Whatever happens in Saturday’s final, what we should expect to see is these two nations are likely to dominate world rugby for at least the next four years. After six weeks of exciting rugby, we are down to the last two and the 2019 World Cup final is between England and South Africa at the International Stadium in Yokohama on Saturday 02 November 2019.
This is a repeat of the 2007 finals where South Africa got the better of England in Paris. Can the Springboks repeat the feat of 12 years ago? This time around, Eddie Jones team is favorites; they have returned to the top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings for the first time in 15 years. However, South Africa have won three of their four previous World Cup matches with England. The Springboks won twice at the 2007 World Cup and once during in the 1999 quarter-finals. England’s only World Cup win over the Springbok was in 2003 during the pool stages. But not all the stats are in the Springboks’ favour. No team has ever lost a World Cup game and then won the World Cup – and South Africa lost their opening pool game to New Zealand.
England produced one of their best performances as they dispatched the back-to-back world champions New Zealand in the semis. Eddie Jones men were open, creative and brave in attack, and aggressive, calm and clever in defence. It was a performance of incredible cohesion and game intelligence, right timing on when to get the ball wide, breakdown attack to win back possession and defend. It was an impeccable game.
No team that has lost a pool match has responded to go on and win the World Cup – having suffered defeat to New Zealand, South Africa can be the first to do so. In 2007 and 2011, England and France lost to South Africa and New Zealand in their pools but did still make the final, only to suffer defeat to the same nations again. The circumstances here are different – the side who beat the Springboks have been eliminated elsewhere – but history nevertheless goes against them here.
There is no such thing as a one-sided final, even with New Zealand’s dominance in over the last eight years. This game could turn on a red card, a controversial decision, a moment of magic or madness.
But having built so well during this tournament, staying injury free and with the extra intelligence, experience and, let’s be honest, the sly element Jones brings to England, we should expect to see captain Owen Farrell lifting the William Webb Ellis Trophy.
England have proved they have absolutely everything and they still have more in the tank. They have the born winners in the likes of Farrell, George Ford and Jamie George and that is another factor in England’s favour. They should win.
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