South Africa edge out France in World Cup battle royale

Three tries apiece in an astonishing first half, bone-juddering tackles throughout, blistering line defence and exquisite individual skills left the almost 80,000 squeezed into the packed Paris stadium agog.

Smart box-kicking by the Springboks kept French hearts permanently in their mouths, with Thomas Ramos looking less than steady under the barrage of high balls.

Trailing 22-19 at halftime, the Springboks won a second-half tactical arm-wrestle thanks to their power, a mighty Eben Etzebeth try proving the difference.

England await, having overcome Fiji 30-24 at the Marseille Velodrome to book their last-four spot.

The other semi-final will feature New Zealand, conquerors of world No.1-ranked Ireland, against Argentina.