Replacement first-five Handre Pollard has kicked a last-gasp penalty, as South Africa somehow found a way to get past a dominant England and claim a 16-15 victory that sent them into a World Cup final against fellow triple champions New Zealand.
The defending champions looked on the verge of defeat, as England's kicking game kept them pegged back in their own half on a rainy Paris night, but they hit back with a try by RG Snyman, before replacement Pollard landed a penalty from halfway to snatch victory.
The two superpowers of the sport will meet in the final for the second time, after South Africa triumphed on home soil in 1995 in their first appearance at the tournament.
For most of the match, 2019 runners-up England seemed likely to return to the final, playing a perfect tactical game, kicking accurately, chasing hard and forcing South Africa into errors.
Coach Steve Borthwick promised he had a plan to unsettle the world champions, but there was nothing radical about their approach, as they kicked relentlessly in the rain and outplayed the Springboks in the air.
England forced South Africa into the sort of errors they avoided in their epic quarter-final win over France.
England's control and accurate pressure earned Owen Farrell two early penalty opportunities, which he slotted for a 6-0 lead.
After 15 minutes, South Africa won a kickable penalty, but lacking faith in Manie Libbok, they kicked for the corner and were turned over. They did the same a minute later and lost possession again.
Libbok did slot one over, but he looked off the pace and was taken off after 31 minutes, replaced by Pollard, who soon landed a penalty.
England maintained their disciplined approach, gaining ground from their deep kicking, and another Farrell penalty gave them a deserved 12-6 halftime lead.
More changes for South Africa in the first five minutes of the second half saw Faf de Klerk and Willie Le Roux came into the backline, and they lost inspirational lock Eben Etzebeth.
The champions still struggled to get any sort of continuity and England stretched their lead to 15-6, with a brilliant 47m Farrell drop goal.
With half an hour to go, all the South African replacements were on as their coaches desperately sought to find a foothold, although England were to pay a heavy price for their failure to turn their dominance into any more points.
The Springboks had barely been out of their half, before a superb touchfinder by Pollard enabled Snyman to charge over for the first try of the match.
Pollard converted to close to within two points 10 minutes from time and they were awarded a scrum penalty on halfway with three minutes to go. Called up to the squad midway through the tournament, Pollard slotted it with the minimum of fuss.
South Africa led for the first time and they then defended England's final assaults, until a knockon ended the challenge.
Reuters
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