PARIS – Four years after the Springboks’ scrum destroyed England and Eddie Jones’ World Cup hopes in Yokohama, the “Bomb Squad” has done it again to lead South Africa to another World Cup final.
Yet, just before the hour mark, England could smell victory and an unlikely place in the final.
As it turned out, with England packing down for a scrum on South Africa’s line, it proved to be the moment the wheels started to fall off for Steve Borthwick’s men as the ghosts of the past returned at the scrum.
But to get to that place, one must first scroll back a little over 10 minutes earlier.
The Springboks managed to overturn a 15-6 deficit to finish over the top of England at the Stade de France on October 21, 2023 in Paris. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Trailing 12-6, Ox Nche replaced Steven Kitshoff in the 49th minute and immediately the introduction of the loose-head prop changed the course of the Test.
Two minutes later and the Springboks finally enjoyed some ascendency at the scrum, as the defending world champions won against the feed. It almost led to a try, as with the turnover ball Handre Pollard kicked for Cheslin Kolbe, who also put the ball on the toe before Willie le Roux’s soccer kick ahead just went dead in goal.
The change in the wind saw Borthwick immediately turn to his bench, with Ellis Genge replacing veteran loose-head prop Joe Marler – who four years earlier was selected on the bench in a decision that Jones admitted he regretted.
Some brilliance from Owen Farrell saw England move nine points ahead.
His field goal saw both nations replace their tight-head props, with Kyle Sinckler replacing Dan Cole and South Africa’s Vincent Koch coming on for Frans Malherbe.
Soon after, England once again won the aerial battle, which allowed Farrell to put the ball on the toe and help win his side a scrum feed just short of South Africa’s five-metre line. Little did he know that his cheers would prove to be a false dawn.
After one scrum reset, New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe pinged England as Sinckler was beaten at the hit and hooker Jamie George stood up. It allowed South Africa to clear their own line and keep them afloat.
“Just old school, he popped him,” former Wallaby turned pundit Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sport.
“The world’s easiest decision for a referee when you see Jamie George’s head come up and out of the contest.
“That was the match there for South Africa. If they concede points there, they’re done. And they certainly aren’t.”
Four minutes later, Sinckler was penalised for “binding down”.
South Africa celebrate during their semi-final win over England at Stade de France on October 21, 2023 in Paris. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Then, in the 68th minute, came yet another pivotal moment as Genge was penalised for collapsing just short of halfway and Handre Pollard found touch seven metres out from the English line.
RG Snyman, who replaced Eben Etzebeth after 45 minutes, won the lineout and a phase later surged for the line and wriggled his body to score. Pollard added the extra points and suddenly South Africa were in striking distance after 70 minutes.
Despite the clock ticking down, the Springboks attempted to win another scrum penalty when Willie le Roux called a mark (after a step) and then opted for a scrum.
The Springboks didn’t get the intended result but they got the territory and soon after won the battle, as Freddie Steward, who had been brilliant under the high ball, attempted an up-and-under but didn’t get the intended distance on the kick and only managed to spill his own kick. The moment proved catastrophic.
Moments later, the Springboks had another scrum penalty as Genge was deemed to have dropped his “knee first and then angled in” as the scrum crabbed across the field.
Pollard did the rest, as the World Cup-winner banged over a long-range penalty to send the Springboks into the final, where they will play their southern hemisphere archrivals New Zealand.
Courtney Lawes, who had been immense for England, summed up where the game was won and lost.
“I think their set piece came through in the end, that is something they can very much rely on,” he said.
“Their bench definitely brought an impact onto the pitch. We knew that could be the case and we unfortunately didn’t deal with it well enough.”
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Yes, spot on Sofa Coach. Totally agree.
andrew
Roar Rookie
I mean referees.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Of course its about the result. Look at the last few weeks and you find Ireland, France, Fiji, Arg and England all whinging about the ref. NZ and SA fans are no different to any other fans in that respect. Id never expect any different tbh.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Of course we do FB. Every fan does. Some far worse than others.
Merlin
Roar Rookie
Physically the Boks looked shot and thats three hard tough exhausting games in a row. Will be tough for them against a rested All Black team.
Sofa Coach
Roar Rookie
And who has set the loudest example in all of rugby for ref blaming Freddie? Rassie. Meanwhile Borthwick’s post game response to being lured into blaming the ref was the gold standard of a rugby professional. He congratulated the ref and the Bok, owned the loss, and focused on the opportunity to improve. It’s rare to cheer for a Pom, but the new England coach has certainly enhanced his reputation this campaign.
Sofa Coach
Roar Rookie
FB and JN your passion is to be applauded but I do agree with WE in broad terms, although not so much with regards to Bok tactics. The Bok should and do play to their strengths and I have no real problem with that. Opposition fans may consider it boring, but that's a matter of opinion and not the issue of the Bok or their fans. However, I do have a massive problem with Rassie's considerable history of largely unchecked referee interference and assassinations and those are unjustifiable from any measure. It is even more Incumbent on Saffas to call him out, as ultimately you are the ones who he is employed to satisfy.
