South Africa smashed and grabbed a 16-15 victory over England to set a dream 2023 Rugby World Cup final against all time foes New Zealand next week Saturday at the Stade de France.
The Springboks and All Blacks will be battling it out to for the prestigious Webb Ellis and will be both be in search for the historic record four-time world cup title.
SA coach Jacques Nienaber’s charges trailed for almost the entire game, until experienced flyhalf and man-of-the-match Handre Pollard slotted a 76th minute penalty that ultimately took the Boks through, with yet another pulsating narrow victory.
The Springboks had a slow start to the game, conceding silly and costly penalties, which put them on the backfoot as the English capitalized and converted all four of their penalties – thanks to captain Owen Farrell, who led by example and put pressure on the Boks going into half-time.
For South Africa, penalties conversion from Manie Libbok and Pollard narrowed the scoreline and went into the break behind by 12-6.
Nienaber reacted and made some changes in the second half, which saw captain Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen and Eben Etzebeth – which was once again a tactical genius, as his substitutes Ox Nche, RG Snyman and Deon Fourie changed the entire complexion of the game.
England added three more points to the scoreboard through a superb 45 metre drop goal from Farrell. The Boks did, however, not despair, as they kept on pushing and showing their fighting spirit, with Ox Nche displaying his power and showing why he is the future Springbok prop, winning every brawl he contested in.
The clock was ticking, and all that the Boks needed was a try and indeed they got it through Snyman, who bundled over the stubborn England defense and went over the line to restore the South African hopes.
Pollard converted his penalty and as the tension mounted and clock counted down it, was the scrum that proved the decisive factor as another penalty at the phase allowed Pollard to land the match-winning kick from 50 metres and broke the England hearts.
