RWC 2019: Triple triumph

Rugby

bunny-sports.com

1 September 2023

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SA Rugby journal displays on the 2019 World Cup in Japan, during which the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for a 3rd time.

In 2008, the Worldwide Rugby Board (now World Rugby) introduced {that a} document 10 unions had expressed curiosity in internet hosting both the 2015 or 2019 tournaments.

The next yr, the IRB rubber-stamped Rugby World Cup Ltd’s suggestion that the 2015 match be held in England and that Japan turn out to be the primary Asian hosts in 2019. South Africa, which had expressed curiosity in each tournaments, missed out once more.

The Springboks completed third on the 2015 World Cup earlier than regressing over the subsequent two years. When Rassie Erasmus changed Allister Coetzee as head coach in early 2018, he inherited a crew ranked seventh on the planet.

Erasmus made Siya Kolisi his captain and started rebuilding the Boks. By the point they arrived in Japan for the 2019 World Cup, South Africa had been quietly assured of success, having received an abbreviated Rugby Championship earlier within the yr.

Their opening match was towards the world champion All Blacks, who that they had overwhelmed in Wellington in 2018 and drawn towards on the similar venue a yr later. Nevertheless, on this event, in Yokohama, New Zealand had been too good, scoring 17 factors in a six-minute counter-attacking blitz that arrange a 23-13 win.

No crew had received the World Cup after shedding a pool match, however Erasmus believed the Boks might buck that pattern.

They bounced again with convincing Pool B wins towards Namibia (57-3), Italy (49-3) and Canada (66-7) that booked a quarter-final assembly with Japan.

The Courageous Blossoms, coached by New Zealander Jamie Joseph, had ridden a wave of residence assist to shock Eire 19-12 after which beat Scotland 28-21. That ultimate Pool A fixture was nearly referred to as off because of the excessive climate introduced by Hurricane Hagibis, the strongest storm to strike mainland Japan in many years.

The Irish nonetheless certified for the quarter-finals, courtesy of an earlier 27-3 win towards Scotland, however completed second within the pool.

Sadly, the characteristic match of Pool C, between England and France in Yokohama, was cancelled on account of Hurricane Hagibis. Each groups beat Argentina, Tonga and the USA to qualify for the quarter-finals, though the French got a giant scare by Los Pumas of their first match earlier than prevailing 23-21.

Six Nations champions Wales and the Wallabies progressed from Pool D, with the Welsh successful the match between the 2 in Tokyo, 29-25. In the meantime, Fiji suffered a shock 30-27 defeat to Uruguay, who celebrated their first World Cup win since 2003.

Eddie Jones’ England turned the primary crew to ebook their place within the semi-finals, with a powerful 40-16 win towards the Wallabies, whose head coach, Michael Cheika, promptly resigned. The All Blacks then scored seven tries of their 46-14 hammering of Eire, who misplaced on the quarter-final stage for the seventh time.

The next day, Wales claimed a 20-19 victory towards 14-man France. Lock Sébastien Vahaamahina was red-carded early within the second half after elbowing Wales flank Aaron Wainwright.

The Springboks then ended Japan’s fairy-tale run – and gained revenge for his or her shock defeat to the Courageous Blossoms on the 2015 World Cup – with a 26-3 win at Tokyo Stadium.

The second of the match got here within the sixty fifth minute when the Boks received a lineout simply inside their very own half and mauled to within reach of the tryline, earlier than hooker Malcolm Marx broke off and put scrumhalf Faf de Klerk away to attain.

Per week later, England produced one in all their best performances to beat the All Blacks, in Yokohama, with the 19-7 scoreline flattering their opponents.

The second semi-final was a recreation of chess between Erasmus’ Springboks and Warren Gatland’s Wales, with De Klerk, who had kicked 17 occasions within the quarter-final towards Japan, doing so on 19 events right here.

Bok centre Damian de Allende scored the primary strive of the match, within the 57th minute, when he powered via the Welsh defence from 20m out to attain, however Wales hit again quickly after via wing Josh Adams.

The ‘Bomb Squad’ – because the Boks’ forward-loaded bench turned recognized – made a major affect, with flank Francois Louw successful an important breakdown penalty late within the recreation.

Quickly after, the Boks had been awarded a penalty that flyhalf Handré Pollard coolly slotted for a 19-16 win.

For those who learn the English press throughout the build-up to the 2019 World Cup ultimate, or watched the press convention during which England props Joe Marler and Dan Cole joked and fooled round, you’ll have been forgiven for considering that they had already received the ultimate. However the Boks fortunately embraced the underdog tag and spoke about how a lot a win would imply for South Africans.

England suffered an enormous setback early within the decider when concussed tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler left the sphere after colliding with teammate Maro Itoje and was changed by Cole.

Bok loosehead Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira destroyed Coles on the subsequent scrum and went on to win a number of penalties for his crew. Whereas South Africa additionally had first-half casualties in hooker Bongi Mbonambi and lock Lood de Jager, Bomb Squad replacements Marx and Franco Mostert had been simply nearly as good.

Six Pollard penalties gave the Boks an 18-12 lead heading into the ultimate quarter. It was solely when winger Makazole Mapimpi mixed with Lukhanyo Am to attain the primary South African strive in a World Cup ultimate that they loved some respiratory area. And when winger Cheslin Kolbe stepped England captain Owen Farrell on his technique to dotting down within the 74th minute, the South African celebrations actually started.

In one other iconic Springbok second, a jubilant Kolisi lifted the Webb Ellis Cup, and it quickly turned evident this triumph was greater than that of 1995. 1000’s of individuals packed the worldwide arrivals terminal at OR Tambo to welcome again the world champions, and tens of 1000’s lined the streets throughout the countrywide trophy tour.

2019 Participant of the Event

Twenty-four hours after successful the World Cup, Pieter-Steph du Toit was offered with the 2019 World Rugby Participant of the Yr award. He would even be named SA Rugby Participant of the Yr for a 3rd time, having obtained the accolade in 2016 and 2018.

The lock-turned-blindside flank terrorised England within the World Cup ultimate, hitting 28 rucks (he was first man in on 18 events) and making 11 tackles. He additionally had a hand in Cheslin Kolbe’s title-sealing strive.