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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the semifinal clash between South Africa and New Zealand!
Follow our men on the ground, Tom Hamilton @tomESPNscrum, Sam Bruce @SamBruce86 and Martyn Thomas @MCThomasSport, who'll be providing us with first hand insights straight from Twickenham.
You can read ESPN's preview, produced by Martyn Thomas, 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 Vermuelen
NEW ZEALAND XV: Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Daniel Carter, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read
MATCH FACTS
- South Africa are one of only two teams -- Australia being the other -- that have a winning World Cup record against New Zealand. They have won two of the three tournament meetings between the sides.
- Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Dan Carter, Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger all played in the last World Cup meeting between the two sides - a 29-9 win for New Zealand in 2003.
- South Africa have played in three previous World Cup semifinals. On the two occasions they've won they've then gone onto lift the Webb Ellis Trophy.
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| 1 |
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We're underway here at Twickenham as Pollard kicks us off. And the Springboks don't take long to recollect possession from the high ball and some nice passing - which heavily involves last week's hero Fourie du Preez - has opened up a little bit of space for Jesse Kriel and co to work some of their magic. They've got the lineout along their left flank now...
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| 2 |
0 - 3 |
First penalty of the game is given to the Springboks after the All Blacks are penalised for being offside at the lineout. Pollard to attack the first three points opportunity.
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| 3 |
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New Zealand's turn for at the lineout now...
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| 4 |
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The driving maul from the lineout doesn't budge much and the All Blacks have been forced to take the different approach of kicking high into their opponents 22. Willie le Roux collects well in the air amid pressure from the incoming New Zealander's. Good start from SA all over.
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| 5 |
5 - 3 |
NEW ZEALAND TRY!
Wow, first try of the game! Boks have been rattled back and Kaino has notched the first five points down the right flank. The All Blacks have eventually managed to stretch the Boks line and some nice handling from Kaino keeps the ball in play and Lood de Jager's last ditch tackle can't reach the flanker who plants down in the corner.
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| 7 |
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Carter's had to retake the kick as Habana - quite bizarrrely - charges down the kick before Carter's even moved. Tactic to put the All Blacks kicker off, perhaps?
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| 8 |
7 - 3 |
Carter - conversion
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| 10 |
7 - 6 |
Penalty again for South Africa as Ritchie McCaw is penalised for offside off a South African lineout. Chance for Pollard to put his country back within a point...
...and he's done it with ease. SA 6 - 7 NZ,
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| 11 |
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Another pen for SA - albeit not within goal kicking distance - after Kieran Read is caught out for a high tackle.
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| 12 |
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Sublime take from Habana as du Preez kicks high into the New Zealand half. Springboks on the attack again and the intensity of this game is not slowing down one bit. Great spectacle so far.
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| 13 |
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South Africa eventually lose possession of the ball at the breakdown, good work from Kieran Read and NZ have the penalty. They've kicked it for the lineout...
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| 14 |
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Bit of a let off for New Zealand as the lineout isn't collected by anyone, but eventually bounces into their possession again. They're touching the Springboks 22 and have made it to phase six...
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| 15 |
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Much better line speed from South Africa and the men in black have been forced into a mistake, with Dane Coles rolled into touch after an attempt to collect Carter's little grubber along the deck down left flank.
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| 17 |
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| 18 |
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Smart play from South Africa. They're deep in their 22 and have been given the penalty to release pressure after New Zealand are penalised for a high tackling, again.
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| 19 |
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Habana with another superb take from du Preez's high kick. However, soon flooded out as New Zealand swarmed around him like bees in their own hive. Play's been brought back for penalty though, and Pollard has another chance to notch another three points.
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| 20 |
7 - 9 |
Pollard - penalty goal
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| 23 |
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Some back and forth kicking has brought much luck for either side from the past couple of minutes. Habana brilliant in the air, Read collecting well from the back, too.
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| 24 |
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Springboks have the lineout on the edge of their 22 after New Zealand chip it into touch. Result = first scrum of the afternoon. Which pack will budge here? SA looked impressive in the rolling maul so far, hinting at their brute power.
