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South Africa have become three-time Rugby World Cup championship. The Springboks won on the back of ferocious forwards defense and a set-piece to stop England in their tracks. In many ways it was a rewind to the RWC 2007 Final. On the other hand the mastermind of Eddie Jones was outsmarted for the first time in the tournament.
In a combative opening half both teams had casualties. None would be more pivotal than that of English tight head Kyle Sinckler. In his place arrived Dan Cole in just the third minute of play. The result on the scoreboard would be notable with Cole conceding three scrum penalties in the opening half.
The scrum penalties would give South Africa point, notably contributing to South Africa’s 12-6 half-time lead. Handré Pollard won the battle at kicking for goal over Owen Farrell by 4 to 2 in the opening half and would extend the lead early in the second half, again slotting points from a scrum penalty.
The injection of Joe Marler saw the tendency reversed. Having won a scrum penalty for England Farrell landed a 51st minute strike to return the deficit to six points. A further penalty exchange saw South Africa leading 18-12 to begin the opening quarter.
The match-defining point came in the 66th minute. Winger Makazole Mapimpi had been winning the aerial battle all match and with his finishing his name would go into the history books. He scored off an assist from center Lukhanyo Am. Pollard converted to go 25-12 ahead.
There would be no coming back from the knock-out blow. With England needing a miracle to comeback opportunities opened up and Cheslin Kolbe capitalized. Eyeing-up two forwards Kolbe used his speed and foot work to blitz his way over.
In winning the RWC 2019 Final in Yokohama South Africa join New Zealand as having won the RWC title on three occasions. The Springboks can now lay claim to being the most successful of all teams in RWCs due to not having participated in RWCs 1987 or 1991.
SCORING
ENGLAND (12)
Farrell (23′, 35′, 51′, 60′)
SOUTH AFRICA (32)
Try: Mapimpi (66′, Kolbe 74′)
Conversion: Pollard (67′, 74′)
Pollard (10′, 26′, 39′, 43′, 46′, 57′)
TEAMS
ENGLAND
1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Billy Vunipola, 9 Ben Youngs, 10 George Ford, 11 Jonny May, 12 Owen Farrell (capt.), 13 Manu Tuilagi, 14 Anthony Watson, 15 Elliot Daly
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Dan Cole, 19 George Kruis, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Jonathan Joseph
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 9 Faf de Klerk, 10 Handré Pollard, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 15 Willie le Roux
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Francois Louw, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn
