Three things we learned from epic England v South Africa in Rugby World Cup semi-final

Three things we learned from South Africa's dramatic 16-15 semi-final win over England that sets coach Jacques Nienaber's team up for a final against New Zealand at the Stade de France next weekend:

Supreme Pollard

Handre Pollard didn't make the initial 33-man Springbok squad, deemed not to have recovered sufficiently from a calf injury.

He made his comeback with 30 minutes in a Premiership Cup game with his club Leicester and before you know it he was on a plane to France as an injury replacement for hooker Malcolm Marx.

The more attacking-minded Manie Libbok had been preferred in the number 10 jersey, but came in for criticism for his wayward goal-kicking.

Libbok was hooked after 30 minutes of the semi-final, Pollard installed at flyhalf with one job: claw South Africa back into the game at a rainy Stade de France.

He hit an opening penalty and converted RG Snyman's try, before soaking up all the pressure to nail a 49-metre penalty to win the game with just three minutes remaining.

"Firstly the scrum penalty, that is what got us the opportunity," said Pollard, who kicked 22 points when the Boks beat England 32-12 in the 2019 final in Japan.

"It was just a credit to the forwards, they were unbelievable.

"It was a big moment but it is what you want as a player on this stage, to have moments like that as a flyhalf is what you live for. It was fun."

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Bok set-piece woe

The set-piece of the scrum and lineout has long been the cornerstone of the Springbok rugby side, the effective platform from which any attacking gameplan is launched.

But the lineout misfired early on to hand England the advantage at several key moments.

Maro Itoje was launched