Good afternoon, rugby fans. Welcome to our live coverage of the first of the World Cup quarter-finals as South Africa meet Wales at Twickenham.
We’ll bring you all the action as it unfolds before attention turns to Cardiff for the blockbuster clash between New Zealand and France.
Settle in for an afternoon on the couch and a mouthwatering double-header. Kick-off is fast approaching at 4pm.
Here’s how the teams will line-up in London this afternoon.
For Wales, Dan Lydiate returns after missing the 15-6 defeat to Australia with an eye injury. There are two others changes with Liam Williams’ injury forcing Warren Gatland into a backline reshuffle.
Tyler Morgan comes in at centre with George North returning to the wing. Experienced prop Gethin Jenkins comes into the front-row while Alun Wyn Jones is making his 100th Test match appearance.
Wales: Gareth Anscombe; Alex Cuthbert, Tyler Morgan, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Gethin Jenkins, Scott Baldwin, Samson Lee; Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones; Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (capt), Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Paul James, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, James Hook.
South Africa: Willie le Roux; JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damien de Allende, Bryan Habana; Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (capt); Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Malherbe; Lodewyk de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willem Alberts, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
The Welsh team arriving at Twickenham a short while ago.
Both teams are out on the pitch and it’s time for the national anthems. Full house at Twickenham awaits.
Which way do you see this one going? South Africa have bounced back from that shock defeat to Japan to stroll through to the quarter-finals while Wales safely negotiated the ‘group of death’.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail ryan@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
As you would expect, a crackling atmosphere at Twickenham. We’re all set for kick-off.
Wayne Barnes ensures everything is in order and gives Handre Pollard the green light to get us underway. Strap yourselves in folks, this is knock-out rugby.
First penalty of the afternoon goes to Wales as the Boks are penalised for not rolling away from the kick-off. Biggar brings play up to halfway.
From the line-out, Biggar places a delicate kick over the South African defense and it bounces nicely but Willie le Roux is there to gather and avert the initial danger.
Blistering start from Wales as they come out of the blocks purposefully. The ball is spread wide to George North and he makes good ground down the left, evading the attention of several Springboks, before he’s eventually hauled down 5m from the line.
Wales recycle possession but Gethin Jenkins’ pass is too high for Cuthbert and the move breaks down. Encouraging signs for Gatland though.
Wales are doing all the running in these opening exchanges – and they’re asking serious questions of the Springbok defence. But their dominance has yet to yield a score as they fail to capitalise on another promising position by losing their composure at the breakdown.
Absorbing stuff so far at Twickenham.
You get the feeling Wales will need to take their chances at every opportunity this afternoon. It cost them last week against Australia and Warren Gatland will be hoping his side are more clinical when they have possession.
South Africa just warming to the task now as they get their hands on the ball for the first time in opposition territory.
Penalty! South Africa 3-0 Wales
And the two-time world champions hit the front as Handre Pollard brings his tally to the tournament to 49 with a sweetly struck penalty from the right touchline.
That score has settled South Africa down and Pollard has another chance for the tee as Wales are penalised again at the breakdown.
Penalty! South Africa 6-0 Wales
And the out-half makes no mistake with his second penalty of the day. That brings Hollard past the 50 point mark for the tournament, becoming just the fifth South African player to reach the landmark in a single World Cup.
Bismarck du Plessis has gone off with a nasty looking cut to his hand and is replaced by Adriaan Strauss.
Penalty! South Africa 6-3 Wales
Good response from Wales as they force the mistake and after Jamie Roberts charges for the line, Wayne Barnes eventually awards the penalty in-front of the posts. Biggar has the simple task of slotting over.
Straight from the kick-off, Wales are whistled again by Barnes and Pollard has the opportunity to re-establish his side’s six-point lead.
Penalty! South Africa 9-3 Wales
21-year-old Pollard dissects the posts again.
Try! South Africa 9-10 Wales
Incredible! Biggar gathers his own up and under to break through and then offloads for Gareth Davies to touch down under the posts. Biggar adds the extras and suddenly Wales lead.
Penalty! South Africa 12-10 Wales
Mindless stuff from Luke Charteris. Just when his side had gone into the lead, the second-row foolishly gives away a penalty for stepping across the Springbok player chasing the kick.
Pollard isn’t going to spurn that opportunity and South Africa hit the front again.
This game is an end-to-end classic so far. Wales hit back with a rolling maul and are awarded the penalty by the referee – but Biggar opts to go for touch as opposed to kicking at goal.
Warren Gatland’s side are certainly taking the game to South Africa.
Wales are throwing everything at South Africa. It’s been a frenetic opening 25 minutes and a couple of players are blowing hard.
After Biggar clears his lines, the red shirts are quickly up to put pressure on Willie le Roux and the full-back is forced to kick to touch. But, once again, Wales don’t take advantage as North is pinged for not releasing.
Both sides have been guilty of making mistakes but it’s making for engrossing viewing as possession changes hands at regular intervals. On that occasion, South Africa looked to go wide but JP Pietersen is just in touch on the far side and Wales have the opportunity to clear.
South Africa are just taking a stranglehold of proceedings now as they look to turn the screw before half-time. Boos ring around Twickenham as Barnes awarded the Boks a scrum when it appeared Wales at done enough to turn it over.
But Wales’ defence stands firm and they turn it over and Biggar finds touch with the penalty. From the line-out, the out-half goes crossfield for North but Pietersen is steady under the high ball and South Africa clear through Jesse Kriel.
There’s a real battle taking place at the breakdown. Sam Warburton has been imperious so far and Wales have now made their sixth turnover of the contest. Just five minutes remaining in this first period.
