Rugby World Cup news LIVE: Latest updates as Steve Borthwick names England team to face South Africa

England face a difficult test in their Rugby World Cup semi-final as they take on the reigning world champions South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Saturday. Steve Borthwick’s men have been slowly building their way through the tournament backed by a solid kick-and-chase game that has seen them defeat all five of their opponents so far.

There most recent victory, over Fiji in the quarter-final, was England’s most confident performance but they have improvements to make if they are going to get past the Springboks in what will surely be a blockbuster encounter. Borthwick is naming his team today with Owen Farrell expected to start at fly-half again over George Ford and Freddie Steward set to slot back in at full-back in place of Marcus Smith.

South Africa, meanwhile, are on cloud nine following their hard-fought quarter-final against tournament hosts France. They snuck through to the final four with a 29-28 win and are now the favourites to lift the trophy in successive competitions. Will England be able to stop them?

Follow along for all the team news and updates plus get all the latest odds and tips right here:

Rugby World Cup news live

• Steve Borthwick set to name England squad for semi-final vs South Africa at 12pm

• South Africa’s team for final four clash announced

• Argentina take on New Zealand in other semi-final on Friday

Freddie Steward returns at full-back for England

12:16 , Mike Jones

Freddie Steward returns at full-back in one of three changes made by England for Saturday’s World Cup semi-final against South Africa at Stade de France.

Steward was dropped for the first time in his 29-cap Test career for the last-eight victory over Fiji, losing the number 15 jersey to the more attack-minded Marcus Smith.

But Smith finished the Marseille showdown with a fat lip and bandaged head following his defensive heroics – becoming an injury doubt – and has now been left out of the 23 altogether.

Steward provides high-ball expertise, positional savvy and solid defence and is the safer option in the position given the strength of South Africa’s kicking game.

England spring surprise with three changes to team for Rugby World Cup semi-final

12:10 , Mike Jones

Lock George Martin has been handed a surprise starting opportunity in England’s team for the Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa.

22-year-old Martin partners Maro Itoje in the second row, with Ollie Chessum dropped to the bench and Steve Borthwick making two other changes.

Freddie Steward replaces Marcus Smith at full-back, while Joe Marler’s scrummaging expertise preferred to Ellis Genge’s dynamism on the loosehead.

England spring surprise with three changes for Rugby World Cup semi-final

Borthwick on England’s semi-final preparations

12:05 , Mike Jones

“After an excellent few days preparation in Paris, we look forward to the challenge of playing the World Champions and number one ranked team in the world,” said Borthwick when announcing his team to face South Africa on Saturday.

“Through this tournament the team has progressed, with the players repeatedly finding a way to win, sometimes in challenging circumstances. We will once again need to be at our very best this weekend as we face an excellent team in South Africa.

“There is no doubt the players will truly relish the challenge of knockout rugby under the lights in Paris. These players will, as they have done in every game of this tournament, give absolutely everything in the semi-final to get the result we want.

“I also know that our supporters will once again be there in their thousands, playing their part in backing the team with a full voice. To all those who have travelled and to all those lending their support and encouragement from home, I say ‘thank you’.”

Steve Borthwick names England team to face South Africa

12:00 , Mike Jones

Steve Borthwick has made three changes to England’s starting XV from the side that defeated Fiji in the quarter-finals.

The big news is that Marcus Smith doesn’t make the matchday 23, though the reasons why are not yet fully clear with the belief that injury is playing its part. Freddie Steward slots back in a full-back.

Ellis Genge drops to the bench with Joe Marler in as the loose-head prop and George Martin takes Ollie Chessum’s place in the second row with Chessum back among the replacements.

England XV: 15. Freddie Steward, 14. Jonny May, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Elliot Daly, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Alex Mitchell; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Jamie George, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Martin, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16. Theo Dan, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Ollie Chessum, 20. Billy Vunipola, 21. Danny Care, 22. George Ford, 23. Ollie Lawrence.

Was Cheslin Kolbe’s crucial charge-down in South Africa vs France illegal?

11:55 , Mike Jones

Video footage has emerged on social media suggesting that Cheslin Kolbe’s crucial chargedown in South Africa’s win over France should not have been permitted.

