2019 Rugby World Cup final: South Africa stun England to win third title
South African captain Siya Kolisi sends a powerful message as his side stun England.
South Africa have won their third Rugby World Cup, a huge defensive effort setting up a 32-12 victory over England in Yokohama. See how it all unfolded below.
Wayne Smith 10.55pm: ‘If we can pull together, we can achieve something’
South Africa have won the Rugby World Cup for the third time in history, as Siya Kolisi became the first black man ever to raise the William Webb Ellis Cup following an emphatic 32-12 victory over England at Yokohama Stadium tonight.
It was a monumental and hugely significant win for a country, which as Kolisi acknowledged, is going through tremendous social and political upheaval.
“With all the challenges we are having, it shows if we can pull together we can achieve something,” he said, in a post-match speech directed straight at the South African population. “As our coach (Rassie Erasmus) said, we are no longer playing for ourselves. We’re playing for the people back home. We really appreciate all the support — from the people in the townships, the homeless people, people in rural areas.”
It was the Springboks’ third win in just seven World Cups — after they were forced to miss the first two tournaments because of the apartheid-era sanctions. Effectively, that makes them the greatest country in World Cup history because the only other triple-winner, the All Blacks, has contested all nine World Cups since 1987. It was, as well, the eight win in nine tournaments for teams from the southern hemisphere. The only World Cup ever to head north of the equator was in 2003 when England defeated Australia. And it was the first time a team has won The Rugby Championship and the World Cup in the one year.
That 2003 match, played in Sydney, was a heart-breaker for the then Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and he had to front up to another huge disappointment as his England side failed to ever really get into the contest. They trailed from the ninth minute and never managed to put their noses in front.
“We struggled to get into the game,” Jones admitted. “We struggled to get onto the front foot. I can’t fault the players. They gave it their all but we weren’t good enough on the day. Full credit to South Africa.”
🗣"The effort of the players was outstanding. We just weren't good enough today. Congratulations South Africa on an outstanding performance."
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 2, 2019
Hear from @EnglandRugby's coach Eddie Jones on his side's #RWCFinal loss #RWC2019 #ENGvRSA #WebbEllisCup pic.twitter.com/e300UFxRtV
The match was only two minutes old when things began to seriously wrong for the England team, when tighthead Kyle Sinckler was knocked senseless in a collision with team-mate Maro Itoje. No scrums had been set to that point and while the Boks had indicated that Sinckler was certain to be one of their targets, they then immediately refocused on making life miserable for his replacement, Dan Cole.
Scrum penalty after scrum penalty flowed South Africa’s way and in a try-less first half, it was the Boks who led at the break, 12-6. No side which has ever led at the interval has gone on to lose a World Cup final and while England desperately attempted to raise their game, they could never close the gap to less than six points.
More and more it became a contest between the Rainbow Nation and rugby history. In three World Cup finals, South Africa — though never beaten — had never scored a single try. Suddenly, within the space of six minutes, they had two as their wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe raced over, the England defence being inevitably worn down.
Mapimpi was put into the clear by outside centre Lukhanyo Am in the 67th minute, chipping ahead for Am to regather. Almost certainly he could have scored himself but he deftly threw the pass to Mapimpi who raced over without a hand being laid on him for a historic Springbok try.
Barely had England absorbed that blow and were now throwing caution to the wind than replacement centre Henry Slade lost the ball in the crunching tackle of Malcolm Marx and in a flash Kolbe had weaved his way through for a dazzling try.
England can’t complain that they didn’t have enough ball to win. In fact, they won 58 per cent of possession. But they only managed four linebreaks and none of them looked like resulting in a try, not with South African trio of Pieter-Steph du Toit (17 tackles), Franco Mostert (15) and Tendai Mtawarira (14) topping the tackle count for the match.
Even though the winning margin ended up being the second biggest in World Cup finals — second only to the Wallabies’ 35-12 win over France in 1999 — it was defence which inevitably won the match. Yet again the Boks were peerless.
Wayne Smith 9.58pm: Powerful South Africa’s World Cup boilover
South Africa now are sensing a chance to make history, as the first team ever to lose a pool match to go on and win the World Cup. And now they have done it as Cheslin Kolbe pounces on a Harry Slade knock-on — courtesy of a bell-ringer from Marx — and threads his way through the tiring England defence to the tryline.
