Handre Pollard broke English hearts as he landed a 49-metre penalty three minutes from time to e book South Africa’s place within the World Cup remaining as they edged England 16-15 on the Stade de France on Sunday (AEDT).
The Springboks trailed from the second minute when Owen Farrell landed the primary of his 4 penalties however a late surge from the defending champions, which included a strive from RG Snyman in addition to Pollard’s monumental match-winning kick, noticed them right into a fourth remaining the place they may meet their previous rivals New Zealand.
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With England main 15-6 after dominating and controlling play for the primary 70 minutes of the sport, South Africa grabbed a lifeline with Snyman’s strive.
After kicking a penalty to the nook, Snyman rose to gather the line-out ball and was then readily available when it got here again to him to energy via three England tacklers and crash over for the strive.
Pollard, who had been introduced on after simply half-hour for a misfiring Manie Libbok, made no mistake to scale back the hole to simply two factors with 10 minutes to play.
Three minutes from time, England have been penalised by New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe, who additionally whistled the Boks’ win final week over France, for collapsing the scrum.
From simply in entrance of midway Pollard coolly fired the ball between the posts to place the Boks in entrance for the primary time.
Victory takes the holders via to their fourth remaining the place both they or the All Blacks will turn into the primary group to notch up 4 World Cup wins.
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In a repeat of the 2019 remaining, England appeared to have turned the tables on the Boks with an excellent efficiency within the moist and windy circumstances.
England started brightly with Farrell getting his first probability off the tee after simply two minutes when lock Franco Mostert was referred to as for stopping the ball popping out of the ruck. From 35 metres Farrell made no mistake.
Eight minutes later, Farrell was once more heading in the right direction, this time after Bok captain Siya Kolisi was penalised within the ruck.
Leading into the sport, South African coach Jacques Nienaber had talked about England’s potential to “strangle” groups and that’s exactly what they have been making an attempt to do right here, the excessive kicks placing South Africa on to the again foot and the short follow-up ‘offensive’ defence forcing Springbok errors and turnovers.
The Boks lastly received on the board from 40 metres via Libbok however his sport, extra suited to a dry, flat deck, was off key and he was changed by Pollard.
The 2019 World Cup winner nailed the primary penalty probability he had however two up the opposite finish from Farrell meant England rotated with a 12-6 benefit.
South Africa returned to the sphere for the second half two minutes earlier than the English and 90 seconds later introduced on Faf de Klerk for Cobus Reinach, restoring the half-back partnership that received the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019.
Willie Le Roux, one other veteran substitute, got here near scoring the primary strive 11 minutes into the second half. Cheslin Kolbe on the left wing collected a neat cross-kick from Pollard earlier than chipping the ball via for Le Roux to chase. His boot was a contact too heavy, nonetheless, and the ball rolled via the useless ball line.
Almost instantly, Farrell slapped them arduous with a surprising 48-metre drop aim to stretch the England result in 15-6. But the South Africans are identified for by no means giving up a misplaced trigger and so Pollard proved.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
