Trailing for 75 minutes, the Springboks overthrew the English at the very end of the match to win (16-15) on Saturday and defend their title until the final.
These Springboks are definitely resourceful. Authors of an average match for 70 minutes, shaken by the English well in place and applied, they managed to turn the tide to win against the XV de la Rose (16-15), in the second semi-final of the World Cup, Saturday October 21 at the Stade de France.
What could have been going through Handré Pollard’s mind when he launched his run, facing the poles, in the middle of the field, to strike a kick which could change the destiny of his team, and of an entire nation? The former Montpellier did not let himself be distracted by the tension and the whistles which cascaded down from the stands of the Stade de France still bruised from the elimination of the Blues, passed his kick, and sent the Springboks to the final , two minutes from the siren.
A poor match then ten minutes of madness
Enough to free a team which almost missed its meeting, but which held on and which turned on the gas again at the best moment. As against the Blues a week ago, the Springboks gained momentum, but this time in a much more concentrated and explosive way. While they were more than one try behind on the scoreboard (6-15), they finally found their way to the promised land.
After a well-played penalty and a succession of short passes, the first line replacing RG Snymann burst out, pierced the English defense to score the only try of the match (69th). He thus relaunched a meeting during which we had not yet had much opportunity to vibrate.
This late try and Pollard’s decisive penalty erased, almost as if by magic, a long insipid performance from the reigning world champions. Annoyed by the increased vigilance of the refereeing body in the rucks, they did not really succeed in deploying their game and finding speed and solutions, before these last ten crazy minutes.
The English have tried everything
The English, who only had their eyes to cry at the final whistle, missed out on an important victory, and will have many regrets. For more than 70 minutes, they implemented a well-thought-out plan almost to perfection, if not sparkling. Carried by their aggressiveness and a worn and reused footwork, they had managed to crisscross the field and get into the Springboks who were surprisingly powerless and disappointing.
Guided by their captain Owen Farrell, imperial against the poles (4 penalties out of 4 and a drop) and author of all of his team’s points, they raced in the lead, taking advantage of the penalties whistled against their opponents (8) , especially at the start of the meeting. But they will regret their inability to go for the test, as is so often the case against the Springboks in the World Cup (only one try scored during their six duels in a World Cup). They also pay for their accuracy and their weak time at the end of the match, during which they ended up breaking.
Thanks to this stunning success, the South Africans open the doors to a second world final in a row. Facing the All Blacks, in a week, they will have the opportunity to continue to write the history of their selection and their country, by retaining their title of world champion, and by winning a historic fourth William Webb Ellis trophy.