South Africa show brute power and skill to win the 2019 Rugby world cup.
The stage was set in Yokohama for a repeat of the 2007 final which saw South Africa come out victorious. Eddie Jones’s men would look to amend that defeat.
The first half was a disaster for England, but they managed to stay in the game. The first minute saw England concede a penalty which was missed by Handre Pollard.
2 minutes later there was a catastrophic blow for the men in white. One of England’s star men Kyle Sinckler was knocked out and replaced permanently. The replacement Dan Cole looked nervous in scrums conceding a few penalties in quick time.
These penalties then paid off for south Africa as Pollard kicked the springboks into 3-0 lead.
It was a barrage of mistakes from England and coach Eddie Jones looked on in confusion.
England showed first signs of positivity in the 21st minute giving England their first penalty. The kick was successfully kicked by Owen Farrell making it a level game.
England later gave away another clumsy penalty giving South Africa a 6-3 lead after 25 minutes.
The 30-minute mark saw the biggest try threat of the first half. Surprisingly it came from England. A ferocious 26 phase attack from England but South Africa defended tenaciously only conceding a penalty. It was a big 3 points for England and a platform for them to add more pressure.
Despite this change in momentum South Africa finished the half strong. Handre Pollard fired in penalties in the 38th and 42nd minute to take his team 12-6 up at the half.
If England were going to win this game, they would need to do something nobody’s ever done in the final and come from behind at half time.
Another penalty for the springboks from the scrum in the 45th minute. Pollard kicked the 3 points to give them a 9-point lead. The final was slipping away from England.
Joe Marler and George Kruis come on early in the half to bulk up the scrum and lineouts. It seemed to be a wise move from Jones. England gain a turnover from a lineout followed by a successful scrum grasped England a penalty.
The score was 15-9 and England were starting to really heat up. Brilliant work from Tom Curry in the tackle gave his men Another penalty. It was a tough penalty for Captain Owen Farrell which was narrowly missed. This was a big moment in the game.
England show the flaws they had in the first half and concede a penalty in the maul. Pollard gives South Africa their 9-point lead back.
England come back almost straight away from a monstrous Manu Tuilagi tackle. Farrell kicks the ball back to a 6-point game.
Another senseless penalty conceded in the 62nd minute. It was a big risk for Pollard to attempt the 3 points and it never paid off as he missed by some distance.
The 66th minute seemed to put the nail in the head for the struggling England team. Makazole Mapimpi kicks the ball and chases to give his team the first try. At 25-12 it looked over for the England team.
South Africa came into their own after the try. The 73rd minute was Springboks magical Wingers Cheslin Kolbe’s moment to shine. The 5ft7 man used magnificent footwork and got the second try. Pollard kicked the conversion and gave them a 32-12 lead.
This try seemed to be the last big moment of the game. An iconic picture in the 78th minute showed South Africa being prematurely being engraved into the trophy. A 3rd world cup for the mighty springboks.