Kolbe blocked the attempt from the tee of former Toulouse teammate Thomas Ramos as the France full-back looked to convert Peato Mauvaka’s second try with the game tied at 12 point apiece.

The Springboks went on to win the game by a single point, sustaining their defensive effort across a long final passage as France sought to set up a position from which they could snatch the win.

Was Cheslin Kolbe’s crucial charge-down in South Africa vs France illegal?

South Africa’s Handre Pollard expecting to face ‘ruthless’ England in semi-final

11:47 , Mike Jones

Fly-half Handre Pollard says the pressure of representing South Africa at the World Cup is a privilege as he bids to inflict more misery on England.

Pollard kicked 22 points in the 2019 final to guide the Springboks to glory with a 32-12 win and still remembers the disappointment etched on the faces of Eddie Jones’ men.

The fit-again Leicester playmaker is competing with Manie Libbok to start Saturday’s Paris semi-final after initially being overlooked for his country’s squad due to a calf injury.

South Africa’s Handre Pollard expecting to face ‘ruthless’ England in semi-final

England star Ollie Chessum’s fast rise shows why Championship is in need of nurture

11:40 , Mike Jones

Wander south from Nottingham city centre, over the railway line and past a Hooters, and you come to a veritable cornucopia of English sport. Follow the River Trent’s babble looking left and right and you’ll find three arenas of rich English history, two of the nation’s most storied football clubs (Nottingham Forest and Notts County) and one of its favourite cricket grounds all within a stone’s throw.

But there’s another, less-loved club enjoying the fecund soil of the productive riverside patch. Stroll a little further downstream along the right bank and you’ll find leafy Lady Bay, home of Nottingham Rugby Club, lacking in the prestige and popularity of their near neighbours but nonetheless of sporting importance. Rob Andrew, Brian Moore and Dusty Hare all started their rugby career with the club, a behemoth of the amateur era.

Things have, largely, changed: the Archers now find themselves lost in the muddled middle of the Championship, like the rest of the league’s cohort facing an uncertain future with the shape of England’s second tier beyond next summer in such doubt.

Ollie Chessum’s fast rise shows why Championship is in need of nurture

Marcus Smith among several England players on ‘modified training’ ahead of South Africa semi-final

11:32 , Mike Jones

Marcus Smith was among a number of players placed on modified training as preparations began for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa, but England are hopeful he will be fit.

Smith ended the last-eight victory over Fiji with a fat upper lip and a bandage on his head after he was the victim of a dangerous tackle by wing Vinaya Harbosi, forcing him to depart for an HIA which he passed.

The Harlequins star, who has been moved from his accustomed position of fly-half for the World Cup, defended bravely on a tense evening at Stade Velodrome and is contention to retain the number 15 jersey ahead of Freddie Steward.

Marcus Smith on ‘modified training’ as England prepare for South Africa semi-final

Marcus Smith hailed after ‘face smashed’ as England consider his role for World Cup semi-final

11:25 , Mike Jones

Kevin Sinfield has hailed the bravery of Marcus Smith as England consider their full-back options for the Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa.

Smith made a couple of key defensive interventions in the quarter-final against Fiji despite suffering a cut to the lip after an early head-on-head collision with Vinaya Habosi.

The Harlequins playmaker returned after being patched up as England secured a last-four meeting with the defending champions.

Marcus Smith hailed after ‘face smashed’ as England consider role for semi-final

Kevin Sinfield on South Africa’s threats and England’s methods

11:19 , Mike Jones

“There are not many weaknesses out there,” England defence coach Kevin Sinfield said of the Springboks. “We understand this team are very, very smart, they are coached particularly well and they are right across the laws.

“They understand all the intricacies and we’ve got to be ready for whatever comes on Saturday evening.”

England’s set-up is different to past tournaments with the coaching staff made-up of quieter communicators who sticking to their methods.

“It’s probably more subtle than that and understanding that leadership has probably changed,” Sinfield explained. “This generation is different.

“Gone is the big Churchillian leader. They do exist but they’re quite rare. I’ve spoken about our leadership group before and then as coaches, we’re all different. I know you’ve spent a bit of time with Wiggy, Tommy Harrison, Steve, and it probably comes across differently.

