Rugby World Cup news LIVE: Argentina and New Zealand name line-ups for semi-final clash

In the minutes after a thrilling, thumping quarter-final in Marseille, the Stade Velodrome DJ reached into his record collection and plucked out some early Eighties Elton John. It felt like an appropriate soundtrack. On a weekend where Wales, Ireland and France faded away, England – somehow, some way – are still standing.

Talk of a hemispheric shift proved premature, with a southern sweep elsewhere leaving Steve Borthwick’s side the only unbeaten outfit left in this odd World Cup. A team that once never could have hoped to win now find themselves in the final four; the Six Nations’ hopes at this tournament rest, almost unfathomably, with England.

Not that one would expect too many Welsh, Irish or French supporters to seek comfort in an embrace of white cotton. For France and Ireland, particularly, it will rankle to have used the last four years so brilliantly to build a contender and find that it is England’s rushed construction that has endured. There is still every chance that Borthwick’s new-build comes crashing down once subjected to a Springboks storm, but so far England have proved, just about, up to code.

Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby, has predicted the entire England team for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final as the mind games continue ahead of a rematch of the 2019 tournament final.

Erasmus was speaking to the media for a second consecutive day at the start of semi-final week at a press conference in Presles, 30 kilometres north of Paris.

Neither side is due to name their squad for the last four encounter until Thursday, but the former Springboks head coach arrived with a provisional fifteen he thought Steve Borthwick would be considering on a bit of paper.

The mind games began on Sunday night. South Africa had just booked their place in the last four of the Rugby World Cup, pipping France in an instant classic in Paris, and the Springboks’ director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, was straight on social media to start his game week stirring.

As Erasmus searched for England Rugby’s account on X, formerly Twitter, and clicked the follow button, he knew he would be noticed. At the time of writing, South Africa’s opponents on Saturday are the only account that Erasmus follows. The 50-year-old has form – before Ireland and Scotland’s decisive Pool B encounter, the two Celtic nations were the sole occupiers of the coach’s ‘following’ feed.

Such social media tomfoolery will matter little come Saturday but speaks to Erasmus’s unique approach to life and rugby. The architect of South Africa’s World Cup triumph four years ago as head coach, Erasmus has since stepped up into a directorial role, with former assistant Jacques Nienaber taking on head coach duties.

England rugby fans dressed as Lord Nelson were thrown out of the World Cup quarter-final against Fiji after fights broke out in the stands in Marseille.

Video surfaced on social media that showed multiple fans involved in scraps at the Stade Velodrome, with one supporter being picked up and launched down several rows of seats amid the scuffles.

The fight appeared to involve a group of men in fancy dress and was during a thrilling quarter-final clash, which England won 30-24 after surviving a late Fiji comeback.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup is down to the final four after the hosts France were knocked out and South Africa progressed to the semi-finals.

An entertaining pool stage saw France, Ireland, Wales and England top their groups, while New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Argentina finished as runners-up to set up a mouthwatering set of quarter-finals.

They delivered and then some. First Wales were edged by Argentina in Marseille, before the world No 1 side Ireland were left heartbroken in narrow four-point defeat to the resurgent All Blacks in Paris. England stumbled past Fiji with some dogged late defence on Sunday, and the last quarter-final was surely the best of the lot as South Africa beat France by one point in an epic encounter.

The Rugby World Cup’s final four have been decided after a thrilling quarter-final weekend in France.

Ireland and France, who topped our rankings last week, are out of the tournament, their dreams dashed by New Zealand and South Africa in two outstanding matches in Paris.

How do the four remaining nations stack up in our power rankings? Here, The Independent assesses the semi-finalists:

1. South Africa

Top of the pile after pipping the hosts in Paris are the Springboks. In a game of fine margins, their bench impact and calm telling crucial in the final few moments.

England will be charged up for the semi-final given what happened in Yokohama four years ago but this version of South Africa might be even better.

The Rugby World Cup’s final four have been decided after a thrilling quarter-final weekend in France.

Ireland and France, who topped our rankings last week, are out of the tournament, their dreams dashed by New Zealand and South Africa in two outstanding matches in Paris.

How do the four remaining nations stack up in our power rankings? Here, The Independent assesses the semi-finalists:

2. New Zealand

New Zealand took the other instant classic in Paris, their 37-phase final defensive stand a remarkable physical and mental achievement.

All three Barrett brothers were outstanding at the Stade de France, with Sam Cane producing a real captain’s performance, too

The Rugby World Cup’s final four have been decided after a thrilling quarter-final weekend in France.

Ireland and France, who topped our rankings last week, are out of the tournament, their dreams dashed by New Zealand and South Africa in two outstanding matches in Paris.

How do the four remaining nations stack up in our power rankings? Here, The Independent assesses the semi-finalists:

3. England

Credit must be extended to Steve Borthwick and England, who have navigated their way into a World Cup semi-final that, while far from ever being out of reach, looked distant during their August struggles.

Will the emotional intensity of a World Cup final rematch against the Springboks enable them to lift their level?

The Rugby World Cup’s final four have been decided after a thrilling quarter-final weekend in France.

Ireland and France, who topped our rankings last week, are out of the tournament, their dreams dashed by New Zealand and South Africa in two outstanding matches in Paris.

How do the four remaining nations stack up in our power rankings? Here, The Independent assesses the semi-finalists:

4. Argentina

Argentina celebrated their quarter-final win over Wales wildly, perhaps recognising that a last four berth makes this tournament a success.

But the Pumas will be in the mix against the All Blacks, a side they beat twice during the four-year cycle before this tournament and who perhaps have a few physical frailties that Argentina’s gainline winners are capable of exploiting.

Wing Mark Tele’a has been brought back into the New Zealand side to face Argentina in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals after missing the All Blacks’ last eight win over Ireland for disciplinary reasons.

Tele’a replaces Leicester Fainga’anuku having been left out last weekend after breaching team protocols.

The other change to Ian Foster’s side comes in the second row, where Sam Whitelock, the most capped All Black ever, is preferred to long time locking partner Brodie Retallick.