Good afternoon and welcome, rugby fans. We’ve reached the business end of proceedings at the World Cup and although we’d all prefer Ireland to be in London this weekend, there’s two cracking semi-finals in store.
First up, it’s the meeting of New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham with kick-off fast approaching at 4pm.
Sit tight, get comfortable and stick with us for what promises to be a blockbluster.
The scene is set.
It’s one of rugby’s great rivalries and the stakes couldn’t be any higher. Both two-time winners of the Webb Ellis Cup, South Africa and New Zealand will go head-to-head for a place in next week’s final.
Here’s a look at the two teams for this afternoon’s game:
South Africa: Willie le Roux; JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damien de Allende, Bryan Habana; Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (capt); Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw; Lodewyk de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Frans Malherbe, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Victor Matfield, Willem Alberts, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
New Zealand: Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams.
Which way do you see this one going?
New Zealand have won four of the last five meetings between the sides with South Africa’s one win coming in Johannesburg last year.
Our man Murray Kinsella is in place and ready for action. Just 15 minutes until kick-off now.
Here come the teams and it’s time for the anthems.
Crackling atmosphere at Twickenham on what is a dull Autumn afternoon. Time for the Haka…
Can you see anything other than a New Zealand victory?
It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up every time you see it. Twickenham falls silent as Richie McCaw spearheads the Haka.
The pre-match rituals are complete, we’re ready to go.
Ladies and gentleman, strap yourselves in…
Handre Pollard kicks off and New Zealand gather and clear immediately.
Kriel pierces through the wall of black shirts but the move breaks down for the Springboks. Blistering start for South Africa.
By the way, Jerome Garces is the man in the middle for this one. Ben Smith, meanwhile, shows signs of early nerves as he overcooks his clearance and it goes out on the full.
Penalty! South Africa 3-0 New Zealand
The Springboks are rewarded for their purposeful start as Pollard continues where he left off last week by dissecting the posts from the tee. That all stemmed from Smith’s poor clearance and the subsequent line-out.
Try! South Africa 3-7 New Zealand
What a response! The All Blacks cut through South Africa with consummate ease and Jerome Kaino brushes off the tackle in the corner to touch down. Brilliant offload from Richie McCaw in the corner, too.
From the touchline, Dan Carter’s first attempt at the conversion sails wide but the referee offers him a reprieve after Bryan Habana is too quickly off the line to charge down. Carter makes no mistake second time around.
South Africa will have to cut out those defensive errors if they are to have any chance this afternoon but Pollard has a chance to reduce the deficit after McCaw is adjudged offside at the breakdown.
Penalty! South Africa 6-7 New Zealand
Pollard places the ball on the tee and strikes it sweetly.
Hollard goes past the 70-point mark for the tournament with that penalty. Electric start to this semi-final.
Superb picture of the game’s opening try…
After a frantic start, things have just settled down in the last few minutes. South Africa will be pleased with their opening quarter but it’s the All Blacks who lead by a point.
Brilliant catch from Habana to gather the up-and-under. From there, South Africa spread it wide as they attack with numbers but Willie le Roux’s grubber kick has too much on it for JP Pietersen.
But the Boks had an advantage and Garces pulls it back for a penalty in-front of the posts. This should be straight forward for Pollard.
Penalty! South Africa 9-7 New Zealand
And he makes no mistake from the tee. Pollard slots over this third penalty as South Africa regain the lead.
South Africa soaking up the pressure and they’re defending really well to keep the All Blacks at bay for the time being.
Jerome Kaino’s try was his sixth at the World Cup, equalling John Jeffrey & Danie Rossouw’s record for the most by a forward.
The All Blacks are going through the phases and being patient in attack. They’ve been camped inside the Springboks’ half for the last five minutes but South Africa are standing firm.
And after a period of sustained pressure, South Africa win the penalty!
Another angle of Kaino’s try:
This has been a superb display of defence by the Springboks. Nonu puts a grubber kick in behind the line of green shirts and it trickles out into touch on the far side.
Sensational speed through the hands from New Zealand as they throw the ball out wide but an advantage was already coming. Garces pulls them back and Carter has the chance to put his side back in front.
But his penalty strikes the post and South Africa are alert to the danger to clear.
Sustained pressure again here from the All Blacks as they continue to knock on the door. South Africa concede another penalty but John Lacey has spotted something on the far side and asks Garces to go to the TMO.
And replays show Moody was guilty of committing a grabbing Malherbe by the neck and the penalty is reversed.
Incredible defence by the Springboks! They’ve been on the back foot for the last 15 minutes but are holding firm and they’re winning all the battles out there at the moment.
