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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the quarterfinal clash between South Africa and Wales!
Follow our men on the ground, Tristan Barclay (@TBarclayESPN) and Sam Bruce (@SamBruce86), who'll be providing us with their first hand insights straight from Twickenham.
You can read the match preview HERE.
South Africa XV: Willie Le Roux, JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damian De Allende, Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (captain), Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen
Wales XV: 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, Taulupe Faletau
Also see...
- Sexton now ruled out of tomorrow's Ireland - Argentina clash
- Ford and Gray have bans overturned
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| 1 |
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South Africa kick us off and straight away the first penalty goes to Gatland's men after the Springboks - inparticular Eben Etzebeth - fails to move away in the ruck. Biggar kicks for the lineout, which is taken promptly by Wales but it's not long before South Africa are in possession again.
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| 2 |
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Just as South Africa chuck a few phases together Morgan steals from South African hands. Nice work for the centre.
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| 3 |
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And Wales very nearly make it pay! Superb break from George North down the left flank which leads the men in red to a few metres away from the try line. Springboks hold tight and the Welsh men had to opt for the other option of pumping the ball back down the line and just as they look like finally finding that first try again, the final offload pass to Morgan on the right flank is too high and out into touch!
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| 5 |
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Wales taking the game to Meyer's men here, with Morgan having even more involvement. George North looking as bright as ever so far in this tournament - a real handful.
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| 6 |
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No points for Wales just yet as they're penalised for not releasing in the ruck. South African pen, South African lineout...
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| 7 |
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| 8 |
3 - 0 |
First kicking penalty of the game and Pollard lines up. First points, perhaps?
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| 9 |
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Perfect kick, smack down the middle from a fairly tight angle. Three for the Springboks!
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| 10 |
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First scrum! South Africa to feed...
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| 12 |
6 - 0 |
Another penalty kick for South Africa. Wales need to sort this out or they could continue to hand the victory to the South Africans.
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| 14 |
6 - 3 |
Wales are continuing their forward rampage and their quick passing is definitely causing some unrest along the Springboks line. Gatland's men remaining the more impressive side despite the scoreline. Biggar has just pulled three back for his side though, and we wrap up the first 15 or so minutes having seen nine kicked points.
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| 15 |
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Penalty for offside given against the Welsh side again! Pollard to kick.
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| 16 |
9 - 3 |
Pollard - penalty goal
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| 17 |
9 - 8 |
WALES TRY!
Unbelievable scenes! Gareth Davies is the man for Wales again! Real top drawer effort from Biggar himself to set that try up. Kicks high and forward before running forward to beat Willie le Roux in the air to collect the ball back again. Offloads to his right where Davies runs home for the try.
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| 18 |
9 - 10 |
Biggar - conversion
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| 19 |
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Doesn't take long for another South African penalty though....Pollard to kick, again.
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| 20 |
12 - 10 |
Pollard - penalty goal
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| 22 |
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Games slowing down a tad now, but we're into the South African 22 with a Wales lineout...
...which is stolen back by SA! Great pinch and Willie le Roux darts forward himself making some decent territory.
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| 23 |
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South Africa scrum after a Wales infringement.
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| 24 |
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First real proper drive for the Welsh try line from Meyer's men here. Burger leads the way as he clatters into those Welsh defenders. Some mounting Springboks pressure here...
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| 25 |
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Which is released as Biggar makes a huge up field kick! George North's rapid pace chases down the defending Pietersen who has no choice but to kick it out for the lineout. Good pressure from North.
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| 27 |
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| 28 |
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Just as South Africa break down the right, they're pulled back as Pietersen is deemed in touch. Lineout to come.
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| 29 |
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Turning into a bit of a lineout festival this as Anscombe kicks for yet another down the Welsh right flank.
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| 31 |
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We're back to scrums with the South African captain to feed.
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| 32 |
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South African lineout. Really struggling to get anywhere near the Welsh 22 to be honest. Wales' defence is very strong and besides the odd cross field kick from Pollard - which generally have just been desperate hit-and-hope opportunities - they have looked pretty stumped for ideas with regards to gaining a try.
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| 34 |
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Having watched every game so far this tournament, I don't think I've seen a game with so much kicking up and down field yet. Anscombe, to le Roux, to Biggar, to Pollard etc...
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| 36 |
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Wales falter in the breakdown and we have a South African penalty in their half. Five points to anyone who guesses what's coming up now? Yes, a lineout. Wouldn't Meyer love his side to turn this into five points of their own, somehow...
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| 37 |
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| 38 |
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They fluffed it, and it's not long before we have another Welsh edition of the throw and catch, again...
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| 39 |
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South African penalised for offside after Faletau takes the ball into contact. Biggar, from very far out, is lining up for the three points...
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| 40 |
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Welsh scrum to end the half. Neither back budges particularly but Roberts is shifted the ball on the left but is swiftly taken down. However, they don't take long to find Biggar who kicks the drop goal! Fantastic effort as he makes it! Whistle is blown.
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| 40+1 |
12 - 13 |
HALF TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Tristan Barclay had this to say:
"This is shaping up to be an excellent curtain-raiser for the World Cup quarterfinal weekend. The thought before kick-off was that the big bruisers of Wales and South Africa would play out a direct, gritty match, but what we've seen so far at Twickenham has been an open field and plenty of running from the back divisions. Wales heaped on the pressure in the opening stages but have let the Springboks off the hook with too many penalties within range of the posts. They are, however, ahead on the try-count, after Gareth Davies shrugged off JP Pietersen to cross after 17 minutes. A special mention must go to Dan Biggar, whose excellent up-and-under made the move, before ensuring Wales would go into the break ahead thanks to his dropped goal. The neutrals will want to see more of the same in the second 40 minutes, please."