“We all have our own ways of influencing and supporting. As of yet, there’s been no Churchillian speech.

“Having had the luxury of working with these guys for some time now, you understand what buttons you can press and the influence you can have, how you can support and help those that need it.”

England set to confirm team for semi-final

11:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Good morning from INSEP in eastern Paris, England’s training base for this week and a factory for France’s elite athletes, with three-time Olympic gold medal winning judoka Teddy Riner and former NBA superstar Tony Parker among the alumni here.

England’s training session today has been delayed, with their team announcement scheduled for midday BST. As I wrote earlier this week, Freddie Steward is expected to replace Marcus Smith at full-back, with some doubt over the Harlequins playmaker’s fitness after taking a blow to the mouth against Fiji last weekend.

Will there be other changes? Steve Borthwick may have been contemplating his prop options against a side of real scrummaging strength - remember, Eddie Jones reflected after the 2019 final defeat that he should have started Joe Marler to combat the Springboks’ set-piece threat.

But, otherwise, England are likely to name a relatively similar line-up to the team that began the quarter-final. Do they have enough to knock the defending champions off their throne?

England must be ready for whatever ‘very, very smart’ Springboks throw at them, says Kevin Sinfield

11:12 , Mike Jones

It is the question that will no doubt have occupied Steve Borthwick’s mind ever since the end of their draining victory over Fiji: how do you go about charging up England to meet the might of South Africa? There is no doubt that semi-final week will bring a level above anything his side have faced in France so far.

Two of England’s most damaging days in recent memory have come against the Springboks; the Rugby World Cup final in 2019 is most obviously in the mind this week but the Twickenham drubbing last November that led to Eddie Jones’s defenestration is still raw, too. No matter what underdog, backs-against-the-wall spirit the squad might be able to conjure, there will be a need to fight any possible fear factor.

England must be ready for ‘very, very smart’ Springboks, says Sinfield

Argentina make single change for New Zealand semi-final

11:05 , Mike Jones

Michael Cheika has made only a single change to his starting Argentina side for the Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

Gonzalo Bertranou replaces Santiago Cubelli at scrum half, with last week’s starting nine dropping out of the 23 entirely.

Otherwise, the rest of the matchday 23 is identical to that utilised in the quarter-final win over Wales in Marseille, with replacement hooker Agustin Creevy in line to become the oldest World Cup semi-finalist of all-time.

Argentina make single change for All Blacks semi-final

Argentina name team to face New Zealand

10:58 , Mike Jones

Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has brought in scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou for Tomás Cubelli in the only change from the team that beat Wales in the quarter-final, for their Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Saint-Denis on Friday.

Argentina XV: 15-Juan Cruz Mallia, 14-Emiliano Boffelli, 13-Lucio Cinti, 12-Santiago Chocobares, 11-Mateo Carreras, 10-Santiago Carreras. 9-Gonzalo Bertranou, 1-Thomas Gallo, 2-Julián Montoya, 3-Francisco Gómez Kodela, 4-Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 5-Tomas Lavanini, 6-Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7-Marcos Kremer, 8-Facundo Isa.

Replacements: 16-Agustín Creevy, 17-Joel Sclavi, 18-Eduardo Bello, 19-Matias Alemanno, 20-Rodrigo Bruni, 21-Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22-Nicolas Sanchez, 23-Matías Moroni

Argentina coach relishing chance to face New Zealand

10:51 , Mike Jones

Argentina coach Michael Cheika will relish seeing his side reach the Rugby World Cup final by beating the All Blacks in the semi-final on Friday.

“We knew the first game would be a bit rough for us. We learned a lot because there were a lot of first-time World Cuppers in there.

“They [his players] learned a lot from that game in terms of handling what is knockout footy in what wasn’t knockout footy – every game since has been knockout.

“Even in that game against England, we showed a lot of fight, but we didn’t handle the occasion well. We still gave it plenty. We have to remember in that game it was nine kicks, we didn’t give up a try.

“You have got to look at it with your playing roster, the team you are going to play, what the turnaround time is and just try and plan it out so it works to get a bit of flow.”

