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RWC 2023 semi finals: Double rematch in store as we digest a wet weekend
And just like that, we’ve got a southern hemisphere Rugby World Cup final to look forward to, as all the heroics of 18 other teams over the previous few weeks are all but forgotten about.
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It’s been twenty years since a team other than New Zealand or South Africa have had their names engraved on the Webb Ellis trophy, and over-performing England’s chances of repeating the 2003 feat looked promising for the majority of their hard-fought semi final, until the dying moments changed their fate.
New Zealand, in contrast, looked like they were out for a casual training ground session, as they dismissed the threat of Los Pumas with consummate ease.
So we’re set up for another clash between the old enemies and another piece of rugby history will soon be written.
NEW ZEALAND vs ARGENTINA 44-6
The All Blacks held off the challenge of an Argentina side who had a very mixed world cup by scoring seven tries at the Stade de France on Friday night.
While there were moments in the first half that would have given Argentina fans some hope, New Zealand ultimately broke through the defence far too often and scored fairly easily, resulting in a very one-sided semi final.
It was so one-sided in fact, that New Zealand chose to play the final six minutes with just 14 men.
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Star winger Will Jordan joined the likes of Jonah Lomu, Bryan Habana and Julian Savea on a record eight tries in a single Rugby World Cup, leaving him in the position of breaking the record should he score in the final.
For New Zealand it’s another final against rivals South Africa, who they last faced in that position in 1995, losing 15-12 on the day.
Argentina meanwhile will have the task of facing England in the third-place play-off on Friday, a rematch of their pool defeat.
Ultimately it was a disappointing semi-final for neutrals, but will give the All Blacks plenty of confidence going into the final on Saturday, setting them up for their fourth title.
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Match Summary 
2
Penalty Goals
1
0
Tries
7
0
Conversions
3
0
Drop Goals
0
153
Carries
167
6
Line Breaks
11
17
Turnovers Lost
8
3
Turnovers Won
5
SOUTH AFRICA vs ENGLAND 16-15
With South Africa favourites, England came out firing and dominated most of the match, playing the wet conditions the better of the two sides and looking like they were set to repeat a place in the final, after they did so in 2019 in Japan.
Owen Farrell’s boot provided the only points for England, as he kicked 4 penalties and a very well taken drop goal to put them in the position of leading 15-6 for a large part of the contest.
The match was actually watched by the biggest audience of the year on ITV1 in the UK, outstripping the likes of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and the coronation of King Charles III in May.
South Africa somehow clawed their way back into the contest however, with Handre Pollard’s experience showing late in the contest, first setting up a perfectly placed line-out that resulted in a try for the Springboks, then slotting a long range penalty to snatch the win 16-15 win.
Match Summary 
4
Penalty Goals
3
0
Tries
1
0
Conversions
1
1
Drop Goals
0
83
Carries
69
0
Line Breaks
3
14
Turnovers Lost
17
8
Turnovers Won
4
After a match that included a fair amount of niggle, there have been allegations against Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi, who is accused of making a racist slur mid-match.
World Rugby have since stated that they are investigating, while South Africa are reportedly doing the same.
South Africa and New Zealand will face each other in the final at the Stade de France on Saturday, 28 October while England and Argentina will meet a day earlier for the third-place play-off.
Knockout
11 - 12
Final
6 - 44
SF1
15 - 16
SF2
17 - 29
QF1
24 - 28
QF2
30 - 24
QF3
28 - 29
QF4
Comments on RugbyPass
Dear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
218 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
218 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
44 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
15 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
44 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
3 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
218 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
218 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
44 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
44 Go to comments