Champions march on, hosts bounced out: How epic Rugby World Cup quarter-final unfolded

Take the points or go for the line.. damned if you do or don't but it almost paid off. With SA trucking it up a few times in the final minute they came very close to a sealing off penalty in kickable range, smart by Faf to boot the ball the heck outa there..

The French and Irish are good sides… and have been for a few years. But to say it was the best the ABs have played in years, because it was a close game is your own spin. The best in the Foster era I would agree. Also note, the Irish have still only beaten the AB’s 4 times and failed to make it out of a rugby quarter. They lost to the ABs on their home ground, with a NH ref and a massive media following and vocal crowd and still lost. Yes it went down to the wire, but they never once gained the lead in the game. And add to that, my point was regarding the way the NH media and fans were talking themselves up. That’s fine and they are entitled, but when it ends up being that the two favourite teams that are being promoted and backed this whole tournament and everyone is behind get bounced, have the good grace to respect those teams that did it and acknowledge that the teams that lost weren’t up to it. But in saying all that of course Ireland and France are playing well they are the top two sides in the world, so the ABs need to ratchet it right up to win, but to say this is the best AB side and game played by them for years because they only just scraped the win, is being dismissive of the AB sides led by players like Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Dan Carter. With a midfield of Nonu and Conrad Smith, Whitelock and Retallick in their prime…this AB team is not in the same class. So a massive effort to step up and win in the moment that matters against all the odds.

I just don’t think people realise how good Ireland and France are now as that was best all blacks game for a long time and I am talking years, and the game was up in the air till the final whistle. Equally France against a very good Boks side that entered the RWC in top form and dominant physical side only just won. Ok only England in final 4 but to not recognise that northern hemisphere sides are very much stronger now is a mistake

French attack was splendid. Their defence especially aerial was terrible. You can't lack balance and win at this level. They'll look ay those first two Boks tries and weep ...

Dismantled Ireland and France? Really?

Sarcasm Mike ?

It was certainly very impressive strategically and tactically from Nienabar and co and the players executed well. I felt more like NZ controlled the whole game more than SA did. NZ managed to make Ireland look one dimensional, I thought.

You clearly didn’t hear the ref explanation, Faf had pollard lined up for a dg but chose instead to throw the ball in a different direction into the frog on the ground… One of the few things he got right. BTW, I’m neutral in this game, probably prefer the Boks in the final…

No argument pm. But even when the French put the blowtorch on them on first 40, I sensed that they had the measure of the game. I agree though that their mastery wasn’t obvious till the last 20.

B'OK let both sides get away with plenty. How about when French player was on his knees in an offside position, the ball hit him and B'OK calls a scrum for France? Potential penalty try or penalty plus yellow should've been the call - cynical foul IMO.

And if he had of got the conversion it means France win by 1 point…game again of fine margins. I am neutral but did prefer France or Ireland to be at least in the final. Funny that England still in the mix whilst both France and Ireland are not.

I think Yes. Previously, there were three(?) finalists who had lost a pool match. England 07, France 11 (They lost 2 pool games!), SA - 19. Any others?

Agree with everything except the 'always'. I did think they looked like they were in control of the second half though.

It's not sour grapes. I wasn't even supporting France. They were ahard done by a couple of times. Unlike you, I'm not adopting an attitude towards the refereeing, I'm calling it for what it was.

well at least they have 4 years to ruminate over it

enter Barnes

If the ball or the ball-carrier touches the referee or other non-player and neither team gains an advantage, play continues. If either team gains an advantage in the field of play, a scrum is awarded to the team that last played the ball.

It's kind of ironic that both NZ and SA played more NH type rugby against Ireland and France who played more SH rugby (kicking less and running with the ball more.) Personally, I hate the defensive orientated, up and under's, hope for penalties, kind of play but it seems like it's working. Guess Eddie was right. Possession rugby is dead.

Geez he could be in charge of the final if ABs play Boks the French ref but hopefully bias will give way to sense and they appoint Barnes

Agreed… that’s why I get so annoyed with all of this “let’s rally round the southern hemisphere” bs. It alludes to our being from a more progressive and open style of play that those nasty NH teams aren’t capable of. At the end of the day we can’t hold a candle to any of the 6 nations sides, possibly Italy and even they beat us recently. So we can cling to the coat tales of our mates from below the equator all we like, we wre winning nothing anytime soon