The quarter-finals at the 2023 Rugby World Cup come to a climax with an astonishing last eight match up between France and South Africa in Paris.
How one of these favourites will be kicked out of the competition is anyone’s guess, but that’s the result of World Rugby’s lopsided tournament draw.
In any case, the reigning champions and host nation can do nothing but scrap it out under the Stade de France lights to complete the semi-final line up.
France vs South Africa
It’s the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup road for one of these titans, as France and South Africa go head-to-head in the fourth quarter-final on Sunday night.
A tournament-defining night at the Stade de France will see the winners complete the semi-final line up.
And it’s impossible to choose between them, in what is a contest comfortably fitting of the final itself, pitting the irrepressible nature of Les Bleus’ play against the Springboks’ champion status.
The French had little trouble in emerging from Pool A in top spot.
A famous opening night victory over New Zealand put them well on their way, with the All Blacks going on to join them in making it through to the knockouts.
It wouldn’t be France without a dose of jeopardy, though, with plucky Uruguay giving the hosts – who were booed off in Lille – a stern examination in eventually losing 27-12.
Namibia faced the backlash, much like they did against New Zealand, with a 96-0 blitz from Les Bleus only tainted by the fractured cheekbone suffered by poster boy Antoine Dupont.
They wrapped up with a 60-7 success over Six Nations neighbours Italy, who endured an ultimately miserable experience at the global showpiece.
South Africa are always ominous and set down their first marker with an 18-3 win over in-form Scotland on the opening Sunday.
The Springboks switched it up to bash Romania 76-0 in Bordeaux, before an 8-13 reverse to fellow favourites Ireland didn’t do too much to dampen the notion they can defend the title earned four years ago in Japan.
A 49-18 rout of Tonga polished off their group duties, as Siya Kolisi and Co put their feet up for the final round of pool fixtures with only a highly unlikely possibility of the result of Ireland versus Scotland conspiring to send them home early.
Cobus Reinach is preferred to Faf de Klerk as the Boks’ starting scrum-half, as gnarled veteran Duane Vermeulen is preferred to the youthful Jasper Wiese for this one.
There’s also a start for fly-half Manie Libbok, as mid-World Cup call up Handre Pollard awaits his turn on a bench that carries a 5-3 split.
All French eyes are on Dupont, who makes a suspiciously brisk comeback from his nasty injury.
He returns alongside Matthieu Jalibert in the half-backs, while try machine Damian Penaud and kicking monster Thomas Ramos are lurking in the outside backs.
France Starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon (captain), 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille.
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 Starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt–Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kobe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
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.
RWC 2023: France vs South Africa prediction and kick off time
Team 1 | Win % 1 | Win % 2 | Team 2 | Predicted margin |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wales | 47.4% | 52.6% | Argentina | -1 |
Ireland | 35.9% | 64.1% | New Zealand | -5 |
England | 78.3% | 21.7% | Fiji | 11 |
France | 48.6% | 51.4% | South Africa | -1 |
Kick Off Time: 21.00 on Sunday, 15 October 2023.