Since the 36-0 drubbing handed to them by South Africa in the pool matches England have steadily progressed. The two teams now meet again in the final.
In an interesting turn of events, the rugby world has come full circle in a matter of weeks. On September 14, on the very same ground on which the teams will meet on Saturday, South Africa asserted their complete dominance over the English with a 36-0 whitewash.
Critics slammed the English side and the rugby world contemplated the distinct possibility of them becoming the first reigning champions to exit in the pool stages. Then Jonny Wilkinson returned from injury. Wilkinson is a talisman for this English side. Widely regarded as one of the best flyhalves in the world, his general play and kicking game inspire his team to search within themselves and come up with what is needed for the win.
The English are under no illusions. They admit that their rugby is not pretty. They grind it out and make the hard yards. Tries are a bonus for a team that simply wants to play the game in the opposition half and take easy points when they can. Captain of the 2003 side, Martin Johnson has said that if a game is close in the final 20 minutes then England will find a way to win it. This has proven true in the past two knockout games which have seen the English come from behind to snatch victory through Wilkinson’s boot.
It would be remiss not to mention other members of the team. Jason Robinson has been a key man at fullback with his electric kick returns and safety under the high ball. Lewis Moody is a workhorse at flanker, constantly hassling opponents at the breakdown and tackling anything that moves. The front row is as solid as they come.
The team is not flashy. They will not beat you with flair. If the Springboks do not put them away early then they will have no one to blame but themselves if Jonny once again kicks England to a historic win.
South Africa entered the Cup on the back of a hit-and-miss Tri Nations series. Always a team that is capable of big wins and humiliating losses, it was hard to measure how they would fare in France. They continued this up and down form with the big win against England being followed by poor performances against Tonga and a flamboyant Fijian side.
The Boks looked to have hit form again over the weekend against a slowing Pumas team. They met the strong Argentinean pack with force and skill and turned them on their heels at the breakdown, forcing errors and turnovers regularly. The backline showed its class by converting the turnovers into points and killing Argentinean spirits. It was an efficient win and one which showed that they pose a real threat in both the pack and the backline.
The South Africans are led by skipper John Smit and lock Victor Matfield’s presence in the set pieces and erratic but brilliant flanker Schalk Burger in the loose play. Their forwards have a tendency to err on the side of recklessness but when they keep their heads they can dominate an opposition forward pack.
In the backs the Boks are a cut above the English. Fourie du Preez has been inspirational at scrumhalf, tearing the English apart in their early meeting and continuing this form throughout the tournament. At the back, winger Bryan Habana and veteran Percy Montgomery have looked world class. Habana is on the verge of breaking Jonah Lomu’s record for the most tries in a World Cup – he has eight already in only six matches, including scoring from an audacious chip kick in the semifinal then sealing the win with a breakaway intercept.
All in all, this is a super match up. Southern Hemisphere versus Northern Hemisphere. Ugly rugby versus flashy rugby. Tri Nations versus Six Nations. The Boks are the clear favourites but this sits easily with the English – no one expected them to make it this far so they have already overachieved. Regardless of the result, Paris will be a carnival of rugby on Saturday. The local French fans will join in the party with the English and the South Africans and, in a way that only rugby fans can, the many fans from all nations will enjoy festivities as one, celebrating the sport and the event itself.
Prediction: South Africa by 12
Further information regarding the Rugby World Cup including lineups, results and stats can be found at the official site for the tournament.
Match Review of the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final.