They’ve done it. Pollard’s kick makes it 32-12 to South Africa, Vermeulen is confirmed as Man of the Match and it’s all green at Yokohama. And up on the big screen the engraver is shown adding “South Africa” to the list of world champions – with two minutes still to play. And that’s it. It’s full-time, South Africa 32-England 12.
It's party time for the @Springboks 🕺
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) November 2, 2019
ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ #ENGvRSA 🇿🇦 | #RWCFinal | #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/FuER7PSVId
Soak it in @Springboks...the #WebbEllisCup is coming back to South Africa!
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) November 2, 2019
ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ #ENGvRSA 🇿🇦 | #RWCFinal | #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/ykhyfrS88G
Wayne Smith 9.45pm: SA’s first ever final try
The shoot-out continues. Pollard restores the nine-point lead as Manu Tuilagi is ruled offside from a lineout. But then Marx is adjudged to have come in from the side as Farrell responds. South Africa lead 18-12 after 59 minutes.
More changes now as England changes its hooker with Jamie George off and Luke Cowan-Dickie coming on, so too Sam Underhill, who again has been one of England’s best gives way. But the really big change comes in the South African team where captain Kolisi makes way for Francois Louw. Huge change that. Meanwhile, England bumps Mapimpi out of the way as he chases a high ball and earns a penalty. It’s on halfway and they sure could have done with Franz Steyn because Pollard puts in a shocker.
But it doesn’t matter because the Boks break through for the first try of the match as Mapimpi is put into the clear with a deft pass from Am. He chips ahead and Am races through to regather. He probably could have scored himself but he gives the honour of the first try South Africa have ever scored in a World Cup final to Mapimpi. Pollard converts and now England must step up and play like they’ve never played before.
South Africa lead 25-12 with 13 minutes to play.
Wayne Smith 9.28pm: Momentum shifts to England
England are in real trouble now as the South Africans go to their bench and introduce Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch into their front-row, which, with Marx, arguably give them their most powerful scrummaging unit. And they demonstrate it by winning the first penalty of the second half. Pollard is not missing now. He nails the goal and South Africa go to 15-6 after 43 minutes … that was, by the by, the full-time score when SA beat England in the 2007 final.
Garces makes his first serious mistake. Joe Marler has come on at loosehead for England and actually held SA in the scrum but the Frenchmen still gives the Boks the penalty. Still, England hold the Boks up in the maul and win the scrum feed and … whoah, what was that? England’s scrum barrels SA backwards. Marler the magnificent! This time even Garces can’t miss it and Farrell nails his third goal. Ford is taken off, Farrell goes to 10 and Henry Slade come on in the centres. South Africa’s lead is cut, they’re now ahead 15-9.
The tide has now turned. Boks fullback Willie Le Roux slips over in Anthony Watson’s tackle and flanker Tim Curry is on hand to pounce, winning the penalty at the breakdown. But Farrell’s kick just shaves the posts and there is no change to the score.
Wayne Smith 9.11pm: Changes needed for England
It’s a deserved 12-6 lead to the Springboks at the end of the first half. The early loss of Sinckler has left England horribly exposed at scrum time. They have given away four penalties in the set piece and Jones has to start ringing the changes – and quickly. Replacement Luke Cowan-Dickie and loosehead Joe Marler have to come on, simply to change the picture for referee Garces.
England didn’t look particularly when it strung together 21 phases in attack and couldn’t breach the South African defence. It certainly is not helping that halves Ben Youngs and George Ford don’t seem to have settled into the game. That might be OK if only 10 minutes have gone but when 40 minutes have been played and they are still making crucial errors – like throwing passes to no-one and kicking out on the full – it a major concern.
England actually went into a huddle once the halftime hooter sounded, trying to sort out their problems even before hearing what Jones had to say.
For South Africa, it is all falling into place, though one converted try from England and they can lose their lead. It’s not just their established stars who are performing. Relative youngsters like Am and winger Makazole Mapimpi are playing like seasoned veterans. The problem will be whether their bench will be able to deliver what it normally does, considering Marx and Mostert have already been thrown into the contest.
And now we know what Jones’ response will be with recognised lineout specialist George Kruis coming on for Lawes in the second-row. But it surely won’t be long before the front-row changes are rung.
Wayne Smith 8.57pm: South Africa’s title to lose?
England are now battering the South African lines, phase after phase. Garces gives almost four minutes of advantage before finally halting play and taking it back in front of the posts to allow Farrell a second shot at goal. He makes no mistake but England aren’t looking as fluid in their forward attack with Sinckler forced off. Remember his solo run for a 20m try against Australia, running onto a Farrell’s pass? It’s 6-all after 33 minutes.
