October 09, 2007	Tuesday	Ramazan 26, 1428

PARIS, Oct 8: South Africa, briefly floundering against a Fijian onslaught, overcame their jitters to reach the World Cup semi-finals on Sunday as order was restored to a tournament still digesting Saturday’s surprise defeats for New Zealand and Australia.

The Springboks doused a spirited Fiji 37-20 in Marseille and will face Argentina in the semi-finals next weekend after the Pumas overcame Scotland 19-13 at the Stade de France to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time.

The winners of that tie next Sunday will face hosts France or England in an Oct. 20 final in the French capital.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry paid the price for his side’s 20-18 defeat by France in Cardiff with New Zealand Rugby Football Union chairman Jock Hobbs announcing on Sunday that a successor will be in place by Christmas.

“Like the All Blacks team, the management and fans here, at home and around the world, we are hugely disappointed with the result,” Hobbs said.

“We believe as an organisation we gave this campaign our very best shot with the aim of winning the World Cup. Clearly we came up short.”

The fallout from Australia’s 12-10 defeat against a revitalised England side was also underway with chief executive John O’Neill saying it was clear the Wallabies needed to change their whole approach to the game.

While New Zealand and Australia indulge in a period of soul-searching, their southern hemisphere rivals South Africa and Argentina will battle it out for a final place.

South Africa appeared to be in control after easing into a 20-6 lead after an hour’s play after tries from Jaque Fourie, John Smit and JP Pietersen.

But Fiji, in the quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years and in no mood to give up tamely, once again burst into life with Vilimoni Delasau scoring in the left corner and fellow winger Sireli Bobo quickly adding another to level the game with 20 minutes to go.

At this stage Smit got his side together in a huddle to issue a rallying cry.

“I told the guys to remember the look in the eyes of the Aussies and the Kiwis yesterday and said I didn’t want to see that here,” he told a news conference.

Rattled in defence, the Springboks were forced to weather waves of attacks before late tries from Juan Smith and Butch James quashed Fiji’s hopes of a famous upset.

Unbeaten Argentina continued their impressive run as an intercept try by number eight Gonzalo Longo, 11 points from the boot of centre Felipe Contepomi and a drop goal by flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez secured victory over Scotland.

Replacement scrumhalf Chris Cusiter crossed for the Scots with 16 minutes remaining to set up a tense finale but Argentina held firm.

“We are very happy. It’s a good achievement for the country.

We are really going to enjoy this night,” said Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda.

France woke up on Sunday in elated mood with their magnificent second-half comeback, a repeat of the famous 1999 semi-final at Twickenham, dominating newspaper headlines.—Agencies