Mark Tele’a returns as All Blacks make surprise lock switch for semi-final

10:44 , Mike Jones

Wing Mark Tele’a has been brought back into the New Zealand side to face Argentina in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals after missing the All Blacks’ last eight win over Ireland for disciplinary reasons.

Tele’a replaces Leicester Fainga’anuku having been left out last weekend after breaching team protocols.

The other change to Ian Foster’s side comes in the second row, where Sam Whitelock, the most capped All Black ever, is preferred to long time locking partner Brodie Retallick.

Mark Tele’a returns as All Blacks make surprise lock switch for semi-final

New Zealand pick team to take on Argentina

10:37 , Mike Jones

Head coach Ian Foster has named his New Zealand match-day 23 for his team’s semi-final against Argentina om Friday. Left-wing Mark Tele’a is back in the starting XV for Leicester Fainga’anuku.

Sam Whitelock comes into the second row as a straight swap for Brodie Retallick, who moves to the bench where he is joined by replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, as Dane Coles drops out.

New Zealand XV: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Mark Tele’a, 10-Richie Mo’unga, 9-Aaron Smith; 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Samuel Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Ardie Savea

Replacements: 16-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Brodie Retallick, 20-Dalton Papali’i, 21-Finlay Christie 22-Damian McKenzie, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown

All Blacks determined to face the Pumas

10:30 , Mike Jones

Defence coach Scott McLeod said the All Blacks were determined to get their preparations right for the semi-final with the Pumas at the Stade de France.

“I thought last week our detail, our energy and our focus was top class and it gave the players confidence to go out and execute that under pressure,” McLeod said. “In 2019, we didn’t do that as well in our week leading into England, and it’s not necessarily the opposition it’s just the quality of what we put into the week.

“Our captain Kieran Read couldn’t train and there were disruptions. So we have to make sure that we don’t have those disruptions and we build the week with the quality and the focus that we did last week. And we respect Argentina, they are a different beast to Ireland and we will slowly build the week. We have to get excited about that and we will.”

The one change England must make to combat ‘incredible’ Springboks in World Cup semi-final

10:22 , Mike Jones

In the minutes after a thrilling, thumping quarter-final in Marseille, the Stade Velodrome DJ reached into his record collection and plucked out some early Eighties Elton John. It felt like an appropriate soundtrack. On a weekend where Wales, Ireland and France faded away, England – somehow, some way – are still standing.

Talk of a hemispheric shift proved premature, with a southern sweep elsewhere leaving Steve Borthwick’s side the only unbeaten outfit left in this odd World Cup. A team that once never could have hoped to win now find themselves in the final four; the Six Nations’ hopes at this tournament rest, almost unfathomably, with England.

Not that one would expect too many Welsh, Irish or French supporters to seek comfort in an embrace of white cotton. For France and Ireland, particularly, it will rankle to have used the last four years so brilliantly to build a contender and find that it is England’s rushed construction that has endured. There is still every chance that Borthwick’s new-build comes crashing down once subjected to a Springboks storm, but so far England have proved, just about, up to code.

The one England team change to combat ‘incredible’ Springboks

The two sides of Rassie Erasmus, the puppet master pulling South Africa’s strings at Rugby World Cup

10:15 , Mike Jones

The mind games began on Sunday night. South Africa had just booked their place in the last four of the Rugby World Cup, pipping France in an instant classic in Paris, and the Springboks’ director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, was straight on social media to start his game week stirring.

As Erasmus searched for England Rugby’s account on X, formerly Twitter, and clicked the follow button, he knew he would be noticed. At the time of writing, South Africa’s opponents on Saturday are the only account that Erasmus follows. The 50-year-old has form – before Ireland and Scotland’s decisive Pool B encounter, the two Celtic nations were the sole occupiers of the coach’s ‘following’ feed.

Such social media tomfoolery will matter little come Saturday but speaks to Erasmus’s unique approach to life and rugby. The architect of South Africa’s World Cup triumph four years ago as head coach, Erasmus has since stepped up into a directorial role, with former assistant Jacques Nienaber taking on head coach duties.

