“England were absolutely magnificent,” concede South African media

The Springboks are “returned from the dead”, exclaims the South African site News24. ” As best they could “South Africa dampened the hopes of England (16-15) at the end of“an all-powerful standoff”Saturday October 21, savors the DailyMaverick. The players of the Jacques Nienaber-Rassie Erasmus duo thus offer themselves a dream final in the Rugby World Cup against New Zealand, victorious over Argentina in the semi-final, scheduled for October 28, in Saint-Denis ( Seine-Saint-Denis).

In a Stade de France drenched in rain, “England did everything they could to win the match, and they were absolutely magnificent” in his register, concedes News24. The English “dominated South Africa physically, took the upper hand in groupings and perfectly mastered the kicking game”develops the media.

The Guardian goes even further : “England played the match of their lives”, despite a very messy journey so far, estimates the London daily. And yet, “South Africa still won”.

“For almost the entire eighty minutes, it looked like it wasn’t going to be the Boks’ night.”notes the DailyMaverick. “England has raised its stakes and South Africa has not provided any firm answers, chain The Guardian. Siya Kolisi [le troisième-ligne capitaine des Boks] literally had his shorts pulled down in a maul. Bongi Mbonambi [le talonneur] lived a nightmare on the sidelines. »

The Springboks’ “trick inventory”

The South African enthusiasm, seen during the quarter-final against France, seemed far away, note News24. Just like the brilliance with which the Boks won the final of the Japanese World Cup in 2019, against these same Englishmen. SATURDAY, “It was England who seemed clear in their strategy, South Africa half-heartedly thumbing through their inventory of tricks in the hope of coming across something that worked”, detailed The Guardian.

“And when Owen Farrell, the inspiring England captain, slammed home a drop in the 53rd minute, the Swing Low, Sweet Chariot [le chant des supporters du XV de la Rose] resonated among the 78,098 spectators » from the Stade de France, tells News24. The English then led by nine points, 15 to 6, and thought they were going to have another chance to win the World Cup, “twenty years after their first coronation”, adds the South African media.

” But finally, regret The Daily Telegraph, they failed by one breath. » Well helped by the entry of their replacements, in particular that of left pillar Ox Nché, the Boks regained the advantage in the scrum, which allowed the reigning world champions to benefit from two decisive whistles in their favor and score ten points “to overthrow England”.

“The first penalty resulted in the try [du deuxième-ligne remplaçant] RG Snyman, following a maul coming out of the touchline”, describes the Telegraph. And “two minutes from the end”chief gunner Handré Pollard slotted a penalty from almost 50 meters to seal the game, leaving the English “devastated by the cruel twist” events.

“It was the definition of “winning ugly”, but to perfection”recognizes the DailyMaverick. ” At least “he reassures himself Telegraph, this service has “instilled some much-needed credibility into this English team, and gave its supporters a reason to believe that this team is finally heading in the right direction under the leadership [du sélectionneur] Steve Borthwick.

In the editorial staff of the South African daily The Citizenjournalist Jacques van der Westhuyzen reports that the nation which will win the World Cup final on October 28, “will be the first team to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy for the fourth time”.

The Springboks and the All Blacks, three world titles each, have already faced each other at this stage of the competition in 1995, in Johannesburg (South Africa), under the eyes of Nelson Mandela, and “it was the hosts who won 15-12 after extra time”, remembers the newspaper. In 2023, the Blacks beat the Boks 35-20 in Auckland (New Zealand) on July 15, but the South Africans took a stunning revenge against “their biggest rivals” (35-7) in London, August 25, concludes The Citizen, full of hope.