Pollard yet again restores the Boks’ lead when Vermeulen again forces a penalty at the breakdown. This time he doesn’t miss from 40m, just two minutes from half-time. And when Faf de Klerk fumbles just as he is about to box kick and is forces to run, South Africa makes good metres out wide through outside centre Lukhanyo Am. He chips and England fullback Elliot Daly knocks-on, which isn’t what his side needed with his scrum in so much trouble. And … it happens. Garces raises his arm to indicate another penalty to South Africa and Pollard makes no mistake as he gives his side a vital six-point lead at the break. No side which has ever led at the interval has ever lost a World Cup final.
South Africa lead 12-6 at half-time.
Wayne Smith 8.40pm: War of attrition as players drop
For only the second time in the tournament, England loses its own lineout throw as Eben Etzebeth gets up to disrupt Courtney Lawes’ catch. And their scrum is in trouble as well as the Boks claim their second set piece penalty. But finally the Boks’ momentum eases. A penalty to England, the first of the match, gives them a chance to build momentum and at last it produces results as they are awarded a penalty within close range for Farrell. But before he is able to kick the goal, play is stopped as Lood de Jager is forced off with a dislocated shoulder as Franco Mostert comes on as his second row replacement. So too hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi as Malcolm Marx comes on.
Still, Farrell is patient and just scrapes his penalty goal shot inside the left-hand upright to level the scores at 3-all after 22 minutes.
And would you believe it but England knock-on from the kick-off and immediately hand back the advantage to South Africa who win a third scrum penalty. Cole complains about the Boks standing up in the front row but Garces doesn’t see it that way. Pollard kicks the goal to once again take the lead in the 26th minute, the Boks 6-3 up.
Wayne Smith 8.22pm: First points to the Boks
England are looking decidedly nervous in the opening 10 minutes. Virtually all the play has been in their half and they are crumbling under the pressure. The win a defensive scrum and are forced to win it. Again the ball goes to ground, England captain Owen Farrell is isolated for a moment and Boks number eight Duane Vermeulen strikes at the breakdown, winning a penalty straight in front of the opposition posts. Up steps Pollard to score the first points of the final. South Africa 3-England 0.
Wayne Smith 8.18pm: Can Cole last 77 minutes?
A steady flow of support has seen England start the match at $1.44 favourites, with South Africa at $2.75. England has lost a World Cup final before, two of them, in 1991 to Australia and again in 2007 to the Boks. But the South Africans have a perfect record in the final, winning in 1995 at home and then again in 2007.
But after so many years of England riding on the back of their scrum, it’s somewhat surprising that South Africa have identified the set piece as a potential weak link in the opposition. Specifically, they’ll want to scrum England into the Yokohama turf right from the outset – specifically with the Beast, Tendai Mtawarira targeting their tighthead, Kyle Sinckler. Boy, do those tactics sound familiar, except it used to be England’s Andrew Sheridan chasing whoever was brave enough to wear the “3” jersey for Australia.
Here come the teams, as the Japanese drums begin their war beat. “God Save the Queen” is the first anthem played, with Prince Harry in the crowd. Then “Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika”. South African captain Siya Kolisi might not have been selected for his singing voice but he certainly belts out his national anthem.
And for the first time since 2007, a Rugby World Cup final will begin without a haka.
It’s Handre Pollard who will kick off, as the first Frenchman ever to control a World Cup final, Jerome Garces, gives the South African five-eighth the nod.
England halfback Ben Youngs puts up the first box kick of the night but the opening penalty goes to the Boks. Up steps Pollard from about 40m with South Africa desperate to put early points on the board, but the kick just drifts to the right of the posts.
And now disaster for England as Sinckler is knocked out before a scrum is packed, seemingly accidentally hitting the elbow of teammate Maro Itoje. So it will be the veteran Dan Cole who comes off the bench to play 77 minutes – presuming Sinckler doesn’t somehow pass the HIA. A scrum packs down, with Cole rushing on, and the Boks march it forward and get the penalty. England win the turnover and crazily attempt to run the ball out from behind their own posts. The ball bounces but Jonny May momentarily breaks free. England puts up the high ball but Pollard takes it easily and responds. He rushed through, takes it cleanly and sets sail for the line – only to lose his footing.