CheetahBok
Roar Rookie
Yes of course! Twickenham, Mbombela, Gold Coast. By my count it is 4/3 to the AB’s with a draw in the last WC cycle. Ji that is pretty consistent :laughing:
Leachy
Roar Rookie
As i will :silly:
Sofa Coach
Roar Rookie
And besides, the innovation of 15/23 forwards game plan, is totally unsustainable and taking the game in precisely the wrong direction from where it needs to go. It has to be thwarted by the game itself for the sake of the game itself. Player weights have increased on average by almost 50% since the first RWC in 1987. The very future of the game is currently in jeopardy due to the impacts of head traumas. The game once again needs to become a battle of speed and skill, rather than mere brute force, so that players lighten up and collisions depower. I’m not suggesting that the Bok lack for speed or skill, just that the trend of the game itself in the professional era of ever increasing body masses and winning collisions is a race to the bottom.
Leachy
Roar Rookie
Argie backrow without Pablo is weak.
Leachy
Roar Rookie
Didn`t you score 15 in one game v Italy.lol
Leachy
Roar Rookie
lol not me mate, i want the Saffers to win it. :laughing:
Sofa Coach
Roar Rookie
Fella, England were definitely slowing the game down, but that was about preventing the Bok from maintaining momentum and dictating their gameplan. England very clearly had a very conservative gameplan to out-Bok the Bok. Blitzkrieg linespeed and numbers to disrupt and slow the breakdown in defence; straight to the air to disrupt the Bok shape, and hopefully draw errors and penalties in attack. But Ken is right. The ABs aren't England- they're always going to seek opportunities to attack. As a generalisation, they always seek to speed the game up, not slow it down. Japan showed that running the Bok big men ragged is a blueprint for beating them in their remarkable 2015 RWC pool victory. But the Poms don't have that capacity so they had to adopt a different strategy, whereas there are none better than the ABs at playing high octane, heads up rugby. Foster looks like he has spent this campaign attempting to rediscover AB mojo (with a side that admittedly perhaps isn't quite as outstanding as the all time greats who have preceded them), rather than attempting to master a different style. And while Rassie has been a master of planning and innovation, the Bok have never strayed from their DNA: brutality up front, extreme speed on the wings, and a very strong kicking game (hence the extremely early injection of Pollard against England). It's hard to see this final being anything other than a battle of styles with the winner being whomever successfully imposes their differing style the best, rather than who best executes a variety of the same style. Finals generally favour more conservative rugby, but the ABs looked the clearly more certain victors in their previous two matches playing the AB way, than the Bok did playing their way in contests against more similar teams. The ABs look like they're still ascending. Whereas the Bok look like perhaps they've just played two GFs in a row. I think the weight of history and karma was always going to be on the side of the Rainbow Nation in 1994. That result in 1994 was the result that rugby, a traumatised nation, and indeed the whole world needed. But the Bok don't have Mandela and home advantage this time. These are the two best teams in the world now. They are the two best teams in history. They know each other intimately. Picking a winner is like picking a broken nose. But just as Mandela's karma deserved '94, Rassie's ref karma probably deserves the opposite outcome and so for this reason alone, this weekend, this long suffering Wallaby fan is doing the unthinkable and cheering for The Darkness.
HKRed
Roar Rookie
Early in the first half Steward caught the ball and then brought it back into his 22, after the resulting ruck, Mitchell kicked the ball out on the full. Sure, SA got the lineout throw, but about 35 mtrs from England's line, rather than 15. That right there could have been a game changer, we'll never know because anyone can pick apart any game and whine about specific points. In general though, through the course of the match, these things tend to even out.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I don’t give a damn. I’d like Australia to look pretty but first I’d like them to win. A WC SF? What ever you need to do. Certainly the Boks don’t try to entertain, it’s all about the W. England’s best chance was how they played. Fair play to them. Brave and incredibly physical. And a tense match that you couldn’t look away from if you care at all about rugby
Kens lovechild
Roar Rookie
Yes that conversation was a laugh. The rules were changed to speed the game up , the poms were attempting to play boks at their own game. But but slowing the game down like they do is a negative dishonest tactic planned for trained for .only equates to we aren't fit enough we can't keep up we will be out of steam by 60 minutes. Needs to be policed like a hawk .
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
We just lost to France last year on the bell. The French were coming-Hodge did a clearance kick that skied off his boot about 20m down the middle straight into DuPont’s arms. Hodge ran up to cover his mistake and got stepped. The ball ultimately went to the right, Tom Wright missed Penaud, which meant that Jock Campbell had to turn and chase. Which he did showing good pace only to get a great fend. Everyone thinks he lost the game for us, but it was that kick- so yes bad kicks hurt. Campbell scored a try, and instigated, handled twice in a Try of the Year contender. We weren’t far off under Rennie. Cheers.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Teams would still get a penalty for a cynical foul- they’d just more likely kick for touch than taking a shot, which would be a positive thing.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
See I’ve absolutely loved some of the games. All Blacks vs Ireland was simply a pleasure to watch, one of the most brilliant games of Rugby I’ve ever seen between two attacking sides. That yesterday was the exact opposite - of course, teams can choose to play the way they want too, and this happens in every sport. I also hated Jose Mourinho teams that parked the bus in Soccer, or Ross Lyon coached negative sides in AFL (my team was one for 5 years and it was painful). At the end of the day, Sport is, whether we like it or not, in the entertainment business, and I really hope that the team that wins next week is New Zealand, because they are a far more entertaining and exciting team to watch.