'Shocking rubbish': Rugby fans slam World Cup semi-final shocker

Wales and South Africa have been panned by viewers after a dour first half in Sunday night's Rugby World Cup semi-final that saw the Springboks book a date with England in the final after a 19-16 victory.

Coming a day after England's breathtaking win against the All Blacks, the hype of the second semi-final was simply not matched by the standard of play.

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Many fans predicted an arm wrestle between two sides with strong kicking games, but few could have tipped how devoid of attacking rugby the first half would be.

Both sides opted for conservative approaches, prioritising territorial kicking over running rugby, with a couple of minor scuffles representing the most action on display in the opening exchanges.

Neither side threatened to cross the try line once in a first forty minutes of rugby that descended into a kick-fest.

Viewers were decidedly unimpressed on social media.

The boot of Handre Pollard gave the Springboks a three-point advantage going into halftime.

Ill discipline from Wales proved their undoing as three penalties inside their own half were expertly capitalised on from the Boks sharp-shooter, who kicked three penalty goals from three attempts.

Welsh fly-half Dan Biggar's kicking radar was also on song, with his two penalties reducing the Springboks lead to 9-6 at the break.

Fortunately, the game came to life after halftime as both sides decided to chance their arms in attack.

Pollard boots Springboks to victory

Man of the Match Pollard nervelessly potted all five of his shots at goal, including three other penalties and a conversion, while centre Damian de Allende crossed for the game's first try in the 57th minute.

Wales, who will depart heartbroken at having now lost all three of their World Cup semi-finals, levelled the scores at 16-16 with 15 minutes remaining when winger Josh Adams crossed for his sixth try of the tournament.

South Africa would not be denied, however, and secured their passage to a rematch of the 2007 World Cup final when Pollard calmly slotted the ball through the posts from about 30 metres out wide to the left.

"It was nerve-racking at the end and I must say that, losing the previous four matches against them, it could have gone their way again," said Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus.

"We are only halfway there. We would love to win the World Cup. We play a class England team in the final now but we've really got a chance and we might go all the way, you never know."

South Africa won both their previous finals in 1995 and 2007 but no side has ever lifted the Webb Ellis Cup after losing a game at the tournament, as the Springboks did in their pool opener against the All Blacks.

"It was a tough, physical match, congratulations to South Africa, they deserved to win today," said Warren Gatland, whose 12-year tenure as Wales coach comes to an end after the tournament.

"I take my hat off to them, they were very good up front, defended exceptionally well. But I'm really proud of our guys, we never gave up ... It was a real arm wrestle, a really tough encounter."

Reigning Six Nations champions Wales, who will face the All Blacks in the third-place playoff on Friday, are still yet to make a World Cup final.

"Today we fell short, but hopefully we will get another opportunity," said Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, a veteran of the 2011 semi-final loss to France who was playing his 142nd test.

"It wasn't our day but I'm still proud to pull this jersey on and represent all the people in red in the stadium."

With AAP