From the scrum, the South African pack wins the penalty and Pollard brings play up to halfway. Just three minutes until the break.
Poor line-out from South Africa and New Zealand steal possession but Carter knocks it on.
Yellow card! Kaino is sent to the bin by Garces for deliberate offside. Indiscipline by the New Zealand flanker there and that man Pollard has the chance to extend South Africa’s lead.
Penalty! South Africa 12-7 New Zealand
Pollard is never going to miss, is he? Straight between the sticks and the lead is five.
And that’s half-time.
The heavens have opened in south west London as the teams reemerge for the second-half. Can New Zealand turn this around? They’re down to 14 men for the next nine minutes, remember.
Stop-start opening few minutes to this second period with a number of scrums on the far side. After forcing the turnover, South Africa eventually clear their lines but Ben Smith gathers his own up-and-under and the All Blacks are back in opposition territory.
Another grubber through but Milner-Skudder judges this one to perfection and Du Plessis is under extreme pressure five metres out from his own line.
Drop goal! South Africa 12-10 New Zealand
South Africa can only clear as far as their 10 metre line and despite scrappy ball from the line-out, Carter has the composure and capacity to nail a drop goal under pressure.
Possession changing hands regularly throughout that last passage but South Africa break forward through De Allende and a deft kick nearly frees Habana but he pulls down Milner-Skudder and it’s a penalty.
And here comes Kaino.
That was Carter’s seventh career drop goal and his first since October 2012, according to World Rugby.
Milner-Skudder is forced off as he limps away from that incident with Habana. Beauden Barrett is on in his place.
Try! South Africa 12-17 New Zealand
Minutes after his introduction, Barrett dives over in the corner. Beautifully worked try from the All Blacks as Nonu delays the pass until the last minute to drag Pietersen off his wing.
Carter nails the kick from the left touchline.
And it’s a double-blow for the Boks as Habana is sin binned for an offence in the build-up to the try. The winger deliberately knocked it on.
Penalty! South Africa 15-17 New Zealand
Pollard reduces the deficit but straight from the kick-off, South Africa are penalised at the breakdown and now Carter has the simple task of restoring the five point advantage.
Penalty! South Africa 15-20 New Zealand
Easy as you like for Carter and there’s daylight between the sides again.
Here come South Africa again. They’ve thrown everything at New Zealand so far but what do they have left in the tank? A little under 20 minutes left.
11 phases of possession for South Africa results in a penalty for the Boks as Bryan Habana returns to the fray after spending 10 minutes in the bin.
But the penalty is reversed and that’s a huge moment. Victor Matfield is penalised for a neck roll after Garces asks the TMO to have a look at what went on at the breakdown. Carter kicks deep into South Africa territory.
Substitute Beauden Barrett goes over in the corner.
Bit of a lull in proceedings as both sides bring on reinforcements and prepare themselves for the final 13 minutes. The momentum is just beginning to turn, however, as South Africa are looking for a route back into the game.
And they may just have it with a kickable penalty.
Penalty! South Africa 18-20 New Zealand
Pat Lambie steps up and shows nerves of steel to send his first effort between the posts and bring his side within a score of the defending champions.
The decibel levels are going up a few notches in Twickenham as South Africa force the turnover and send the ball deep into All Black territory. Carter comes across to avert the danger and the Boks have the line-out.
Scrappy ball but South Africa retain possession but only momentarily as Smith somehow comes away with the ball.
Whitelock steals it again and New Zealand are just doing enough to keep South Africa at bay. 8 minutes remaining.
The rain continues to pour down, making conditions particularly greasy.
You can feel the tension inside Twickenham. Just one score between the sides as we enter the final five minutes. A place in the World Cup final on the line.
New Zealand are doing enough to wind down the clock as they’re awarded the put in. Garces isn’t happy and calls for a reset. This is suiting the All Blacks with just two minutes remaining.
Carter drops into the pocket and looks set to attempt another drop goal but he decides against it at the last minute. On reflection, he makes the right decision to keep possession and South Africa’s World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread.
If South Africa are to win this, they’ll need to do it from their own line. One mistake now and it’s over. All or nothing.
Not much progress for South Africa and Matfield knocks it on and that’s it!
Full-time! New Zealand advance to the World Cup final after defeating their old foes South Africa by two points at Twickenham.
That’s all from us this afternoon but make sure to stick around for full reaction to New Zealand’s victory on the site throughout the evening. Plus, we’ll have full coverage of tomorrow’s second semi-final between Australia and Argentina.
Until then, goodbye.