Adrian McMurray 8.16pm: England lose a man
Horror start for England and Kyle Sinckler, who’s knocked out by what appears to be a stray elbow from his teammate Itoje. He’s off for a HIA, replaced by Dan Cole, and you don’t imagine he’ll be back.
As someone who worked hard to get to a World Cup final & get knocked out early in the game, it’s such a tough thing to take. Obviously I know how tough the family take it too. Hoping all is as good as can be #RWCFinal
— Matt Giteau 🇦🇺 (@giteau_rugby) November 2, 2019
Meanwhile, both teams are throwing it around … where has this been from South Africa?! Looks like we’re in for a cracker if the start is anything to go by. Still no score after 8 minutes.
Adrian McMurray 8.00pm: Play begins
Here we go! The players are out on the field, and after a moment of silence to remember the victims of Typhoon Hagibis, onto the anthems.
A rousing rendition of God Save the Queen, followed by South Africa’s own anthem, belted out by the players … wow, there’s a lot of feeling there, as you can understand. And we’re underway, England with first use of the ball.
Goosebumps. 😳
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 2, 2019
What a rousing, emotive and passionate anthem from the @Springboks and their incredible supporters 🎶🎶
They’re fired up and ready for action 💪
80 minutes from rugby immortality 🤩#RWCFinal #RWC2019 #ENGvRSA #RWCYokohama pic.twitter.com/S7WdxnKBTD
Adrian McMurray 7.30pm: Mental battle is everything: Jones
Jones says the final is all about the cerebral battle, saying his side will be keeping things simple and executing it at a level fitting for the occasion.
“We know it’s a final, know what’s at stake,” the England coach says.
"There'll be a couple of moments in the game where you just have to do the simple things brilliantly and that's what we're aiming to do"@EnglandRugby head coach Eddie Jones speaks about the challenges of playing the final and what it will take to win it#RWC2019 #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/N62tKMUz9a
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 2, 2019
“Massively mental this week, it’s all about the way you think, the way you approach the game … we’ve done very little physical training.
“There will be a couple of moments in the game where you have to do the simple things brilliantly, and that’s what we’re aiming to do.”
Wayne Smith 6.35pm: All signs point to epic final
After 37 pool matches — three were abandoned because of Typhoon Hagibis, remember? — and seven knockout games, it has finally arrived, the final of the Rugby World Cup.
With fine weather forecast for Yokohama Stadium, everything points to a cracking game between England and South Africa. That is, of course, if England play as they did when they beat the All Blacks in their semi-final and the Springboks play nothing at all like they did when they edged past Wales by three points to earn a place in the final.
The endless box kicks — or should that be “Boks kicks” — the South Africans did in their semi-final might work as well today as they did on the last occasion when these two sides met in a World Cup decider, at Stade de France in 2007 when the Springboks beat England 15-6, but certainly the rugby world is desperately hoping they both turn on a far better spectacle today.
On the basis of their performance in The Rugby Championship, the Boks under coach Rassie Erasmus certainly have the ability to play more expansively and it may just be that he felt a limited game plan represented his side’s best hope of getting past Wales. Perhaps, against England, they will realise the limitations of a limited game plan.
It is doubtful whether two sides in world rugby are more committed to the power element than today’s finalists. South Africa has always boasted of a huge pack, a dominant scrum and a lineout from which they launch almost all their attacking plays, but under Eddie Jones, England will match them in size and may just outdo them in speed up front.
Certainly while they have a lock of the calibre of Maro Itoje, anything is possible from the England pack. In his own way, he is every bit as dangerous as All Black second-rower Brodie Retallick or Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones. Indeed, in the way he is able to link out wide, handling and running like a blindside flanker, he could well emerge as the most dynamic forward on the field today.
Only “arguably”, because the Springboks have some dynamos of their own in number eight Duane Vermeulen and flanker Pieter du Toit, the latter, a finalist in the World Player of the Year award. The other member of the Boks’ backrow is Siya Kolisi, the South African captain, of whom much is expected.
"There'll be a couple of moments in the game where you just have to do the simple things brilliantly and that's what we're aiming to do"@EnglandRugby head coach Eddie Jones speaks about the challenges of playing the final and what it will take to win it#RWC2019 #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/N62tKMUz9a
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 2, 2019
Former England five-eighth turned commentator Stuart Barnes mounted a cogent case why Kolisi should have been dropped to the reserves today, with Francois Louw coming in to counter England’s Kamikaze Kids, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill. But while that argument may hold up on a purely rugby basis, it undersells what Kolisi brings to the side — and the entire Rainbow Nation — just by being on the field. Certainly turnovers are more easily measured and heaven knows Louw is almost David Pocock-like in winning the ball at the breakdown, but there is no question that Kolisi inspires real steel in this South African side. Both men will play their role and South Africa is lucky to have them.
