South Africa have advanced to the #RWC2015 semifinals following a 23-19 win over Wales in the quarterfinal at Twickenham on Saturday.

It’s the fourth time that South Africa have reached the last four at the quadrennial rugby showpiece, having made the semi’s in 1995, 1999 and 2007 tournaments.

Captain Fourie du Preez was the hero, as he scored the match-winning points with a try in the left hand corner with less than 10 minutes to play.

He picked the ball up at the base of the ruck, before springing around to score.

It was a tightly contested match, with the lead changing hands six times during the course of the 80 minutes.

Flyhalf Handre Pollard scored 18 points, including five penalties and a drop goal.

Wales’s Dan Biggar contributed 14 points to the Welsh score, with three penalties, a drop goal and a conversion.

He regathered his own up-and-under just outside the Springbok 22, following up on his own well weighted kick, which Springbok fullback Willie le Roux probably should’ve gathered, but Biggar was the one to pluck it out the air, before making the inside pass to Gareth Davies to score and put Wales in the lead for the first time in the game with the score at 10-9 after 18 minutes.

Wales boss Warren Gatland: “We don’t want to make any excuses. South Africa won… and we weren’t good enough to win.

“At the end of the day South Africa did what South Africa do. They got one chance and they took it and that was the result.”

The lead changed hands several times after that, as Pollard knocked over more second half penalties as well as drop goal.

Despite Pollard missing three kicks at goal in the second half, the Boks continued to pile the pressure on the Welsh defence, before it finally cracked late in the game for du Preez to score.

The Springboks will take on either New Zealand or France in the semifinal at Twickenham next week.

About the Author

Brent Lindeque is the founder and editor in charge at Good Things Guy.

Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

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