The number eight crashed over the line with just five minutes remaining to score his second try of the match.

Max Malins then added the conversion as England beat South Africa 24-22 at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi.

Tries from Mercer and Alex Mitchell put England 17-7 in front after just 20 minutes with Juarno Augustus also getting on the score sheet for the South Africans.

However, a second from Augustus and another from Ruben van Heerden put the Springboks on the verge of victory.

In the 75th minute though Mercer fended off three tackles to score under the posts, handing Malins an easy conversion which he took with ease.

England now move within 80 minutes of defending their title.

They will now play New Zealand in the final on Sunday (June 18) after they recorded a 39-26 win over France, despite a second half scare at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium.

The French were immediately on the back foot as New Zealand's lightning start saw them 15-0 up in the first 11 minutes.

Tiaan Falcon scored a try, a conversion and a penalty while Will Jordan also crossed the line to put the All Blacks in control.

French flanker Baptiste Pesenti-Compagnoni was then sin-binned for kicking lock Sam Slade in a maul.

Dalton Papali'i scored a third try for his country in the 23rd minute before left wing Caleb Clarke added a fourth before half time with Falcon converting both.

New Zealand hooker Asafo Aumua then scored a converted try five minutes into the second half, which proved to be a crucial score.

Baptiste Couilloud, Baptiste Pesenti-Compagnoni, Peato Mauvaka and Lucas Tauzin all scored second half tries for the French as they attempted to stage a comeback.

Alex Arrate converted three of the four but New Zealand held on to reach the final.