England in the third-place play-off on Friday, a rematch of their pool defeat.
Ultimately it was a disappointing semi-final for neutrals, but will give the All Blacks plenty of confidence going into the final on Saturday, setting them up for their fourth title.
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SOUTH AFRICA vs ENGLAND 16-15
With South Africa favourites, England came out firing and dominated most of the match, playing the wet conditions the better of the two sides and looking like they were set to repeat a place in the final, after they did so in 2019 in Japan.
Owen Farrell’s boot provided the only points for England, as he kicked 4 penalties and a very well taken drop goal to put them in the position of leading 15-6 for a large part of the contest.
The match was actually watched by the biggest audience of the year on ITV1 in the UK, outstripping the likes of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and the coronation of King Charles III in May.
South Africa somehow clawed their way back into the contest however, with Handre Pollard’s experience showing late in the contest, first setting up a perfectly placed line-out that resulted in a try for the Springboks, then slotting a long range penalty to snatch the win 16-15 win.
After a match that included a fair amount of niggle, there have been allegations against Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi, who is accused of making a racist slur mid-match.
World Rugby have since stated that they are investigating, while South Africa are reportedly doing the same.
South Africa and New Zealand will face each other in the final at the Stade de France on Saturday, 28 October while England and Argentina will meet a day earlier for the third-place play-off.
Knockout
11 - 12
Final
6 - 44
SF1
15 - 16
SF2
17 - 29
QF1
24 - 28
QF2
30 - 24
QF3
28 - 29
QF4
