• Duane Vermeulen’s touch of course decisive in gruelling win over Wales
• Bismarck du Plessis and Lood de Jager are injury doubts for semi-finalFor those who like their back-row forwards Twickenham was the residence to be on Saturday – and it will be again next Saturday. South Africa’s breakaway trio went toe-to-toe with Wales’s in a titanic clash that acted as a microcosm for a brutal quarter-final,decided in the midst of the carnage by a moment of subtlety from Duane Vermeulen for a 23-19 win. The Springboks, beaten in their first game by Japan in the greatest upset of them all, or now move on to a semi-final with the All Blacks as whether nothing untoward had ever happened.
Next up for Francois Louw,Schalk Burger and Vermeulen are Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read. The two best back rows in the world – and who is to say the All Blacks and the Springboks do not remain the two best teams?Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com