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| 40 |
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Wales kick us off and we're back into the final 40 of this quarterfinal.
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| 41 |
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South Africa imposing from the off here. We've already seen Gareth Davies make two defensive kicks and we've only been back on the pitch for a minute - a sign of what's to come perhaps?
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| 42 |
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South Africa pen after an offside from Luke Charteris in the driving maul. Pollard to kick his Springboks back into the lead?
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| 43 |
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MISSED. Let off for Wales.
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| 44 |
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Burger stopped by Charteris - thumping tackle! Wales reclaim possession just inside their half and maybe it's time for a bit of Welsh pressure again...
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| 45 |
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Burger penalised for blocking Tyler Morgan, making it really awkward for the No.13. Biggar to kick!
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| 46 |
12 - 16 |
PIN POINT! Extra three.
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| 48 |
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Building here for South Africa.... Try looming...
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| 49 |
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South Africa make it to phase 17, with some nice inter passing from Burger and Louw, before Wales steal it - SOMEHOW?! Right from under the Springboks nose on the Welsh line they pinch it back and kick up field. That was a complete mystery, even the standing Springbok players stood and watched in disbelief as Davies kicked up field.
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| 51 |
15 - 16 |
South Africa return to phase 10 before finding Pollard who makes his own edition of Biggar's drop goal kick! Nails it and puts his side back within a point again! Burger has made 15 carries already this game, too. Big work from the forwards.
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| 52 |
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| 53 |
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Anscombe kicks up to Pollard, who kicks back, who then kicks back again... Anscombe eventually collects the final boot but is taken into touch. SA lineout.
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| 54 |
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Another SA penalty. Pollard's on it...
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| 55 |
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He's ripped that one left and can't add the extra three. Wales let off the hook, again. Could prove costly.
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| 56 |
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Wales have won the turnover as South Africa looked to pounce after a couple of decent ball carries from Strauss. Fantastic offloads from Burger in the build up, too.
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| 57 |
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Baldwin's on the deck here and looks in trouble. Another sub.
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| 58 |
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Duane Vermeulen penalised for a high tackle on Jamie Roberts and they Welsh men have kicked for the lineout along the left flank.
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| 59 |
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Neither side proving useful at finding a break on the oppositions line and we're back to watching the fullbacks playing their own game of kicking back and forth to each other.
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| 61 |
18 - 16 |
Pollard has enough chance for a penalty kick and JUST about makes it.
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| 62 |
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And Biggar's got his own chance again now after a ruck infringement.
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| 63 |
18 - 19 |
Made it! No surprise there.
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| 64 |
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South Africa back in their attacking rampage and while they're once again managing to chuck a few nice phases together, the Welsh defence is keeping tight and blocking everything out. Can't help but feel South Africa need to shift it wider to have some luck, it's all stuck in the centre of the pitch.
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| 66 |
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Fourie du Preez displays his kicking skills now as the Welsh line has forced them back from their attack. Not for long though as Anscombe kicks back into SA hands.
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| 67 |
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It's all South Africa still as Wales are almost inviting the pressure on themselves. Make phase nine but the Springboks fumble. Back in their hands though as they Cuthbert kicks.
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| 68 |
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Scrum now just inside South Africa's half. Davies to feed.
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| 70 |
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Wales on the charge now and have made it up for phase 7. Will it prove fruitful?
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| 71 |
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Nope! Penalty to SA. Time to release the Welsh pressure and attack themselves.South Africa into phase 12 and are back into the Welsh 22. Similar to scenario to the most of this half - Wales tackles holding out as South Africa pound into the men in red.
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| 72 |
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Scrum just along the Welsh 22.
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| 73 |
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Biggar's off for a HIA and is furious about it... Scrum to restart still...
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| 74 |
23 - 19 |
SOUTH AFRICA TRY!!
ROUND THE BACK FROM FOURIE DU PREEZ! Unbelievable offload from Duane Vermeulen - that's one for YouTube - before their captain leads by example and has acres of space to finish in the corner!
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| 77 |
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And after some Welsh attacking play, albeit not particularly threatening, South Africa have won the penalty at the breakdown!
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| 78 |
23 - 19 |
Driving maul from the lineout and South Africa are on the offense themselves again! Running down the clock here, Wales desperate for the try...
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| 79 |
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Audacious drop goal kick from Pollard falls short and Wales have to rebuild from the back. Doubt there's going to be enough time for Wales...they've got the penalty though and they've taken it quickly inside their half.
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| 80 |
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We're into the red zone and Wales are struggling to make any territory.... IT'S OVER AS FOURIE DE PREEZ KICKS OUT!
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| 80+1 |
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FULL TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Tristan Barclay had this to say:
"Talk among the press corps at half-time ran along the lines of 'surely they can't keep this up?' The answer in the second half was an emphatic yes. Where Wales were dominant in the opening 40, South Africa spent the second period banging on the Welsh door, with the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Lydiate holding back the green tide. With just five minutes to go, it looked as though Wales were going to be able to cling on for victory, but then up stepped Fourie du Preez to fly over in the left corner. It was heartbreak for the Welsh, but they can hold their heads up high after running the two-time champions so close. "
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