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| 25 |
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Neither. Not even the slightest. New Zealand do manage to get the ball back to Smith who offloads to Nonu who barges it into conflict. All Blacks on the bash again as they seek that line break.
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| 26 |
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Sixth penalty conceded by New Zealand there and SA have the chance to release pressure. Bit of injury treatment for Malherbe in the meantime but he looks okay.
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| 27 |
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SA's lineout along their right flank is stolen back by NZ and it's not long before their encroaching on opposition territory again.
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| 28 |
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New Zealand starting to creep over the gain line and this is starting to look more settled and composed by the All Blacks. They've made it to phase 10 and are holding onto the ball - rather than kicking it - comfortably and making their way closer to that white line.
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| 29 |
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Carter opts to kick, Milner-Skudder can't collect and we're back to watching the Springboks throw and catch set piece.
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| 30 |
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| 31 |
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Milner-Skudder releases Nonu down the right and all of sudden we look like we're on the verge of a try. However, he's chopped down five metres from the try line before the ref awards NZ another penalty for an earlier incident. Close, but not close enough.
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| 32 |
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Incredible defense from South Africa. Carter's kick hits the post and some very last ditch defending from du Preez offloads to Pietersen who just about kicks out before joining his scrum-half on the deck.
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| 34 |
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So close! Pietersen intercepts New Zealand's pass five metres from the his sides try line and just as it looks as if he had a clean run for five points, albeit the entire pitch, play's called back by the ref.
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| 36 |
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SA scrum results in another penalty for the men in green. Kicked for the lineout along half way.
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| 37 |
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Another scrum now after a New Zealand handling error, again with SA to feed...
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| 38 |
7 - 12 |
Kaino penalised for offside, silly penalty. He's come in from behind and kicked the ball after taking down du Preez himself. He's even been given a yellow card, too. Pollard to take the kick.
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| 39 |
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Superb kick, right in between the uprights. SA firmly in the driving seat despite spending the majority of the match in their own 22. Five points and one man up.
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| 40+1 |
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HALF TIME ANALYSIS JUST MOMENTS AWAY...
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HALF TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Martyn Thomas had this to say: ""It has been an enthralling first half at Twickenham, and one that while New Zealand have scored the only try has been undoubtedly South Africa's. The Springboks have been forced into making more than twice as many tackles in the opening 40 minutes but that is how they like it. South Africa know they need to win the arm wrestle if they are to beat the All Blacks, and that is exactly what they are doing. They have also unsettled star winger Nehe Milner-Skudder with high balls, while not allowing his partner in crime Julian Savea any time or space. The result has been that for all their possession, New Zealand have tried to force their play and ended up making errors and giving away penalties.
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| 40 |
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Dan Carter kicks us back into play here at Twickenham. The final 40 minutes are underway.
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| 41 |
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New Zealand on the offensive prowl again and much like the first half, they're giving the South African forwards a proper workout. We've got the first scrum of the half, and subsequently the second as it falls down. NZ to feed.
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| 42 |
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| 43 |
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Still New Zealand possession and Aaron Smith is dictating the the play a bit more with his passing. Carter, and even Milner-Skudder, are leading the attack with their kicks, too. SA lineout now as the wingers kick rolls out...
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| 45 |
10 - 12 |
Well, well, well. Carter's the man. Scruffy lineout eventually finds Carter who attempts the drop kick and makes it from about 30 metres out. Under pressure but still makes it. Made it look so simple. Even more impressive given the wetter conditions now with rain hailing down.
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| 46 |
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Wow! What have we just watched here! Milner-Skudder is a shirt pull away from a try as he darts through the entire SA line before FINALLY being grabbed by a lunging hand taking him to the deck. Great stuff from Milner-Skudder.
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| 48 |
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Kaino's back on the pitch and we have the All Blacks lineout along their right flank. Milner-Skudder's also been taken off - injury precaution perhaps?
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| 49 |
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Little grubber kick through can't find Savea who fumbles it. If that lands in his hands, we would've been looking at a different scoreline. New Zealand have picked it up since the first half. Sonny Bill Williams on his way...
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| 50 |
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South Africa scrum holds strong and Duane Vermeulen's grip is vital as he has to hold off Aaron Smith and co. NZ battering hard at the South Africa door. Just metres away...
