Rugby

PARIS (AP) — France's star backs were supposed to lead the tournament favorite past defending champion South Africa and into the Rugby World Cup semifinals. They flopped as South Africa won 29-28 in a cliffhanger on Sunday.

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The lead was 14 points, the Rugby World Cup semifinals were in sight and there was a celebratory feel to England fans’ booming rendition of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” that swirled around Stade Velodrome with a little over 20

PARIS (AP) — Antoine Dupont sank to one knee and covered his face with a hand as the crushing disappointment of France's Rugby World Cup exit in the quarterfinals sank in.

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Fiji's players were strewn across the field, some with their heads in their hands and others in tears. One player had his face buried in a seat in the dugout.

PARIS (AP) — After Ireland flew south and ransacked New Zealand last year for a monumental series win, the All Blacks pored over video to find out what went wrong.

PARIS (AP) — This was the Ireland team that was finally going to go all the way at the Rugby World Cup.

PARIS (AP) — New Zealand was thought to have showed too much razzle-dazzle and met not enough resistance to seriously trouble top-ranked Ireland going into their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

PARIS (AP) — Wave after wave of Ireland's green jerseys threw themselves at the New Zealand line with the clock ticking down and a Rugby World Cup semifinal at stake. Ireland probed left, right, tried pushing through the middle.

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Argentina's rugby team doesn't have a totemic figure like Lionel Messi to bind it like the national soccer team did when it was winning the soccer World Cup less than a year ago.

PARIS (AP) — France lost seven straight tests to South Africa from 2010 to 2018, which might have been the reason current coach Fabien Galthie traveled to the home of the Springboks after taking over in 2019.