WALES have been knocked out of the Rugby World Cup after a 23-19 defeat to South Africa.

Fourie Du Preez's 75th minute try broke Welsh hearts after Warren Gatland's men had held a lead for the majority of the second half.

Dan Biggar scored 14 points with the boot to Handre Pollard's 18 and Gareth Davies crossed for a first-half try.

South Africa now go on to face New Zealand or France in the semi final as Wales' injury list finally caught up with them having battled out of the group of death.

The bubbling atmosphere inside Twickenham made for a huge spectacle.

Taulupe Faletau took the restart and after a Scott Baldwin rumble, Tendai Mtawarira was pinged for not rolling away.

The Springboks got their first piece of possession when Dan Biggar chipped over the top, but it was short lived as Tyler Morgan ripped the ball from Damian De Allande.

After the ball was spun wide, George North seared down the left flank and was hauled down inches from the try line.

Wales went the other way only for Gethin Jenkins to throw the pass high over Tyler Morgan's head and into touch with nothing but fresh air in front of the centre.

A minute later, and with four on the clock, Wales were on the charge again but despite a sustained period inside the Springbok 22, they could not turn their pressure into points.

South Africa went up the other end and did just that on eight minutes as Handre Pollard knocked over a penalty from wide out after Samson Lee transgressed in the breakdown.

The fly-half doubled his side's lead four minutes later when Alun Wyn Jones didn't roll away quickly enough for Wayne Barnes' liking.

Biggar knocked the restart long and the Springboks weren't able to complete their exit strategy.

Gethin Jenkins flew through the breakdown and kicked the ball free and Wales were once again on the attaack inside the opposition 22.

This time they did come away with points thanks to a Sam Warburton jackal allowing Dan Biggar to knock over three points.

Just as South Africa had failed two minutes previously, Wales didn't clear their lines when Gareth Anscombe missed touch with his kick.

Duane Vermeulen rumbled into Welsh territory, Alun Wyn Jones was penalised for being offside at the ruck and Pollard knocked over another three.

With 18 minutes on the clock, Dan Biggar produced the game's first piece of magic as he proved he is the master of the aerial battle gathering his own up-and-under and offloading to Gareth Davies for the game's first try.

Biggar knocked over the conversion and Wales were in front for the first time.

But only for a minute.

Luke Charteris was the next to feel the wrath Wayne Barnes' whistle and Pollard banged over another three to put his side in the lead.

Wales won a kickable penalty a minute later, but Sam Warburton opted for the corner.

Scott Baldwin over-threw his target and Francois Louw latched onto it and surged upfield.

South Africa - for once - did not come away with any points after Jamies Roberts ripped the ball in the tackle and Gareth Anscombe cleared up the pitch.

With George North haring down on him, JP Pietersen belted the ball straight into touch.

The winger was in the game again off a sweet backs move off the lineout as he made a clean break only to be pinged for holding on.

South Africa went on the hunt for more points inside the Welsh 22 only to be met with a Gethin Jenkins turnover.

By now, and with half an hour on the clock, it was clear South Africa were intent on kicking every possession they had.

It almost paid off when a searching Fourie Du Preez kick nearly found JP Pietersen.

Wales caught the kicking bug as five dull minutes of kick tennis ensued as the tempo of the game slowed.

Warren Gatland's men earned a penalty in the breakdown 50m out and Dan Biggar's effort at goal cannoned off the right-hand post.

The chase was good, and the Welsh pack managed their first choke tackle of the game.

From the scrum, Jamie Roberts powered over the gainline and a couple of phases later Dan Biggar dropped into the pocket and slotted a sweet drop goal to give his team a half-time lead of one point.

A frantic start to the second half saw Wales regather the restart only for Sam Wartburon to pass the ball into Gethin Jenkins' face.

The ball was hacked downfield and despite Dan Biggar's heroic effort to keep the ball in play, Wales weren't able to clear.

From the lineout, Handre Pollard was gifted a chance to put his side back into the lead with a penalty but again it drifted wide.

His opposite number succeeded where he had failed six minutes into the first half as he banged over a 42m penalty when Schalk Burger was penalised for obstruction at the breakdown.

South Africa mixed up their game from their monotonous first half kickfest, but could not breach the Welsh line despite a number of phases inches from the tryline.

With no way through, Pollard slid deep and slotted a drop goal to bring the Springboks to back within a point ten minutes into the second half.

The fly-half was off target again five miuntes later with a penalty as Wales switched up their front row with Tomas Francis and Paul James coming on for Samson Lee and Gethin Jenkins.

Willie Le Roux carved through the Welsh midfield from a lineout, but his pass out to Brian Habana - searching for a try to break Jonah Lomu's World Cup record - was behind him and the attack broke down.

When they slung it wide, Tyler Morgan was on hand to turn the ball over and Wales once again cleared their lines.

There was a lengthy delay as Scott Baldwin left the field with a head injury to be replaced by Ken Owens, and South Africa too had changed their front row with Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane and Jannie Du Plessis on.

Handre Pollard restored the Spingbok lead with a penalty on the hour, only for Dan Biggar to answer straight back with one of his own as Luke Charteris made way for Bradley Davies.

The Spingboks laid siege in the Welsh line again, and having gone through the phases, the second row put in a monster hit along with Dan Lydiate to dislodge the ball.

It was Lydiate's last act of the game as he was replaced by Justin Tipuric on 67 minutes and Warren Gatland threw on another organiser in James Hook for Tyler Morgan.

With 10 minutes to go, try scorer Gareth Davies was replaced by Lloyd Williams after a period of Welsh pressure ended when Wayne Barnes blew up for holding on just outside the 22.

South Africa made their way downfield and gained a scrum inside Wales' 22.

With Rhys Priestland on for Dan Biggar, the scrum held firm and Duane Vermeulen picked up at the base.

With Lloyd Williams clinging onto his ankles and Alex Cuthbert coming in to make a hit up high, he flicked the ball to Fourie Du Preez who scampered over to score in the corner with just five minutes left on the clock.

With the clock red, Wales made one desperate attempt to score, but couldn't penetrate the green defence.