A classic semi final between the All Blacks and the Springboks has been set as South Africa beat Wales 23-19 thanks to a late Fourie du Preez try while New Zealand humiliated France 62-13 with a try-fest led by Julian Savea with three.
South Africa beat Wales 23-19
Wales were six minutes away from upsetting the Springboks, a side they rarely taste victory against. A great scrum gave Duane Vermeulen an opportunity to pick things up with Wales undermanned near the corner. A brilliant behind the back offload to Fourie du Preez gave them the victory after trailing in the prior 11 minutes, as Wales did a very good job of hanging on to their short lead.
Highlights
The Welsh were the better team in the first 40 through some frantic pace as both sides played exactly as expected: Wales trying to capitalize their speed and passing along the lines, while South Africa relied on Handre Pollard and his kicking. Wales got a try from Gareth Davies in the first half after some clever kicking (to himself) by Dan Biggar, but just couldn’t hold on against the South African power and pressure in the second half.
New Zealand beat France 62-13
Maybe this was France sabotaging the occasion because of the usual row between players and their coach. But more than anything it was the All Blacks showing their superiority with mind blowing rugby, making the French pay for every mistake, dominating in about every aspect in terms of strength, physicality and speed, making something out of every opportunity in which the French provided them with a little bit of space and time.
On an embarrassing night for France in Cardiff, the ghosts of 2007 were put to rest. Nothing that looked like an upset, because the closest France got was a missed penalty when they were still behind 10-6. From there, it was just one storming tornado sweeping through the field, scoring nine tries to silence all their critics from the group stage. Julian Savea scored three of them, Tawera Kerr-Barlow had a couple in the span of three minutes, and Dan Carter had plenty of opportunities to pick up points off conversions.
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