South Africa’s hopes of retaining the Rugby World Cup are well and truly alive after they dumped tournament hosts France out with a dramatic 29-28 victory.

Tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe and Eben Etzebeth combined with a courageous defensive effort stunned a partisan Stade de France by the barest of margins. 

France raced straight out of the blocks and their early dominance was rewarded.

A quick lineout was gathered and mauled, pushing South Africa back and then the ball came out, wing Damian Penaud quickly flicked it wide to prop Cyril Baille. 

Thomas Ramos had a massive angle to combat but drifted his kick over the posts beautifully. 

South Africa had barely had a touch of the ball but after the world champions competed well with a high ball it bounced kindly for Kurt-Lee Arendse, who burned away to run in.

Much of the talk pre-kick off was about Manie Libbok’s tee struggles but the Stormers 10 perfectly dispatched the extras from out wide. 

The Springboks responded to France’s lively start with composure and potency with Damian de Allende crossing to put them ahead.

But the frenetic seesaw contest continued as Peato Mauvaka scored out wide assisted by the returning Antoine Dupont. 

Ramos, who’s been devastating off the tee all tournament, had his conversion charged down by the galloping Cheslin Kolbe. 

Jesse Kriel produced a perfect grubber kick to pick out the electric Kolbe for the Toulon wing to dash away and score. 

Baille then scored his second pouncing from close range to bring the hosts level.

Despite an outstanding first half, Eben Etzebeth’s brilliance came to a halt when the South African caught Uini Atonio in the face with a high tackle that resulted in a yellow card.

Ramos dispatched the three points to edge France ahead at the end of a brilliant first half. 

The home side enjoyed the lion share of territory and possession at the start of the second stanza and after they earned a penalty at the scrum, Ramos made it a six-point game with a chip shot.

France pushed forward hoping to capitalise on their dominance but substitute scrum-half Faf de Klerk produced a vital tap tackle on Charles Ollivon. 

However, South Africa’s almighty scrum propelled them up the pitch and after pick and go’s brought them close, Etzebeth bulldozed his way over the line with French defenders hanging off the 6 ft 9inch Springbok. 

Kwagga Smith secured a textbook jackal and that allowed replacement fly-half Handre Pollard to enhance his side’s lead to four. 

Ramos hit back with a penalty to setup a grandstand finish with just a point separating the two sides.

Despite France charging forward in the search of a winner, the ball was knocked on and the home crowd were stunned.