Three years ago today, South Africa claimed their third Rugby World Cup title defeating England 32-12 in the final.
Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe kicked England when they were down and Handre Pollard scored 22 points as magnificent South Africa won the Rugby World Cup final with a 32-12 victory.
The Springboks overpowered the favourites at International Stadium Yokohama to match the mark of three World Cup wins by New Zealand.
A first World Cup triumph for 12 years again highlighted the job done by coach Rassie Erasmus, who took over in March tasked with turning their fortunes around after Allister Coetzee was sacked and will now resort back to his role of director of rugby.
The Springboks made a blistering start and, although Pollard was off-target from the tee in the first minute, he made no mistake with a second shot at goal after prop Sinckler made an early exit following a collision with team-mate Maro Itoje.
Pollard restored the three-point advantage after Farrell got England, who were living dangerously as they tried to throw the ball around in their own half, on the board.
Farrell levelled again from the tee after South Africa defended magnificently in a sustained spell of England pressure.
The Rugby Championship holders lost Mbongeni Mbonambi and Lood De Jager to head and shoulder injuries respectively, but they continued to boss the set-piece and another two Pollard penalties gave them a deserved 12-6 lead at the break.
George Kruis replaced Courtney Lawes at the interval, but South Africa won a fourth penalty at the scrum straight after the introduction of Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch, with Pollard's trusty boot extending South Africa's advantage.
A sweet strike from Farrell, moved to fly-half when Henry Slade replaced George Ford, reduced the deficit after England finally came out on top in a scrum but another kick from the England skipper drifted just wide moments later.
Pollard and Farrell traded further penalties in an attritional encounter, but the lively Mapimpi chipped ahead before taking an offload from Lukhanyo Am to score South Africa's first ever World Cup final try 14 minutes from time.
England looked a beaten side and Kolbe scorched away to add insult to injury after Pieter-Steph du Toit set him up, Pollard adding the extras as South Africa cruised to victory in a repeat of the 2007 final.
KEY OPTA FACTS
- South Africa are the only side to have a 100 per cent win rate in Rugby World Cup finals, winning on each of their three appearances at this stage.
- South Africa’s 20-point victory is the joint second-biggest in a Rugby World Cup final, after Australia’s 23-point win against France in 1999 (NZ also won by 20 points in 1987).
- South Africa scored two tries against England, the first time they’d ever crossed the try line in a Rugby World Cup final, they are yet to concede a five-pointer in the showpiece event.
- England have lost the Rugby World Cup final on three occasions, no side has lost at this stage more often (level with France).
- New Zealand have been knocked out before the Rugby World Cup final on five occasions, however only once before has the side who beat the All Blacks before the final gone on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup (Australia in 1991).
- Owen Farrell scored 12 points in this match, taking him past 100 points in the Rugby World Cup, the second player to reach that milestone for England in the tournament after Jonny Wilkinson (277).
- Billy Vunipola made 19 carries against South Africa, the most in the match and the most by any player in a Rugby World Cup final, surpassing Israel Folau’s tally of 16 in the 2015 edition.
- Maro Itoje made 16 tackles against South Africa, the joint second-most in a Rugby World Cup final behind Richie McCaw (18 in 2011) and level with Jonny Wilkinson (16 in 2003).
- Makazole Mapimpi scored his 14th try in 14 Tests for South Africa, including six tries in six games at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