Yet again, Wales are penalised at the breakdown as Warburton allows South Africa to release the pressure by holding onto the ball in the tackle. Very frustrating for Gatland as the penalty count rises.
Biggar misses the chance to give Wales a half-time lead as his penalty from just inside the South African half comes back off the post.
Another chance here for Wales though as South Africa knock it on as they try and break forward. Gatland looks on with his arms folded. This could be a big moment.
Scrappy ball for Davies but Wales retain possession inside the 22 and Biggar is in the pocket for the drop goal….
And he nails it! Biggar makes up for that penalty miss by slotting his drop goal between the posts and Wales lead at the break.
HT: South Africa 12-13 Wales
An absorbing 40 minutes of rugby right until the whistle as Dan Biggar starred for Wales in manufacturing a slender lead for his side. Gatland’s side deserve their advantage after taking the game to South Africa and could have been in front by more had in not been for some indiscipline at the breakdown.
Right, both teams have re-emerged and we’re ready for the second-half. The Welsh lead is just one point as Biggar restarts the contest.
Two minutes into the second-half and Charteris has been penalised again – that’s eight penalties conceded by Wales so far. Gatland’s reaction in the box says it all as Pollard lines-up the kick.
But he misses! Let off for Wales as Pollard fails to convert. Chaotic start to the second-half.
Penalty! South Africa 12-16 Wales
A series of kicks results in Wales winning the penalty on halfway and after he goes through his idiosyncratic routine, Biggar dissects the posts with precision.
South Africa add some impetus into their play and they’re edging closer to the Welsh line. 15 phases stretches the wall of red shirts but somehow Warburton comes away with the ball and kicks clear!
The Boks are just beginning to click into gear and this is the first time in the game we’ve seen them go through phase after phase. Wales are standing firm so far but this is energy sapping stuff as South Africa keep the ball with the forwards.
Drop goal! South Africa 15-16 Wales
After banging on the door for a sustained period, Pollard drops into the pocket and executes the drop goal to bring his side to within a point.
Absolutely gripping stuff at Twickenham.
South Africa have been patient in attack as they look to force the opening. Pollard and Biggar exchange kicks before Anscombe is forced to take the ball into touch under pressure from Pietersen.
South Africa are now finding themselves in good positions and another penalty gives Pollard the chance to restore their lead.
But nerves get the better of him again as he pulls his effort wide of the posts and Wales’ lead remains intact.
The tide has turned and Wales are hanging on. South Africa come flowing forward again and the gaps are suddenly opening up for the green shirts.
Wales have found themselves under huge pressure in this second-half and Gatland has brought on some reinforcements. Samson Lee is replaced by Tom Francis and Gethin Jenkins makes way for Paul James.
Another change for Wales as play gets back underway after a brief interruption. Scott Baldwin collided with Eben Etzebeth and it appeared the Welsh forward was out cold and he’s being carted off with Ken Owens coming on.
Anscombe tries a kick through but Habana blocks it down and danger is written all over it for Wales but the full back recovers brilliantly to get back ahead of Habana and fall on the ball.
However, he doesn’t have much support and South Africa turn the screw to win the penalty.
Penalty! South Africa 18-16 Wales
Pollard makes no mistake this time as his effort just goes the right side of the post from a South African point of view. The Boks are back in front and on the balance of play, particularly in this second-half, they deserve to lead.
Penalty! South Africa 18-19 Wales
Instant response from Wales as Biggar’s right boot restores their lead. Incredible see-sawing game so far and we’re set for a blockbuster final 15 minutes.
Having survived that initial South African onslaught, Wales have just regained a semblance of control but they keep kicking possession away and are only inviting pressure onto themselves.
There’s a lot of tired bodies out there now. Wales continue to stand firm with South Africa asking all the questions again.
Into the eight phase now and South Africa are knocking at the door with patience. The Welsh fans get behind their team and they’re on their feet as a red shirt forces the turnover and the pressure is relieved, for now.
Several changes on both sides as we near the final ten minutes.
‘Bread of Heavan’ reverberates around Twickenham as the Welsh fans find their voice.
Wales need to remain patient but they don’t commit enough numbers to the breakdown and South Africa force the turnover and win the penalty.
Wales need another almighty defensive effort here as South Africa build the phases deep into opposition territory.
Into the final seven minutes as South Africa are awarded the scrum inside the Welsh 22. There’s just one point between the sides with a place in the World Cup semi-final on the line.
Rhys Priestland comes on for Biggar, who doesn’t appear to be happy as he trudges off.
TRY! South Africa 23-19 Wales
Is that the clincher? From the set-piece, the space opens up for Fourie du Preez to wrap around and dart in to score in the left corner. Do Wales have anything left to give?
Pollard missed the conversion but Wales still need a try. That was a classic move from the Boks including a brilliant offload from Vermeulen to create the space for the scrum-half.
Wales fans are dejected in the stands. Their side find themselves in a promising position with ball in hand but Jamie Roberts doesn’t release and that could be the winning moment.
One last push from Wales but they’re along way from the South African line and the clock is against them.
Last chance saloon for Wales now and they’re making good ground as the clock goes red. One mistake and it’s over for Wales. The tension is palpable.
That’s it! Willem Alberts comes away with the ball and Fourie du Preez kicks it into touch.
Well we’re off for a breather before the second of today’s World Cup quarter-finals. Incredible effort from Wales but they ultimately just fell short as South Africa book their place in the last four.
Will it be New Zealand or France joining them? We’ll soon find out when the sides clash in Cardiff this evening at 8pm. Sean Farrell and Murray Kinsella will be in place at the Millennium Stadium to bring you all the action as it happens. Until then, goodbye.