While there are genuine threats out in the Springbok backline, particularly with the inclusion of winger Cheslin Kolbe — another Player of the Year finalist — it is the England back division which looks the more threatening.
🎤 Hier kom die Bokke!
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 2, 2019
ðŸŸï¸ The players have arrived#StrongerTogether #RWC2019 #RWCYokohama #RWCFinal #WebbEllisCup pic.twitter.com/itnZqyFHGg
It was always thought that the selection of George Ford at 10 and captain Owen Farrell at 12 would prove a masterstroke at this World Cup and there is no doubt that eyebrows were raised in both hemispheres when Jones dropped Ford to the bench for the quarter-final against the Wallabies, presumably to spare him the ordeal of having to contain Samu Kerevi.
But he reinstated his two playmakers for the semi-final against New Zealand and both responded brilliantly. Today they may well hold the key to the England performance. If they can unpick South Africa’s outside-in defence, get in behind it, then it could all open up for the likes of Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May, Anthony Watson and fullback Elliot Daly.
But if the Springboks can stay close, then lurking on their bench could well be the man who could snatch it all away from England.
Frans Steyn is 32 these days but back in 2007, when he played in his first World Cup final, he was just a kid of 20 — a kid with a kick like a mule. He kicked a short-range goal in that final — from “only” 49m — to put South Africa more than two scores in front, although his real value was in his line-breaking that day.
The crowds are gathering here at Stadium Yokohama 🙌
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 2, 2019
Follow all the build up and match action on our live blog âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/p3QCqKGjPt #CarryThemHome #ENGvRSA pic.twitter.com/ZcR8rPs1xn
It was hardly surprising that South Africa released footage of Steyn kicking a goal from his own 22m line in the lead-up to today’s final, just to strike fear into the hearts of Englishmen. Certainly, if this match turns out to be a cliffhanger, he could prove the difference.
All the world wants is a cracking game. But Jones and Erasmus couldn’t give a damn about style, not when there is a World Cup at stake. Jones already knows what it is like to have the Webb Ellis Cup snatched away from him — he was, remember, coach of the Wallabies back in 2003 when Jonny Wilkinson landed that field goal for England — so he will be reminding his players to do whatever it takes.
And over in the South African dressing room, the message will be exactly the same.
6.30pm: Queen, Boris send support for Eddie’s boys
Queen Elizabeth II has sent a good luck message to the England team ahead of their clash with South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday, telling Eddie Jones’s side they have “inspired many people.” The Queen, whose grandson Prince Harry is patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and will attend the final in Yokohama, added that the team’s performances have been a delight to watch.
The Duke of Sussex will deliver this message from The Queen to @EnglandRugby ahead of the Rugby World Cup Final 2019 match against South Africa #RWC2019.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 1, 2019
The Duke has been Patron of the Rugby Football Union since 2017 and will attend the #RWCFinal in Yokohama tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/dRWX2cZQvv
England are bidding to win the World Cup for a second time — they beat an Australia side coached by Jones in the dying seconds of extra-time in the 2003 final — while the Springboks can lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a third time.
The last time they won it in 2007 they beat England and Jones was a consultant for the winners.
“Your performances during the tournament have delighted supporters, and inspired many people throughout the country,” said the British monarch in a message she gave to Harry to pass on to the team.
“I send my congratulations to the England team, management and support staff on reaching the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final, together with my very best wishes for a memorable and successful match.” Prince Harry also sent a message ahead of travelling to Japan. His wife Meghan, who has stayed in England, revealed their five-month-old son Archie will wear a mini England jersey when they watch the final on TV.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a confident goodwill message. “I think I speak on behalf of millions of people in this country in wishing the best of luck to England in the World Cup final against South Africa,” said Johnson.
“Looking at what they can do, I absolutely know they can bring back the William Webb Ellis Cup from Japan.
“Go for it England! You’ve got an amazing ability to win, I’ve never seen a time like it. Come on England, win the World Cup!” A Briton already with a world title to her credit this year, 200 metres queen Dina Asher-Smith said she had few doubts England would be bringing the trophy back.
