Image source, Getty Images

And so the dream is over for Wales.

South Africa march into the World Cup final to set up a re-run of the 2007 showdown against England in Yokohama on Saturday.

The Springboks were victorious in Paris that day and Rassie Erasmus' side will want to bring home a record-equaling third Webb Ellis Trophy in Japan.

But Eddie Jones' All Black-demolishing England side lay in wait.

For now, if you're still craving a rugby fix or want to re-live Sunday's intense semi-final battle then we've got you covered...

• Springboks beat Wales to reach final
• Springboks deserved to win - Gatland
• England produce 'finest win of their lives'
• Spencer to replace Heinz in World Cup final squad

We go again next week, see you then...

Image source, EPA

And here's a word from Warren Gatland, whose final game in charge of Wales will be against New Zealand in the third-place play-off on Friday: "I am proud of them, we punched massively above our weight in terms of playing numbers in Wales, we gave 100% in a close contest. But South Africa deserved to win tonight."

Martyn Williams
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, AFP

Gatland is some act to follow, when you think where we were when he came in in 2007, we were in a mess. I remember his first meeting, and he emphasized his job was to get respect for Wales throughout the world and be a team that were difficult to beat. England and New Zealand used to put second strings out and still beat us.

It has been an incredible tenure and it has been a sad way to go out again in a semi, that game was there for Wales today. Wales came up short because injuries came back to bite them and we lacked that ‘X factor’.

Martyn Williams
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

There are some young players who have had huge exposure are the highest level in the World Cup. I am more optimistic than pessimistic, there are some good youngsters coming through, but underneath this team we have to kick on if we are to win these big, big games.

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Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at International Stadium Yokohama

Yesterday felt like a final, as the rugby was so good, and the reign of New Zealand was ended by one of the greatest ever World Cup performances. Rarely do you get the perfect final.

I wonder how England and Eddie Jones will play it this week? Their best performances in 2019 were in Ireland and yesterday, and then on both he played the underdog card, and he cannot do that this time. But go back to 2011, and we thought NZ would steam roller France, and France should have won, but England will start as serious favourites.

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think England will win that next week, anything can happen but I just see in this England side that nothing is fazing them. If they get their preparation right this week, if they have rested up, they will be fit, they have played a game less, they have a fantastic squad. They have played great rugby, there is still a little bit more to give.

I think they will want to play against South Africa , deep down its never about winning margins but I would not be surprised if Eddie Jones does not want to do it properly, put plenty of points on the board, and shout from the rafters how good England are.

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Pretty much everything went well for England yesterday and a lot of things went well for South Africa today. You put that into a final, into two teams who are so polar opposite in the way they play their rugby, no-one knows how it will go.

I suspect England will be too strong. I can't see South Africa having as much dominance up front with the scrummage or the rolling maul. I don't see the South Africans being able to run at our midfield and be able to gather 10, 15, 20 metres at will. There are some basics today that Wales will be upset they got wrong.

Philip West: Sure, South Africa played a brutally attritional, one-dimensional style of rugby, but you do what you have to do in order to win. They’ve got a strong pack of forwards and a top-class scrum-half, so why not make use of them?

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at International Stadium Yokohama

Very rarely do you get the perfect final. England v Wales would have been special and we're all gutted that won't happen.

I wonder how Eddie Jones will play it this week. Their best performances this year were against Ireland and New Zealand when he played the underdog card. He can't do that this time. There is not a soul that thought South Africa's performance today was in the same league as England's. England are going to start as serious, serious favourites.

South Africa try-scorer Damian de Allende on ITV: "Very exciting times, glad to be a part of it. Wales gave it everything but luckily it was us tonight.

"We always want to front up and be physical, it's the way most teams dominate games these days. If you can win the small battles sometimes it's psychological. They kept coming for us and luckily we pulled it off in the end."

On England being physical: "We'll expect it. We watched the game last night, they're physical and fast. We have a day less to recover. They'll have watched the game and will have plans in place.

"We'll chill tomorrow and then get back on the horse."

Image source, AFP

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Reuters

There is a part of me that thinks South Africa, in their heads, think they've just won it. They've reached their Everest, by the way they're parading round the pitch, going to their kids. Fabulous, lovely pictures, they've got nothing.

Yesterday, England did a quick lap and went straight down to the changing rooms. That was on purpose. They've done nothing until they've got their hands on the trophy.

South Africa have a massive week coming up. They cannot play like that against England and expect to win so they've got to tweak it. Players have got to come back fit, Kolbe in particular.

Springboks fly-half Handre Pollard on ITV: "Real tough one, they are a quality side who have improved over the past couple of years.

"Our forwards did a great job. It's an unbelievable weapon to have, the opposition knows about it but there's not much they can do about it.

"We've got some continuity which is massive. We're very happy to be in the final, let's go. It's going to be classic World Cup final rugby."

• Wales made 39 kicks from hand in the game, the most they made in a World Cup game since 1991 v Argentina (48); South Africa also made 39 kicks, their most since the 2007 final vs England (48).
• Alun Wyn Jones won his 142nd Test cap (incl. Lions) in this match, equaling Sergio Parisse as the second most capped player in Test history behind Richie McCaw.
• Apart from a 22-20 win over an experimental South Africa side (13 debutants) in Washington in 2018, Wales have still not beaten South Africa outside of Cardiff.
• Josh Adams is now the outright top try scorer at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, his haul of six tries is the joint-most a player has managed for Wales in an edition of the tournament (Shane Williams 6 in 2007).

Martyn Williams
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

Wayne Pivac [the next Wales coach] has done a fantastic job down at Scarlets. He's been around, he's experienced, a lot of the team's still staying. The back team staff are staying on board.

I think Wales have a group of players there - I can't see anyone retiring, not Alun Wyn, I think he'll want to go to a fourth Lions tour - but it's not as if it's the end of an era. There's another World Cup in most of these players.

Image source, Reuters

Wales second row Jake Ball: "We're just gutted as a team, a hell of a lot of hard work has gone in over the last five months but we've got to try and use that as motivation for the game next week.

"The boys put in a hell of an effort. If we have to look back at it, just disappointment to come so close. Sometimes we didn't have the swing of things there in that last 15 minutes but it's hard to put it all in words at the moment. A lot of the boys are down."

Image source, Reuters

• South Africa have knocked Wales out of the Rugby World Cup in consecutive tournaments, reaching their third final (1995, 2007).
• Handre Pollard (140) has scored the most points at the World Cup of any Springbok and the joint seventh most of any player overall.
• However, Pollard has never scored a try at the tournament though, only Grant Fox (170) has scored more points at the World Cup without ever crossing for a try.
• That was the first time at the tournament that Pollard managed a 100% goal kicking rate from the tee.
• South Africa averaged 4 metres per carry, while Wales could only average 1.7.