Rassie Erasmus' South Africa will take on England in Saturday's World Cup semi-final Photo: AFP/Clement Mahudo
Ahead of his team's clash with England on Saturday, Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's director of rugby, confessed. is not interested in making his team liked and the Springboks are aiming to become the second team in history to retain the Rugby World Cup title.
South Africa, who on Sunday night ended their chances of beating hosts France at the » Stade de France will face Steve Borthwick's team at the same stadium this Saturday. Victory in the semi-final would set up a potential final against New Zealand or Argentina a week later, with the All Blacks being the only team in history to retain the Webb Ellis Cup in 2011 and 2015.
To find out what Erasmus said the day after his brilliant semi-final win, go here.
When is this?
England will play South Africa in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday 21 October. The game will start at 20:00 (BST) or 21:00 local time.
Where is it? Stade de France
Capacity: 80,023
Total at Stade de France 97 men's test matches were played. Photo: Getty Images/Matthias Hangst
This stadium was historically built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and has since been France's national stadium, as well as home to the country's rugby team. Les Bleus first played here on 7 February 1998, with Philippe Bernat-Salles and the late Christophe Dominici crossing the difference in a 24–17 win over England.
The stadium's capacity of 80,023 is why it has hosted so many big matches, with a total of 97 men's Test matches staged at the Stade de France, including the 1999 RWC quarter-final and the 2007 French final.
How to watch on TV
ITV has exclusive rights to broadcast the Rugby World Cup in the UK. The England semi-final will be broadcast on ITV Channel 1. Read Telegraph Sport's analysis of top TV commentators and pundits.
Radio commentary will be available exclusively on the BBC, as well as Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. The BBC offers a 'bespoke programme' in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How do I get tickets?
Tickets for this match, if still available, can be purchased through Official Rugby World Cup Ticketing. portal.
England results so far
- Saturday, September 9: England 27, Argentina 10.
- Sunday, September 17: England 34, Japan 12.
- Saturday 23 September: England 71, Chile 0.
- Saturday 7 October: England 18. Samoa 17.
- Sunday 15 October: England 30, Fiji 24.
South Africa results so far
- Sunday 10 September: South Africa 18, Scotland 3.
- Sunday 17 September: South Africa 76 Romania 0
- Saturday 23 September: South Africa 8 Ireland 13
- li>Sunday 1 October: South Africa 49 Tonga 18
- Sunday 15 October: France 28 South Africa 29
Erasmus: “Boxing doesn’t want to be the team the world loves”
For the divisive Erasmus, the Springboks' route to the semi-finals was one of «adjustment» rather than winning admiration; in terms of South Africa's playing style, game officials' interpretations — and his X ex-Twitter persona. On Monday, as England vice-captain Ellis Genge also said his team was widely disliked, Erasmus followed the official England account on X — the only user the director of rugby follows.
“Honestly, I mean this,” Erasmus said, “I will never forget that post about the last French game [November 2022] when I wrote a few tweets and a lot of people said it was controversial. but I remember my signature there: «We will have to adapt and make things clear for the judges, we can't just rely on beatings, grappling and working in close contact when it is very difficult for the judge to make the right decision.» .' Because it is very dynamic, busy and there are a few gray areas.
“So we had to adapt. And also try to score goals in a more open, fluent and running rugby. And you could see that our defenders score more points than our forwards.
“If you rely only on a certain aspect of the game that is very difficult for the referee to evaluate, and he makes two [decisions] wrong, but you rely only on those three or four out of five opportunities that you have, 50 percent of your opportunities are lost. But if you take kicks in open play, regular play from the top of the lineout or on the counter, the referees will make clearer decisions and they will be easier to make.
“As a team, we don't want to be a great team , the rugby team that the whole world loves, but we want to score goals.”
Best latest odds
- New Zealand:5/4
- South Africa:1/1
- England:14/1
- Argentina :40 /1
Odds correct as of October 16th. Got a punt? Take a look at these Rugby World Cup free bets and betting offers first.
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