Yokohama (Japan) (AFP)
The Springboks break-in: South Africa forced the lock of a semi-final lockdown Sunday against Wales (19-16) in Yokohama to join in the World Cup final. England, in a reissue of the 2007 poster.
Twelve years ago at the Stade de France, South Africans had raised their second world title (15-6) ... twelve years after the first (1995). A sign for next Saturday?
It is in any case to wish, for the general public at least, that this final is less locked than the first one. And this semifinal, which has however shone by its suspense, the Boks in front of their victory to a penalty of their opener Handré Pollard five minutes from the end, three minutes after a missed drop by Rhys Patchell for the Welsh.
Pollard made the difference after an action that highlights the contribution of the South African bench. For it was first the third substitute François Louw who allowed, by "scraping" a Welsh ball, his team to return to thirty meters from the end of the XV Leek.
Touche, maul orchestrated by the second substitute RG Snyman, Welsh foul sanctioned by Pollard, author of fourteen points (four penalties and a conversion).
The Welsh, private late in the first period on injury to their right-hander Tomas Francis (36), then winger George North (40), they did not have the same equipment as the South African coach Rassie Erasmus, who had placed six fronts on the bench.
- Gatland and Wales, second -
His Welsh counterpart Warren Gatland, whose team came back twice in the game - from 9-3 to 9-9 in the 45th minute, then from 16-9 to 16-16 to fifteen minutes from the end - fails him a second time in World Cup semifinals at the head of Wales.
He will leave the Principality at the end of the competition after twelve years of rule, marked by four victories in the Six Nations Tournament, including three with Grand Slam, the last in March.
But, therefore, without having managed to lead to their first World Finals the Welsh (beaten a first time in the semi-finals in 1987).
The first defeat of Gatland in the last square had been conceded, against France in 2011 (9-8), at the end of a match stifling and padlocked; the second too.
The New Zealand technician was right, predicting a "festival of kicks" in this second semifinal, which would be "not the most beautiful game in the world" after the enticing England-All Blacks ( 19-7), who kept all his promises.
The second also, to the delight of fans of trench fighting, candles, melee and other balloons-worn. Those who prefer, in the rugby, the big flights, will however return ironing, considering the 81 kicks exchanged, is more than one per minute!
A game of "ping-pong" between backs, openers and half scrums: Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar and Gareth Welsh side; Willie Le Roux, Handré Pollard and Faf De Klerk among South Africans.
With the aim of exposing yourself as little as possible, to eventually recover the possession right away, or else after a fault of the opponent.
- Two lightning in the night -
This wait-and-see minimalist strategy has lulled the 68,000 or so Yokohama spectators to sleep, who have only been able to escape their torpor on rare occasions until the last 25 minutes.
In the first half of the season, South African winger Makazole Mapimpi (28th) was relaunched and a volley was recovered by Welsh winger George North (38th).
In second, during a slight altercation between De Klerk (1.72 m) and the Welsh Jake Ball (1.98 m).
Up to two lightning, for the only two tries of the match. Pollard initially chose not to tap to take the interval and allow, several times later, to Damian De Allende to score (57th, 16-9).
Then Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones, rather than a penalty under the posts, opted for a scrum, which sent behind the line Josh Adams (65th, 16-16). Two tries to cheer up a sultry semifinal.
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