France v South Africa LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result from thriller as England learn semi-final opponent

Who would have thought we would see this man back in action so soon after that big injury?

Antonie Dupont is the man to watch tonight - can he deliver another performance for the ages to guide his team through to the semi-finals?

A reminder that the winner of this match will face England after they surived a late Fiji comeback in Marseille.

Owen Farrell kicked the vital points required to steer Steve Borthwikck’s side through to a final four clash against either hosts France or defending champions South Africa, but only after Fiji levelled the contest at 24-24 with two quick-fire tries through prop Peni Ravai and flyhalf Vilimoni Botitu.

Fiji will rue three relatively simple shots at goal that were missed, as well as unforced errors that eased the pressure on England. Centres Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant scored first-half tries and Farrell was unerring with the boot, including a late drop-goal. England led 21-10 at halftime and looked in total control of the game for the first 60 minutes before holding off a stern Fijian challenge in the final quarter.

You can read Harry Latham-Coyle’s full match report from Marseille below:

Just over half an hour until kick-off here in Paris. A reminder of how both sides will line up:

France XV: 15. Thomas Ramos, 14. Damian Penaud, 13. Gael Fickou, 12. Jonathan Danty, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Antoine Dupont; 1. Cyril Baille, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Cameron Woki, 5. Thibaud Flament, 6. Anthony Jelonch, 7. Charles Ollivon, 8. Gregory Alldritt.

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

South Africa XV: 15 Damian Willemse; 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe; 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach; 1 Steven Kitshoff, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert; 6 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen.

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.

South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick hopes his team can draw on the experience of their victorious 2019 World Cup run when they take on France in Paris.

The defending champions finished second in Pool B to set up a meeting with the tournament hosts in the last eight, a position which is not unfamiliar to the Springboks.

In 2019 South Africa faced hosts Japan in the quarter-finals before going on to win the competition and Stick says it is beneficial to have a “reference point” ahead of what he anticipates will be a “tight game”.

“We are playing against France and we know they are also in a good space as a team,” he said. “They have won all their games, they had a big game against the All Blacks in the first game of the group stage and did very well.

“The nice thing for us is we have been in this position before. In Japan in 2019, it was the same thing, playing Japan with all their supporters. It is the nature of the game in a World Cup, you have to go through the tough ones.

“At least we have a good reference point. We have been here before. Every game we play now, we can’t afford not to capitalise on the opportunities that are created. It is going to be a tight game. We are well prepared but we will see. It doesn’t get bigger than this.”

PA

Former France captain Thierry Dusautoir fears the hosts’ bid for a first world title could be damaged by South Africa even if Les Bleus beat the world champions in the quarter-finals.

The French might have faced Ireland or the Springboks at Stade de France in the last eight and the former flanker thinks the top-ranked Irish would have been preferable given the physicality of the South Africans.

“I think that France have all the weapons to win against South Africa,” the 41-year-old, who captained France in their 2011 World Cup final loss to New Zealand, told Reuters.

“Maybe I would have preferred Ireland, not because they are a weaker team, but because it would be less physical than playing South Africa.

“If we win this game, we’d still have two more games to play to be able to be champions. So it’s going to be hard and maybe there will be a high cost.”

Dusautoir said the impact of France finally winning a World Cup after losing the finals in 1987 and 1999, as well as 2011, could be considerable as rugby jostles for young talent with other codes.

“You can already feel the impact of the performance of the French team, we have more kids coming to rugby,” he said. “You already have big exposure with players like Antoine Dupont and it would be great because we’ve waited so long, we’ve lost the three finals.

“We will never beat soccer but with a world title maybe we’d get even more kids coming to play rugby.”

Reuters

Matthieu Jalibert admitted the return of talismanic captain Antoine Dupont has given France a huge boost ahead of Sunday’s mouth-watering World Cup quarter-final against defending champions South Africa in Paris.

The 26-year-old scrum-half will lead Les Bleus into their last-eight tie just over three weeks after suffering a broken cheekbone against Namibia that placed his remaining involvement in the tournament in jeopardy.

Stand-off Jalibert is relishing the prospect of having his half-back partner back alongside him as he believes Dupont’s presence will give the Boks something extra to worry about.

“The whole team is very happy to have him back,” said Jalibert. “We’re happy to have him with us, knowing that he’ll be able to start this quarter-final. It’s always a pleasure to play with him. It’s easy to adapt to his game and to play alongside him.

“It gives us a lot of confidence. We know he’s capable of making a big difference, and that he inspires fear in opponents.

“It gives us more space around him. It’s always an asset to have him with us. Even if he’s wearing a scrum cap, he’s at 100 per cent of his ability.”

PA

Things are heating up at the Stade de France, with both teams well-supported. The hosts understandably have the greater number of supporters but the Boks have turned out in decent numbers as well

South Africa have won seven of the last eight games against France but the most recent meeting between the sides saw Les Bleus triumph in Marseille last November.

France extended their impressive winning run to 12 games as they tamed the Springboks 30-26 at the Stade Velodrome after a nail-biting contest.

Les Bleus had scrum-half Antoine Dupont sent off in the second half after the world champions were also reduced to 14 men following Pieter-Steph du Toit’s early exclusion.

But a strong finish, with a late try by forward Sipili Falatea and a last-gasp penalty by Thomas Ramos, earned Fabien Galthie’s side another win a week after they edged out Australia 30-29 in Paris.

South Africa were always close thanks to penalties by Cheslin Kolbe, as well as tries from Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse, but France were just a cut above, less than a year before the World Cup.

New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe is one of the referees in France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with the pool stage over, the Kiwi is poised to officiate in the knock-out stages.

It is the 34-year-old’s second tournament, having taken charge of three pool games as the youngest on-field official four years ago in Japan.

Here’s everything you need to know about the referee this evening:

South Africa have opted to keep Manie Libbok starting at 10 for their Rugby World Cup quarter-final, despite an expectation that the experience and superior goal-kicking of Handre Pollard might be preferred.

While Libbok is the more explosive fly half in open play and his creativity makes the Springbok attack click, questions about his kicking were raised ahead of the World Cup. He has failed to quash those at the tournament, with missed kicks costing them during the defeat to Ireland in particular.

Pollard is more reliable from the tee and, having recovered from injury, his late call-up to the squad had many expecting him to be given the start given the fine margins of knockout rugby. But head coach Jacques Nienaber is confident he has made the right decision.

“The big thing with Handre [Pollard] is the injury,” said Nienaber. “He was out for about 20 weeks and if he wasn’t, things might have looked different. We’re slowly building him up since injury.

“But Manie [Libbok] is our in-form fly half. I think we’ve only lost one game this year with him starting at 10. He’s in form and the team performs when he’s the starting fly half. You look at the way Manie drives the team, his point of difference in the games he’s started at 10 for us, we scored four tries to one – we score tries with him in there.”

Aside from Libbok, the Springboks have largely opted for an experienced team, with 15 of the matchday squad having played in the 2019 World Cup final where they defeated England.

“We’ve been working with most of these players since 2018 and we’ve been building a squad capable of defending our title,” added Nienaber. “We believe this group will offer us the impetus we need against a quality French side that will be playing in front of a passionate home crowd.”