Owen Farrell clashes with South Africa ace as brawl erupts after England come agonisingly close to Rugby World Cup final
FURIOUS Owen Farrell clashed with South Africa's Willie Le Roux after England's Rugby World Cup dream was agonisingly crushed.
The Red Rose captain kicked all 15 points - including a marvellous drop goal - to fire his side to a 15-6 lead.
But the reigning world champions fought back through an RG Snyman try 11 minutes from time, before sub fly-half Handre Pollard nailed a 49m penalty with two minutes to go to secure a dramatic 16-15 semi-final victory for the Springboks.
And when referee Ben O'Keeffe blew the full-time whistle to end the highly-charged contest, tempers flared between the two sets of players on the pitch.
Farrell was right at the thick of the handbags, too, as he got into a shoving match with South Africa's replacement full-back Le Roux, who jumped in celebration right in front of the dejected England players.
The pair angrily squared up to each other amid the tension as plenty of men in white and green tussled in a mass brawl.
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Reports suggested Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi refused to shake Tom Curry's hand, instead slapping it away while Farrell and Le Boux were dragged apart.
The ITV commentator said: "It ends with some unsavoury scenes, there.
"Emotions are high - agony or ecstasy."
Things, though, did soon calm down as the two sets of players congratulated each other on a hard-fought slugfest.
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But while South Africa can prepare for Saturday's final with New Zealand, Farrell and Co will be licking their wounds and wondering what might have been.
The England captain and fly-half knows an early mistake proved costly.
His backchat to O'Keeffe prompted the referee to push a South Africa penalty 10m forward, enabling Manie Libbok to go for goal and get the Springboks on the board at 6-3.
However, Libbok was shockingly substituted off with just 31 minutes on the clock in a tactical switch that left fans and commentators alike stunned.
However, it proved a masterstroke from the South African coaching team as Pollard held his nerve to produce the winning kick.