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| 51 |
15 - 12 |
NEW ZEALAND TRY!
It's been coming. New Zealand have stretched the South African line to the brink and Barrett's given the ball by Nonu down the left who slides home with comfort. Habana is binned for a cynical offense, too. He knocked the ball from Smith's grasp just before the try.
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| 52 |
17 - 12 |
Lovely kick from Carter.
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| 53 |
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South African lineout along their right edge as Carter has to boot upfield to release the mounting Boks charge.
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| 54 |
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McCaw wins the turnover off Strauss and we've got a NZ scrum not far from their 22.
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| 55 |
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Strauss works well in the scrum, managing to get his left boot on the ball, and he's managed to swing it back in their favour. We await du Preez's feed.
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| 56 |
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They've got the penalty! Chance for Pollard to kick.
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| 57 |
17 - 15 |
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| 58 |
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Given back. South Africa penalised for sealing off. The Boks will be furious, easily avoidable. Carter to kick.
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| 59 |
20 - 15 |
And his trusty left black boot does it again.
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| 60 |
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South African lineout and we're back to the driving mauls. They've pushed this one from the half way to the 22. New Zealand wary not to give away another penalty...
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| 61 |
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Impressive defence from the All Blacks. Just as the Boks looked like pouncing, with Pollard making a few metres himself, the New Zealand pack have held strong forced them back to the half way.
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| 62 |
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Habana's back on now and boy could they do with some of his magic right now.
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| 63 |
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All Blacks on the rampage again and their not hanging around. Sonny Bill Williams has broken the line and the South African's are on the back foot. Could this be a try...
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| 64 |
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Not quite. We've got a scrum from five metres out. Pollard and Etzebeth both look hurt here, not good.
STAT:
Springbok tackles: 99
All Black tackles: 48
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| 67 |
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Game seems to have taken a bit a hit in terms of tempo. Couple of scrums and replacements seem to have settled proceedings - good reading for NZ, not so good for SA. We've got a SA lineout now though, along their right flank just shy of their opponents 22.
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| 68 |
20 - 18 |
South African penalty now. Pollard's replacement Patrick Lambie hasn't got the easiest kick and first task of the game here...
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| 69 |
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Nerves of steel. They're now with two points.
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| 70 |
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South Africa force the turnover and Lambie's massive kick puts the All Blacks under severe pressure and Dan Carter has to run a long way to clear that and kick it off the deck into touch. South African lineout now in the NZ 22.
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| 71 |
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New Zealand absolutely batter SA off the driving maul and save their bacon. Aaron Smith impressively pinches off the floor but his wayward kick isn't as nice on the eye and gifts the Boks another lineout but this time on the other flank.
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| 72 |
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And the Whitelock steals the lineout!
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| 73 |
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Lambie's double hit and knocks on when carrying the ball through. New Zealand scrum now along half way.
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| 74 |
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Back and forth kicking is not what South Africa want right now. But, it's what they're getting. Carter's precision is second to none and is wasting some valuable seconds as the Boks back line are continuously having to run around to collect the ball rather than forward in attack. We've got the NZ lineout here all their left.
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| 76 |
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Another scrum now with Smith to feed again. Game's fizzling out. Time's running out. And it looks like South Africa could too be heading out.
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| 78 |
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New Zealand are on the prowl again and their on the SA's 22. Carter eyeing up a game-ending drop goal...
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| 79 |
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Scrum, again...SA to feed deep in their 22. Very far from any points.
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| 80 |
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Monumental shove from NZ and SA have a massive task on their hands here, building right from the back to secure the points with very little time. Will they manage it?
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FULL TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Martyn Thomas @MCThomasSport had this to say:
"As the rain poured down at Twickenham, New Zealand stood up to the power of South Africa and eventually showed their class to seal their place in a second successive final. This was a game of two halves, with the All Blacks bossing the second 40 minutes after their indiscipline had allowed the Springboks to build a half-time lead. But make no mistake Steve Hansen's side deserve to be returning next Saturday. They possessed the greater threat in attack, scored the only tries of the game and were able to soak up everything that South Africa did throw at them."
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