South Africa edge out England to win World Cup
South Africa captain John Smit lifted the Webb Ellis trophy
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Saturday, 20, Oct 2007 10:28
South Africa claimed their second World Cup with a hard fought 15-6 victory over England at the Stade-de-France in Paris this evening.
In a game in which no tries were scored, South Africa full-back Percy Montgomery kicked four penalties and Francois Steyn kicked another to guide their side to victory.
The Springboks took the lead after six minutes when Matthew Tait tried to dance his way past the South Africa defence but lost his footing and gave away the penalty for holding on to the ball. Montgomery kicked his first penalty from the mistake.
Jonny Wilkinson got England back on level terms after ten minutes with a superb long-range penalty after South Africa were punished for killing the ball in the ruck.
However, silly play from Lewis Moody allowed the Springboks to regain the lead. The flanker gave away a penalty after unnecessarily obstructing fly-half Butch James who was chasing his own kick. Montgomery again converted a simple kick.
England enjoyed long spells of possession in the first half. But they never really looked like breaking through a bullish South Africa defence, and critically Wilkinson was not successful with any of his drop goal efforts.
South Africa were unlucky not to score a try just before half-time as captain John Smit was held up on the England try-line. England however did give away the penalty in the process and Montgomery, the tournament's leading point scorer, added another three points to his tally as his team went in 9-3 ahead at the break.
The second half started with a bang as Tait broke through the South Africa defence and beat four men being pulled down just short of the line. England recycled the ball and Andy Gomarsall threw the ball our wide to Mark Cueto who dived over the try-line.
England celebrated the try, but referee Alain Rolland asked the video referee to look at the try. After an agonising three minute wait, the video referee deemed Cueto's foot was in touch.
However, Rolland had given England advantage before Cueto's effort and Wilkinson kicked the penalty to bring his side within three points.
But a fourth penalty from Montgomery and a long distance kick from Francois Steyn gave South Africa a nine point cushion.
With time running out England badly needed a try, but their hopes were dealt a huge blow when Jason Robinson went off injured.
But the fact that South Africa managed to win an unbelievable seven England line-outs was to prove the main reason why South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis trophy. Led by man-of-the-match Victor Matfield, South Africa crucially smothered the England line-outs on occasions when they neared the Springbok try-line.