ANALYSIS
There was almost no suspense. South Africa rolled over England on Saturday. After a magnificent performance, the Springboks won their third Rugby World Cup. And this while the English went rather favorites.
"The English had released the All Blacks, favorites of the world.But it is often a burden to be favorites," says our consultant Eric Blanc. Only team of the Northern Hemisphere world champion (2003) in nine editions, England never managed to cross the defense of the Boks, Saturday. Jousculated in closed scrum, opposed to the "midfield", dominated on the duels, the English lost in the final against the Springboks, as in 2007.
"The men of Eddie Jones (coach of the XV Rose Ndlr) sank, they were sore throat, assaulted without scrums, but with many mistakes.They were feverish," said Eric Blanc.
"Two very beautiful tests"
South Africans built their success in two stages. They first dominated the first period marked by a very tough physical challenge, which caused the premature exits of the right English pillar Kyle Sinkler (2nd), as well as two South Africans hit on the same action, the hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi and the second line Lod De Jager (21st). They led (12-6) at half-time, before building their success on two tries from the Mapimpi wingers, after a well-negotiated closed side (66), and Kolbe on a personal exploit (74).
"Pollard has investigated 22 points (via penalties) and it is logically by their wingers that the Springboks have scored two great tests," says Eric Blanc. South Africa becomes the first team to win the world championship after losing a group match (against New Zealand). And no one will dispute their legitimacy, in view of this final.