The two sides of Rassie Erasmus, the puppet master pulling South Africa’s strings

Rassie Erasmus predicts entire England team for World Cup semi-final as mind games begin

10:07 , Mike Jones

Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby, has predicted the entire England team for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final as the mind games continue ahead of a rematch of the 2019 tournament final.

Erasmus was speaking to the media for a second consecutive day at the start of semi-final week at a press conference in Presles, 30 kilometres north of Paris.

Neither side is due to name their squad for the last four encounter until Thursday, but the former Springboks head coach arrived with a provisional fifteen he thought Steve Borthwick would be considering on a bit of paper.

Springboks director predicts England semi-final team as mind games begin

South Africa edge thriller with France in quarter-finals

10:00 , Mike Jones

Ireland and New Zealand played out the greatest Rugby World Cup quarter-final of all time, which ended with 37 phases of Irish agony, and yet it took just 24 hours for that game to be bettered by France and South Africa.

It may not have been quite 37 phases, but France’s own final stand – desperately, fruitlessly searching for that decisive score to overcome the inevitable as the clock turns red – ended the same, heartbreaking way. French bodies dropped to the turf in despair, almost exactly mirroring their Irish counterparts from 24 hours earlier, and a southern hemisphere nation celebrated the ongoing World Cup domination over a northern hemisphere titan.

It’s safe to say that no stadium in history has hosted two better games of rugby in the space of one weekend than we’ve been treated to at the Stade de France. It’s also highly likely that no venue has ever witnessed two such incredible occasions, regardless of the sport, in as many days.

France suffer painful symmetry with Ireland as Springboks continue southern dominance

Experience will benefit South Africa says Nienaber

09:53 , Mike Jones

“This may not have much significance, but the fact remains that these players have been here before, and they know what it will take to defeat a top-quality team such as England,” explained Nienaber.

“Competition for places in the team is very tight and the coaches had a few in depth discussions before finalising the team.

“We have players like Lukhanyo Am, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Jasper Wiese, Jean Kleyn, and the list goes on, who are all good enough to be in this team and would have fitted in and done the job just well as the other players.

“But we can only select 23 and everyone in this group is aligned and understands that the country comes first. We are playing for our friends, family and the 60 million people at home who have been supporting us through thick and thin and we are determined to continue giving them hope and something to smile about.”

South Africa team to face England in World Cup semi-final

09:47 , Mike Jones

South Africa XV: 15-Damian Willemse, 14-Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Cheslin Kolbe, 10-Manie Libbok, 9-Cobus Reinach; 1-Steven Kitshoff, 2-Bongi Mbonambi, 3-Frans Malherbe, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 5-Franco Mostert, 6-Siya Kolisi, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8-Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: 16-Deon Fourie, 17-Ox Nche, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Kwagga Smith, 21-Faf de Klerk, 22-Handre Pollard, 23-Willie Le Roux.

Jacques Nienaber on his Springboks side

09:41 , Mike Jones

“We’ve been building a quality Rugby World Cup squad for the last few years so that we could be in this position going into the knockout matches,” said South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber.

“We have a squad of 33 players, all of whom are very closely matched in terms of their skill and quality of play which made it tempting to make changes this week and it was tough to select this group both last week and this week.

“But we feel it’s now time to go with the players in the squad who we believe are in their best form.”

South Africa name World Cup semi-final team against England

09:35 , Mike Jones

South Africa have named an unchanged side for their Rugby World Cup semi-final against England.

After pipping France in Paris last week, Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus have kept faith with the same starting line-up and bench.

With 895 caps within the 23, it is the most experienced Springboks side in history, while this is only the second time since Erasmus and Nienaber’s arrival in 2018 that they have named an unchanged team.

South Africa name World Cup semi-final team against England

Rugby World Cup news

09:29 , Mike Jones

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the Rugby World Cup.

Steve Borthwick is going to name his matchday squad for England’s semi-final outing against South Africa later today as the hype starts to build up for the final few knockout matches of the 2023 tournament.

Argentina take on New Zealand in the first semi-final this Friday and the starting XVs were announced for that match yesterday. South Africa have already chosen their team for Saturday’s clash with England, picking an unchanged side from the one that defeated France last time out.

Throughout the day, we’ll have all the updates and latest news from France so stick around.