“I am a huge England fan. And I am forever an optimist so of course I think we’ll smash it,” said the 23-year-old.
Golden Globe-winning actress Ruth Wilson made an unusual offer, hoping it would spur the team on.
“If they win, they would get a kiss from me,” she said. “Every single one of them. I hope that encourages them. It might put them off!” The British Army also tweeted their support and encouragement. “Swing Low sweet chariot!.....Our troops in Kabul, 2nd Battalion @YORKS_REGT send their best wishes to Eddie and the boys in Yokohama.”
‘More than a game’
Meanwhile, in South Africa, Finance Minster Tito Mboweni warned this week the country was “drowning in debt” as unemployment teeters on the brink of 30 per cent with little prospect of immediate improvement.
South African politics is also in turmoil after a race row brought down Mmusi Maimane, the first black head of the traditionally white liberal Democratic Alliance.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus has frequently stressed that rugby is more than a game in South Africa and that his multiracial team is aware of its power to unite the Rainbow Nation.
Asked before the quarter-final against Japan if he was worried about “spoiling the party” for the Japanese, he retorted: “We are also playing for a lot of things. In our country there are also not always things that run fluid.” “We know when we play, we represent much more than just those 23 playing on the field,” said Erasmus.
The coach pointed to previous World Cup wins in 2007 and 1995 — when President Nelson Mandela famously presented the trophy proudly wearing a Springbok shirt — as times the country had pulled together.
“Rugby is one of the things that — for a few minutes and sometimes a few hours, days and months if we win — people seem to forget about their disagreements and stop disagreeing for a while, and agree.” “We are trying to win for South Africa … because our country needs a lot of things that we want to fix, and we want to help fix that.” Siya Kolisi, the first black Springbok captain, who grew up in a poor township, stressed the team are “all different South Africans from different walks of life.” “It would be huge to show that as a country, no matter where we come from, we can bind to one plan and we can achieve our goal,” said Kolisi.
The Springboks also received high-level support from back home. President Cyril Ramaphosa will be in Yokohama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu said the team had “made us all feel good about ourselves.”
6.15pm: Kolisi’s journey towards his Mandela moment
Through the window of a room at the prestigious Grey High School in Port Elizabeth, Siya Kolisi could see the visiting Springboks. His teacher sensed the burgeoning ambition. “You want to get their autographs?” he asked as he held out a pen and paper. The photograph of the small boy at the front of a throng around the blond hulk of Schalk Burger resurfaced this week. It is a snapshot of teenage hope. Fast forward 15 years and that boy is front and centre as he carries the hope of nation.
Dean Carelse was that teacher. He coached rugby and was also the South Africa captain’s housemaster. Few have a better insight into how a skinny boy from a trouble-torn township rose to the cusp of becoming the first black man to lift the World Cup. The ascent has meant overcoming racism, tragedy and insinuations that he is a token rather than a totem. If you are not inspired you may not have a pulse.
“So many stories,” says Carelse, now working on Australia’s Sunshine Coast but still in contact with the boy he made drag a tyre called Suzie across Grey’s playing fields.
6.00pm: Ghosts of 2003 still haunt Eddie
Even as he stands on the cusp of one of coaching’s greatest redemptions, Eddie Jones still can’t forget the one that got away.
Sixteen years later, Jones remains haunted by Australia’s heartbreaking loss to England in the 2003 World Cup final.
Beaten by a Jonny Wilkinson field goal in the last minute of extra time, Jones has never got over that loss and missing out on the chance to redeem himself with his homeland.
Opening up for the first time about the devastating personal impact that defeat had on him, Jones said it took him four years just to even realise he was still depressed and in shock about the result.
“I didn’t realise what an effect it had on me until possibly 2007. You think everything is all right but you lose a World Cup final and it’s a difficult experience,” Jones said.
“I’ve experienced both and I know the difference you feel and if you don’t reflect really well, which I didn’t after the last World Cup, then you carry some things with you that aren’t always positive.
“They can be negative and they have an effect on how you approach your job.”
5.45pm: Watch Rugby World Cup final live
Stream 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 here.
Two-man showdown for Wallabies job as succession plan revealed
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has laid out the plan to replace Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt – with two leading candidates emerging amid Waugh’s non-negotiables and the deadline to land Schmidt’s successor.
Wallabies coach shock as Schmidt walks away from top job
Australia’s international rugby revival has hit a major hurdle, with the Wallabies forced to head to market again for a head coach following a surprise announcement from Joe Schmidt.