South Africa have claimed their third Rugby World Cup title with a resounding 32-12 victory over England in Japan this morning.
Fly-half Handre Pollard contributed 22-points from the boot to add to tries from wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe to see the Boks sweep aside the English.
The Springboks started the better of the two and had a chance to go ahead as early as the second minute when Pollard misplaced a simple enough penalty kick.
England were handed a massive blow less than a minute later as Kyle Sinckler was taken off after being knocked out cold after hitting his head against teammate Maro Itoje’s elbow.
Things got worse for the men in white when Pollard made no mistake from a penalty in the ninth minute to make it 3-0.
However, despite looking off the pace it was England that hit next as Owen Farrell knocked over a penalty of his own just after the 20 minute mark. While for the Boks both hooker Bongi Mbonambi and lock Lood de Jager went off through injury.
Straight from the restart the Springboks put pressure on the opposition and showed their dominance in the scrum to win a penalty which Pollard kicked over to put them ahead once again.
England hit back again over the next ten minutes and but for some impressive defence from the Boks they would have been in for a try but they had to settle for a penalty kick from the boot of Farrell to level once more.
With just over five minutes remaining before half-time Pollard put South Africa in front again with yet another penalty and things only got better for them on the stroke of half-time as they won another scrum penalty with Pollard smashed over to leave it at 12-6 come the whistle.
The Springboks opened the second period as they ended the first winning a penalty at scrum-time just inside the England half. Pollard sent the kick from the left-hand side flying over to stretch the lead to 15-9.
However, the tables were turned five minutes later as England won a penalty from a scrum this time around and from the penalty Farrell ensured a further three-points to make it a six-point game.
Farrell had a chance to cut further into the lead moments later but sent the penalty wide of the posts and they were punished as Pollard notched up his sixth penalty two minutes later to make it 18-9.
However, England hit back right away as Farrell made up for his miss with an easy penalty kick won from the restart to put them within six once again with just over a quarter of the match remaining.
Pollard had another penalty attempt from almost 60 metres out but couldn’t connect properly with the kick as the score stayed the same.
South Africa were celebrating four minutes on however, as they sent the ball out wide left to winger Mapimpi who chipped over the top for centre Lukanyo Am, who caught the ball before sending a beautiful pass back inside to his No 11 to waltz over for his sixth try of the tournament. Pollard added a further two points to the scoreboard to make it 25-12 with just over ten minutes to go.
England went in search of a score to get within touching distance of the Boks but they were driven back time and time again.
Eventually centre Henry Slade knocked the ball on just inside his own half, Pieter-Steph du Toit picked up the loose ball before sending the ball to Kolbe who darted forward showing incredible dancing feet to charge over for a vital try. Pollard converted to give the Springboks a 20-point lead with six minutes remaining.
South Africa went looking for further scores but couldn’t find a way through the English defence for a third time and as the clock struck 80 minutes Pollard kicked the ball out to the delight of the men in green.
The win now means that the Springboks are level with New Zealand having won three World Cups in their history, and in doing so have become the first team to lift the Webb Ellis Cup having lost a game earlier in the tournament. For England it is a massive disappointment following last weekend’s brilliant victory over the All Blacks, but for South Africa it is a deserved trophy to add to their Rugby Championship from earlier in the year.
Player Ratings
England Starting XV:
Elliot Daly (4), Anthony Watson (5), Manu Tuilagi (6), Owen Farrell (7), Jonny May (5), George Ford (5), Ben Youngs (6), Billy Vunipola (6), Sam Underhill (7), Tom Curry (7), Courtney Lawes (4), Maro Itoje (6), Kyle Sinckler (n/a), Jamie George (5), Mako Vunipola (5)
Replacements (5)
South Africa XV:
Willie le Roux (7), Cheslin Kolbe (8), Lukanyo Am (8), Damian de Allende (7), Makazole Mapimpi (8), Handre Pollard (9), Faf de Klerk (8), Duane Vermeulen (9), Pieter-Steph du Toit (8), Siya Kolisi (7), Lood de Jager (6), Eben Etzebeth (7), Frans Malherbe (7), Bongi Mbonambi (7), Tendai Mtawarira (7)
Replacements (8)
