The Springboks are through to the World Cup final, where they will face England, after a gruelling last-gasp semi-final victory over Wales - but organisers might as well hand the Webb Ellis Cup to Eddie Jones right now.
World Rugby should just give the Webb Ellis Cup to Eddie Jones and his England team right now.
The Poms have been streets ahead of every other side in Japan and it would be a travesty if the former Wallabies coach doesn’t get his hands on the trophy he came so close to winning for Australia in 2003.
South Africa spared the southern hemisphere the humiliation of not having a team in the final for the first time after they overcame Wales 19-16 in the second semifinal but they just aren’t in the same class as England.
SCROLL DOWN TO RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION IN OUR BLOG
Stream England v South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final on KAYO SPORTS. Live & On-Demand on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
On the evidence of last night, the Springboks’ best hope of winning is if they bore England to death, though that should not be discounted.
South Africa afterall is the only country to win the World Cup without scoring a try in the final - and they’ve done that twice - in 1995 and 2007.
They did manage to score one try against Wales last night through outside centre Damien de Allende but it was the unerring boot of Handre Pollard that proved decisive, with the Springbok number 10 kicking the winning penalty four minutes from the end after Wales tied the game with a try from Josh Adams.
“In tight matches, that’s what it’s about,” Pollard said. Anything can happen in a final if we produce that effort again."
Jones is unlikely to lose too much sleep trying to figure out South Africa’s plans for the final, which will feature more high kicks than a night at the Moulin Rouge.
It was in Paris, 12 years ago, that South Africa beat England to win the World Cup for the second time, when Jones was working as an assistant coach for the Boks, so there’s no secrets about what’s coming.
"As you can see, the coach (Rassie Erasmus) doesn't hide it. He goes straight for the six-two split because we want our forwards to take out everything,” the Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi said.
“We are going for the maul, we are going for the scrum and the guys we bring on, we have got nothing to worry about - they are going to bring it even more."
South Africa’s win was another slap in the face for the Wallabies though and their unrealistic tactics and botched execution.
While the Springboks may not play attractive rugby, it is highly effective and they also made the tough call to appoint Erasmus as head coach last year when it was clear the previous coach Allister Coetzee wasn’t get the results.
The Wallabies will be kicking themselves at what might have been because they could have been in the final next week.
The Springboks were beatable and Wales were brave to the end, but it was Australia’s failure to beat the Welsh in the pool phase that derailed the Wallabies’ entire campaign because it put them on the harder side of the draw against England.
“I'm really proud of our guys, we never gave up and we got ourselves back into the game. It was a real arm wrestle, a really tough encounter,” Wales coach Warren Gatland said.
“We punch massively above our weight in terms of the playing numbers they have in Wales so I'm really proud of these guys, they've given us 100 per cent."
Handre Pollard is named man of the match for his flawless kicking display – and for setting up the key try for Damian De Allende.
A cruel defeat for Wales, who fought hard for 80 minutes but lacked that cutting edge.
South Africa will need to be considerably better to challenge England next week.
But you can't fault their tactics. They have big units and they bash their way through the middle, turn to box kicks and rely on the outstanding kicking of Handre Pollard.
South Africa win a scrum penalty from a dominant scrum!
That will do it – they're through to the final! Time expires as Handre Pollard kicks the ball into touch. They'll face England in their third World Cup final.
South Africa win a scrum penalty from a dominant scrum!
That will do it – they're through to the final! Time expires as Handre Pollard kicks the ball into touch. They'll face England in their third World Cup final.
Two minutes to go and Wales are pinned on their own line after a pinpoint touchfinder from Faf de Klerk.
They'll have to go from deep in their own half to do this but no!
There's a knock-on from the lineout. South Africa will have a scrum about 15m out from the Welsh tryline.
Time is running out. Scrum resets incoming. This is South Africa's game to lose.
Pollard takes a shot from deep – but it is too low. However he has done so because South Africa won advantage during their rolling maul.
Handre Pollard will have a shot from about 37m out near the left-hand touchline.
Can he slot it to put the Boks in front?
He does. No mistake! Nerves of steel.
The Springboks lead 19-16 with four minutes remaining. Can they hold on?
Field goals are going to become a factor now.
Rhys Patchell takes his chance from 40m out and his effort is short and wide. But that signals the intent.
Wales can't make any ground through the middle against this South African pack.
But the field goal is ON as Francois Louw forces a turnover at the breakdown and wins his side a penalty.
The pressure turns to Wales, now, as the Boks charge into enemy territory.
Expect a huge push from this lineout and look to Pollard or Frans Steyn for a field goal.
As we enter the final ten minutes, this game is well and truly going down to the wire.
Both teams have almost cleared their entire benches.
Only Elliot Dee (Wales) and Herschel Jantjies (SA) remain unused.
TRYTIME!
South Africa are grinding their way forward, as they bring reinforcements off the bench.
They have some enormous bodies to bring into this match.
And it is starting to show as Damian De Allende bullies his way through the Welsh defence.
The big inside centre was sent out wide and monstered his way past three defenders to score the first try of the evening.
He just wouldn't be stopped. But that is fairly poor defence.
There’s a heck of a try. If you’re Welsh you won’t like the replay though.
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) October 27, 2019
Doggy paddle tackling doesn’t stop De Allende.
— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) October 27, 2019
The scrum call is instantly rewarded! Wales go blindside and put it through the hands, with winger Josh Adams taking the last pass from Jonathan Davies to go over out wide.
Brilliant reward for the attacking decision to spurn the penalty goal and go for the try.
Leigh Halfpenny drills the conversion from the sideline and we are level! What a kick.
Wales refuse to quit in this contest.
The scrum call is instantly rewarded! Wales go blindside and put it through the hands, with winger Josh Adams taking the last pass from Jonathan Davies to go over out wide.
Brilliant reward for the attacking decision to spurn the penalty goal and go for the try.
Leigh Halfpenny drills the conversion from the sideline and we are level! What a kick.
Wales refuse to quit in this contest.
England cricket great Kevin Pietersen has angered swathes of his own fans after taking to social media in the wake of England’s stunning defeat in the Rugby World Cup final.
RA Director of Rugby Scott Johnson has revealed his three main objectives in the four years leading up to the Wallabies World Cup tilt in France in 2023.