Rugby World Cup live - England v South Africa build-up as 'illegal move' spotted

Fans fume at ticket prices

England's Rugby World Cup semi-final clash against South Africa will be played with thousands of empty seats after organisers were slammed for anti-competitive ticket prices.

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Steve Borthwick's side entertain the Springboks - a repeat of the 2019 World Cup final - at the Stade de France on Saturday evening. England secured a 30-24 win over Fiji to reach the last four, while South Africa scrapped past France 29-28 in a blockbuster affair to secure their passage to this stage.

But, as per the Daily Mail, the semi-final showdown will be played with less supporters following ticketing issues, which saw over 2000 available on the World Cup website on Friday. Remarkably, prices are ranging up to £300 and premium seats are costing up to £500 as they still haven't been sold yet at the time of writing.

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Borthwick's Pollard reunion

Steve Borthwick will come up against Handre Pollard in Saturday's World Cup semi-final, having signed the South Africa star when he was in charge of Leicester Tigers.

The now England boss was on the lookout for a replacement for the world class George Ford last summer and went after South Africa's World Cup winning fly-half. Pollard had big offers on the table, but opted for Leicester after hailing the "no bulls***" approach that Borthwick bought.

Borthwick's coaching career has seen him enjoy a rapid rise and the 44-year-old's ethics resonated with Pollard. He said previously: "Look, there is no bull s***ing around this, there were bigger deals on the table but I have made this decision to work with Steve and to be a part of an unreal, great club at Leicester Tigers which has such a great history in rugby. That is what excites me, being a part of what is happening at this club under Steve.

"He has a very clear vision for what he wants and what he expects. I want that. There is no bulls*** with him. I respect that. He is straight up and that is what I love about a head coach, straight in your face, whether you like it or not, and I want that, I respect that."

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England tactics vs South Africa

England have the unenviable task of trying to down the world champions South Africa if they want to make a fourth World Cup final.

Steve Borthwick's side have benefitted from a slightly fortuitous draw in France whilst the Springboks have highlighted their champions qualities, knocking out Les Blues in an epic encounter in Paris last weekend as they showed every facet of their game.

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South Africa's power was too much for England back in 2019, but four years on and Rassie Erasmus' outfit look even better, making Borthwick's task this weekend even more daunting. The Red Rose might be the only unbeaten team left in the tournament, but they are firm underdogs.

Fly-half George Ford has proved vital in England's progress, producing a sensational performance against Argentina in their World Cup opener. Mirror Sport picked the brains of his brother, Joe, a former Premiership fly-half and now head coach of ambitious Championship outfit Doncaster.

Read it all here.

England TV details...

England face South Africa on Saturday in the Rugby World Cup semi-final, with both teams vying to reach back-to-back finals.

The Springboks are the defending champions, having beaten England comprehensively in Yokohama four years ago. Steve Borthwick was part of the England coaching staff under Eddie Jones that day, and he will be plotting an unlikely win as head coach against a side who knocked out hosts and pre-tournament favourites France last Sunday.

Read more here.

'Illegal move' identified

England may have been handed a welcome advantage after World Rugby reportedly determined that South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe used an 'illegal move' in their quarter-final with France.

Kolbe was hailed after charging down Thomas Ramos' conversion attempt last week and his actions were not punished despite a review, which deemed his efforts to be in the fair rules of the game.

However, according to Midi Olympique's report, the game's governors are said to have now decided that Kolbe moved too early and his charge down was indeed an infraction of the rules, something which could be in the back of South Africa's minds when they face England at the Stade de France.

Flood previews semi-final

Former England star Toby Flood fears that Steve Borthwick's side may struggle with South Africa's physicality during the World Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Speaking to BettingSites.co.uk, Flood said: "Man for man if you took every member of that England team at their best you could argue that we were as good as them. They certainly have the ability. The skillset is certainly there.

"Where they might struggle is the sheer physicality. The Boks have big men everywhere. But it comes down to form and England are playing themselves into form and can be a very dangerous side. On their day they are good enough to beat South Africa.

"The metrics that South Africa use are the same as England will be using. It’s not hugely dissimilar. They will understand and know that. Knowing it is one thing however, stopping it is another. With the size they have, that is where it become really testing. They are a serious outfit."

Good morning

Morning, it's D-Day for England!

They face South Africa in the semi-final this evening, and a win will book their spot against New Zealand in Paris next weekend.

That's all from us

We'll be back tomorrow for the big one.

England will be looking to upset the odds against South Africa.

Full-time - All Blacks are into the final

An absolute hammering in the semi-final as New Zealand secure a 44-6 win with Will Jordan bagging a hat-trick.

Will Jordan is a FREAK.

What a player, the All Blacks winger has his hat-trick.

He takes a lovely inside play in his own 22 before running 50 metres, putting in a chip, which he regathers himself to score.

