South Africa comes back from a convincing England (15-16) and will play the World Cup final against the All Blacks

The World Cup final will reissue the duel between the two giants from the south. England has grown during the tournament, this Saturday they have executed their plan of not making mistakes with surgical precision, but it has not been enough to prevail against the abrasive rugby of South Africa. They may win or lose games, but when push comes to shove, like New Zealand, the Springboks are always there, even if tonight they were close to elimination..

From the sky to the ground, from almost vertical kicks to the fight for the ball at grass level. This is how England has started, faster in almost everything. The game with the foot, his score during the championship, has already given him two punishing blows in the first minutes of the semifinal converted by Farrell (6-0, min. 8). Very well planted on the field, the XV de la Rosa bothered the touches and successfully defended the maul next to their try line. He won an undisguised war of nerves. The blur, a protest from Farrell that gave oxygen to the Springboks (6-3, min. twenty-one).

Unreserved percussion and tackling raised the tension in a match with more prospect prose than poetry. Do not commit indiscipline, do not concede counterattacks, keep the ball safe. The British felt at ease. Owners of the initiative, they stepped on the rival 22 and scored points (9-3, min. 24). The mistake in the throw-ins hampered the South Africans, with less ball and quite a few problems in almost all facets.

The South African selectors must have seen the game badly when after half an hour they changed their opening midfielder for tactical reasons. Pollard, who entered the squad replacing the injured heeler Marx, took responsibility. At the same time, the green and gold team grew, enclosed the British and, with a blow to the opponent's 22, preferred to tie the shot with sticks (9-6, min. 35). To the woodwork, of course, England responded (12-6 at halftime).

The first half ended without rehearsals. Nothing surprising between two teams that know each other well. 13 of the 23 called up per side had participated in the 2019 final that was reissued this Saturday. Two teams facing each other in a physical challenge that is difficult to sustain as the minutes pass.

Since becoming champions, South Africa has expanded its squad. However, pressured by the score, at the beginning of the second half – as she did against France – she turned to the veterans. He has also resorted, with the ball wet, to a game similar to the English one. Ball up and hunting without concessions. A bombardment in which the confidence of the British defender Steward has shone.

Battleship South Africa turns each encounter into an abrasive combat. In the 50th minute, her scrum dragged the Englishwoman and her three-quarters around the mark. He immediately received the same medicine in a ruck and one more dose. A drop by Farrell from 40 meters already gave an appreciable margin to XV de la Rosa (15-6, min. 53), which increased its pressure, forcing unexpected errors in a rival with so much experience.

England has respected two principles from start to finish: not making mistakes and adding at every opportunity. With twenty minutes left, the green and gold forward was already clearly victorious in the scrums, but still without a prize. South Africa finally took advantage of its strength in the 69th minute with one of its favorite sequences: a shot in favor, a touch five meters from the line, and charges for the giant Snyman to pose (15-13). They were where they wanted.

The excitement was palpable, time was slipping away in the formation of the scrums. From one of them, it was sung, the Springboks got the reward. A penalty hit near the center of the field for the striker Pollard. 100% correct since arriving at the tournament. His leg didn't shake. He gave the victory to South Africa (15-16), relegating a convincing England to the cruelest defeat, the same one that Ireland and France suffered a week ago.

The tournament of tournaments is heading towards its outcome, leaving behind a handful of great matches. The exciting weekend of the quarterfinals, with all four matches resolved by less than a try, was perhaps the zenith. In this second semi-final we have seen another match on the edge. Less showy, more closed, coffee for very coffee lovers, but just as vibrant.

Next Saturday, with three titles won by each team, the All Blacks will play their fifth final in ten appearances and the Springboks, their fourth in eight. The weight of two winning stories. At stake, primacy in the present.