Rugby-Southern Hemisphere powers flex muscle to keep old order in place

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Quarter Final - France v South Africa - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - October 15, 2023 South Africa's Kurt-Lee Arendse kicks the ball out to end the match REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

PARIS (Reuters) - A weekend that threatened to herald a change to the Rugby World Cup pecking order instead saw the Southern Hemisphere powers' hegemony confirmed as teams from the Rugby Championship filled three of the four semi-final slots.

It was, however, a closely run thing as first New Zealand edged top ranked Ireland on Saturday and then defending champions South Africa won by a single point over hosts France on Sunday in two extraordinary matches at the Stade de France.