Heartbreak for England as South Africa strikes late to dash chances for a Rugby World Cup final.
On a thrilling night in Paris, England endured heartbreak in the World Cup semifinals when Handre Pollard’s long-range penalty kick with two minutes remaining sent South Africa to the championship match. The world champions put up a fantastic fight against Owen Farrell’s team, who was written off, but Pollard, who was substituted tactically in the first half, was the late hero.
They took the lead in the third minute thanks to the England captain’s relentless kicking, but the Springboks’ scrum strength and Pollard’s boot saw them through.
A sobbing Freddie Steward, trembling with emotion as he belted out God Save the King before kickoff, was the picture that best captured the passion and spirit England delivered to a magnificently brutal semifinal.
With hands like shovels, the returned Leicester full-back set a wonderful example on the pitch and ruled the skies on a grimy night where the high ball was king. The Springboks’ running game was hindered by the circumstances, but they never could have predicted that their power game would also suffer such a severe malfunction.
England made a valiant offensive push. They fought fiercely and played excellently, forcing South Africa to make mistake after mistake. There was Tom Curry everywhere.
With the rain whirling around them, England took to the air right away and had a flawless start, with Owen Farrell bringing them down after South Africa gave up two penalties in the first ten minutes. From the influx of supporters who had crossed the Channel, optimistic echoes of Swing Low reverberated around the Stade de France.
The noise intensified when England’s pack, led by Manu Tuilagi, successfully repelled South Africa’s initial effort at a lineout rumble close to the England line. Even more so when, on the next play, George Martin made a spectacular tackle on Franco Mostert. A taste of their own medicine was being administered to the world rugby team’s most aggressive faction.
After Farrell was dragged ten metres backward and put in Manie Libbok’s penalty area for clinging to the ball, the stand-off from South Africa put his team on the scoreboard.
However, when Farrell scored another penalty to make it 9-3, South Africa’s coaching staff felt drastic measures were required, and in the 31st minute, they replaced Libbok. Handre Pollard of Leicester entered in his position.
Five minutes before halftime, Billy Vunipola, who had been brought in as a temporary replacement for Tom Curry, gave up possession in England’s 22. This allowed Pollard to narrow the deficit. However, Farrell struck the ball beautifully, drilling a long-range kick over to put England ahead 12–6 at halftime.
In light of all the pre-game projections, the score seemed hardly credible. After the resumption, South Africa’s full-back Damian Willemse and scrum-half Cobus Reinach were also hooked in four minutes. All the levels of South Africa were disturbed.
It appeared to be England’s night when Farrell scored a spectacular drop goal in the 53rd minute from close inside South Africa’s half.
Because the England half-backs were in complete control of the game and were forcing the Boks to pursue the ball, they continued to make mistakes.
After the devastating Ox Nche was brought off the bench, the scrum was the only effective weapon the Springboks possessed. However, it was a noteworthy one.
Pollard smashed the kick into the corner after Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe admonished England for collapsing, and replacement second row RG Snyman battered his way over for a converted try from the lineout. Ten minutes remained, and England lead 15–13.
As time was running out, South Africa maintained their scrum, and Pollard struck a deep wound in the hearts of England’s front row when they were penalised just within their own territory.
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