Incredible.

All Blacks add a sixth

Will Jordan is over for his second in the corner as New Zealand add more stardust to the scoreline.

With 17 minutes remaining they lead 39-6.

New Zealand have their FIFTH

Frizell has crossed for his second on the night after phases of pressure from the All Blacks.

Argentina did well to hold them out so long, but it became too much and the flanker is now on a hat-trick.

Smith strikes!

That didn't take long.. less than 120 seconds in fact.

Aaron Smith walks through the Argentina defence to score and all but make the game safe, if it wasn't already.

We're back underway in Paris

A big 40 for Argentina if they want to make a game of this.

40 minutes to go for the All Blacks

The All Blacks look set for the final next Saturday

The All Blacks grab a third! They lead 20-6 at half-time

Well, clearly that wasn't it, New Zealand wanted another try.

Their power is too much and, after a strong break from Mark Telea, they recycle the ball quickly and find Shannon Frizell, who dots down unopposed.

Mo'unga can't add the extras and it is 20-6 at half-time.

Mo'unga adds another three

The New Zealand fly-half has added three from the tee, undoing all of Argentina's hardwork.

We're set to go into the break at 15-6.

The gap down to six

Argentina remain within touching distance as Boffelli kicks over another three points.

The underdogs opted for the points, rather than applying pressure with a lineout, but we still very much have a contest on our hands.

Ten mins until the break

The All Blacks still lead by nine, but Argentina are starting to give as good as they get.

The South Americans are now camped five metres from the New Zealand line...

Jordie on the money

Jordie Barrett scored New Zealand's second

Barrett with New Zealand's second

Jordie Barrett has doubled the All Blacks lead, powering over in the corner after some consistent pressure from the All Blacks.

This already looks like it could be a long night for Argentina.

They now lead 12-3.

New Zealand take the lead

Will Jordan has come up with the first try of the game, finishing easily in the corner.

New Zealand were peppering the Argentina line before the ball was given to the back and the fly-half whipped a long pass to find his winger.

7-3 to the All Blacks.

Argentina take the lead

It has been all the Pumas and they take a 3-0 lead courtesy of Boffelli's boot.

Kick-off

Were underway at the Stade de France.

Argentina with possession early on in the All Blacks' half.

Five minutes until kick-off

We're almost underway here in Paris.

New Zealand are heavy favourites at the Stade de France - this would be among one of the greatest semi-final shocks in the tournament's history.

Tonight's teams

Argentina: Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Gomez Kodela, Petti, Lavanini, Gonzalez, Kremer, Isa.

Replacements: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Alemanno, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni.

New Zealand: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Telea; Mo'unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Whitelock, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.

Replacements: Taukei'aho, Williams, Newell, Retallick, Papalii, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.

A reminder of Ioane's BRUTAL retirement dig at Sexton last weekend

Johnny Sexton's World Cup dream ended last Saturday as Ireland were dumped out and the fly-half was visibly frustrated at full-time with comments made by Reiko Ioane.

The 38-year-old's outing at the weekend proved to be his last as New Zealand recorded a huge victory at the Stade de France, leaving the Irish players devastated. Within minutes of the full-time whistle Sexton was seen lamenting Ioane, who delivered a brutal message to the Leinster man.

Sexton had announced months ago that this season would be his last, for both club and country, with his sensational career coming to an end. Ioane took the opportunity to dig at the Irishman, who was quick to snap back at the All Black.

Read more here.

Argentina boss talks us their past success over NZ

Argentina recently secured their first ever win on New Zealand soil and coach Michael Chieka, who previously led the Wallabies, insists that will aid their chances.

"When they come at us or when the battle is on, that is the moment you need to use those experiences," he said of his and his team's previous win against New Zealand.

"That is where that comes in handy because you have felt it before, you have done it before."

Ashton warns of South Africa's deadly threat

The former England winger wrote in the Telegraph: "South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse are the best wing pairing in the business. They’re so quick and so elusive that if they get the ball in any type of space then you are already dead.

"Go back to the 2019 final when Kolbe scores the try that kills off England with seven minutes to go. When he gets the ball on the 40 metre line, there are five English defenders drifting across to cover but he was already in too much space and the drift was not connected. One step later and it is sayonara."

Springbok subjected to death threats as World Cup bosses begin hunt

World Cup bosses have warned those sending death threats to South Africa star Cobus Reinach that they will be hunted down.

The former Northampton scrum-half was subject to online abuse after helping the Springboks eliminate host nation France on Sunday.

South Africa have already reported the matter to the police but World Rugby, which has partnered with Signify Group to protect its online community and take action against hate speech and abuse, confirmed that would not be the end of the matter.

“We’ll be able to identify who that individual is even if they have like a giraffe1234 kind of handle we can find out who they are, where they live,” said a spokesman. “So careful with what you’re posting.”