Springboks clinch Rugby World Cup

SOUTH Africa produced a ruthless performance to defeat England 15-6 in the Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.

Springboks fullback Percy Montgomery kicked four penalties and 20-year-old centre Francois Steyn one to punish the defending champion for its ill-discipline and claim South Africa’s second final triumph after the famous victory on home soil in 1995. England held their own, and indeed dominated the match in parts, but could not avenge the humiliating 36-0 loss to South Africa in the pool stage barely five weeks ago.The men in white again showed the forward grit and determined defence that saw them record upset wins over Australia and France in the quarter- and semi-finals, but they could notch only two penalties from five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson.”We can’t fault effort and the heart,” England forward Martin Corry said.”It’s a shame that all that spirit counts for nothing.We gave it everything but it didn’t go to plan.We are immensely disappointed and it’s heartbreaking.”South Africa wing Bryan Habana, who was unable to add to his eight tournament tries, was overjoyed with the victory.”It’s incredible,” Habana said.”Our President (Thabo Mbeki) is here.It’s been an incredible seven weeks and we really appreciate the support we have received here.”England, for all its ill-discipline, will lament the pivotal decision by television match official Stuart Dickinson shortly the second half kicked off.England centre Mathew Tait ducked a high Steyn tackle and streaked 40 metres towards the try line, rounding Montgomery before being brought down by a fantastic covering tackle by man of the match Victor Matfield.England recycled the ball quickly and spun it wide to Mark Cueto five metres from the whitewash, but the Australian official ruled that a desperate tackle from No 8 Danie Rossouw had taken the wing into touch even though video replays did not entirely look convincing in support of the decision.England will also feel hard done by after referee Alain Rolland adjudged that Ben Kay had obstructed Os du Randt with 20 minute to play even though the South Africa prop clearly ran into the England lock.Steyn made amends for a missed long-range penalty inn the first half with a successful 47-metre shot, gifting South Africa its nine-point margin that ensured it could then simply strangle England, as England had previously done to Australia and France.South Africa coach Jake White paid tribute to his players, who proved without doubt they were the finest all-round team at the tournament.”That’s what wins World Cups,” White said of his team’s defence.”(England) were a bit unlucky not to get that try.”I’m really over the moon and it’s a massive win for us as a group.”Montgomery opened the scoring with his first penalty in the seventh minute, after Tait had slipped on the greasy pitch and held on to the ball when caught in possession directly in front of the posts.England’s early aerial bombardment paid off when the ball was worked wide after Cueto and Mike Catt combined to strip J.P.Pietersen of the ball after an Andy Gomarsall up-and-under.England worked the ball to the opposite flank, where Habana put in a bone-crunching tackle on Paul Sackey on the right wing, but the South African did not roll away and Wilkinson nailed a tough penalty from close to the touchline.Montgomery restored the three-point margin after Lewis Moody, in an offside position, needlessly aimed a cynical kick at Butch James.Jason Robinson, in his last Test , then produced a fine try-saving tackle on James after the five-eighth had burst through to gather his own chip over England’s rush defence.Fourie du Preez went close in the ensuing phase but a careless knock-on gave the advantage away with a try seemingly imminent and alarm bells ringing in the England camp despite some stirring defence.But the Boks displayed their set-piece power by turning the scrum after it was set for the third time of asking.On their put-in, Rossouw drove impressively from the base of the scrum and Matfield took the ball on.Hands in the ruck by prop Andy Sheridan gifted Montgomery a third penalty and South Africa had a 9-3 half-time lead.After the no-try controversy, and before Steyn’s penalty, further England ill-discipline, this time from former captain Corry, with hands in the ruck, was again punished by a fourth Montgomery penalty after another strong break by Steyn.With a nine-point buffer, South Africa was content to play the percentage game, and play the game in England’s half, clearing its lines effectively and swarming over any English attack in the same manner that saw them progress through the seven-week, 20-nation tournament unbeaten.Nampa-AFPEngland held their own, and indeed dominated the match in parts, but could not avenge the humiliating 36-0 loss to South Africa in the pool stage barely five weeks ago.The men in white again showed the forward grit and determined defence that saw them record upset wins over Australia and France in the quarter- and semi-finals, but they could notch only two penalties from five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson.”We can’t fault effort and the heart,” England forward Martin Corry said. “It’s a shame that all that spirit counts for nothing.We gave it everything but it didn’t go to plan.We are immensely disappointed and it’s heartbreaking.”South Africa wing Bryan Habana, who was unable to add to his eight tournament tries, was overjoyed with the victory.”It’s incredible,” Habana said.”Our President (Thabo Mbeki) is here.It’s been an incredible seven weeks and we really appreciate the support we have received here.”England, for all its ill-discipline, will lament the pivotal decision by television match official Stuart Dickinson shortly the second half kicked off.England centre Mathew Tait ducked a high Steyn tackle and streaked 40 metres towards the try line, rounding Montgomery before being brought down by a fantastic covering tackle by man of the match Victor Matfield.England recycled the ball quickly and spun it wide to Mark Cueto five metres from the whitewash, but the Australian official ruled that a desperate tackle from No 8 Danie Rossouw had taken the wing into touch even though video replays did not entirely look convincing in support of the decision.England will also feel hard done by after referee Alain Rolland adjudged that Ben Kay had obstructed Os du Randt with 20 minute to play even though the South Africa prop clearly ran into the England lock.Steyn made amends for a missed long-range penalty inn the first half with a successful 47-metre shot, gifting South Africa its nine-point margin that ensured it could then simply strangle England, as England had previously done to Australia and France.South Africa coach Jake White paid tribute to his players, who proved without doubt they were the finest all-round team at the tournament.”That’s what wins World Cups,” White said of his team’s defence.”(England) were a bit unlucky not to get that try.”I’m really over the moon and it’s a massive win for us as a group.”Montgomery opened the scoring with his first penalty in the seventh minute, after Tait had slipped on the greasy pitch and held on to the ball when caught in possession directly in front of the posts.England’s early aerial bombardment paid off when the ball was worked wide after Cueto and Mike Catt combined to strip J.P.Pietersen of the ball after an Andy Gomarsall up-and-under.England worked the ball to the opposite flank, where Habana put in a bone-crunching tackle on Paul Sackey on the right wing, but the South African did not roll away and Wilkinson nailed a tough penalty from close to the touchline.Montgomery restored the three-point margin after Lewis Moody, in an offside position, needlessly aimed a cynical kick at Butch James.Jason Robinson, in his last Test , then produced a fine try-saving tackle on James after the five-eighth had burst through to gather his own chip over England’s rush defence.Fourie du Preez went close in the ensuing phase but a careless knock-on gave the advantage away with a try seemingly imminent and alarm bells ringing in the England camp despite some stirring defence.But the Boks displayed their set-piece power by turning the scrum after it was set for the third time of asking.On their put-in, Rossouw drove impressively from the base of the scrum and Matfield took the ball on.Hands in the ruck by prop Andy Sheridan gifted Montgomery a third penalty and South Africa had a 9-3 half-time lead.After the no-try controversy, and before Steyn’s penalty, further England ill-discipline, this time from former captain Corry, with hands in the ruck, was again punished by a fourth Montgomery penalty after another strong break by Steyn.With a nine-point buffer, South Africa was content to play the percentage game, and play the game in England’s half, clearing its lines effectively and swarming over any English attack in the same manner that saw them progress through the seven-week, 20-nation tournament unbeaten.Nampa-AFP