Handre Pollard’s late penalty sends South Africa to World Cup final

• South Africa secured a narrow 16-15 victory over England on Saturday at the Stade de France to book a spot in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final
• It was Handre Pollard’s late penalty that snatched the win for the defending champions who will now face New Zealand in the final

South Africa secured a narrow 16-15 victory over England on Saturday at the Stade de France to book a spot in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. It was a brutal ending for the England team who had led from the third minute until three minutes from time.

England had four penalties plus a conversion from Owen Farrell but their efforts fell heartbreakingly short. White shirts slumped to the sodden Stade de France after the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the match.

England were denied a place in the RWC final by South Africa despite leading for 77 minutes. Photo/ Daily Express.

It was Handre Pollard’s late penalty that snatched the win for the defending champions South Africa who will now face New Zealand in the final. Both South Africa and New Zealand are chasing a record fourth title. On the other hand, England who were denied a record-equaling fifth final will play Argentina in the third/fourth placed playoff on Friday.

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South Africa were the clear favourites heading into the contest. But it was England who had the perfect start in the Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa as Owen Farrell put them on the scoreboard from the spot in the second minute.

England had another penalty a few minutes later, which Farrell once again converted. Everything seemed to be working out according to England’s plan and the Springboks were slightly shocked by the force with which their opponents played with.

South Africa eventually found their way back into the game after some ill discipline from Farrell caused a penalty to be marched forward by 10 metres. Manie Libbok made no mistake and took the score to 6-3 with just under 20 minutes to go of the first 40.

Farrell redeemed himself three minutes later as he kicked a 30-metre penalty to increase England’s lead to 9-3. With 32 minutes already played and mistakes littering in South Africa’s play, coach Jacques Nienaber made a huge call to pull off Libbok. The 26-year-old was replaced by Leicester Tigers’ Pollard, who scored 22 of South Africa’s points in the RWC final in 2019.

South Africa beat England 16-15 in the Rugby World Cup semi-final played on Saturday. Photo/ World Rugby.

Pollard had an immediate impact as he scored to reduce South Africa’s deficit to 9-6. But Farrell scored once again to make the scoreline 12-6 in favour of England.

The first ten minutes after the break were scoreless as England muted any South Africa attack. Farrell then scored a drop goal to give England a 15-6 lead. However, that turned out to be England’s final points of the World Cup.

South Africa would then go on to pull a comeback and it was Pollard who put in a thumping kick from 49 metres out to put them ahead by 16-15.