Super Springboks win their third World Cup title

They say all things must come to an end and just as the 2019 Rugby World Cup has, we know the memories of the last month and half will be etched on the hearts and souls of South Africans everywhere. The name of a beautiful nation is engraved in gold on a trophy, symbolising its ability to overcome seemingly impossible adversity. Siya Kolisi and his brave teammates will live forever.

After the All Blacks had discarded Wales with ease the day before, the stage was set for the mythology of Springbok rugby to gain another legendary chapter. Plotting their own challenge to become greats were an England team riding a wave of confidence created by masterful tactics and world-class execution. England had pummelled New Zealand the week before and another Southern Hemisphere giant lay ready to be slayed.

That confidence was shattered only two minutes into the final when bulldozing prop Kyle Sinckler suffered concussion. Sinckler had been key to England’s scrum and forward dominance, and without him they struggled to get any traction. A nervousness not seen in England at this World Cup was amplified by several penalties, and error after error had Owen Farrell and his men desperate for half time.

England came out firing in the second half but received little reward from the scoreboard for all their ambition. At 18–12 down and just short of 15 minutes to go, England were still in it but then Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am sent South Africans into delirium. Mapimpi and Am would combine to score the Springboks’ first-ever World Cup Final try with a spectacular chip kick recovery and offload. English desperation then turned to futility when the Springboks latched on to a loose ball, sending Cheslin Kolbe free to dance around several Englishmen and drive the final nail into English coffins.

Fourty-four days of rugby brilliance culminated with super Siya Kolisi hoisting the coveted gold trophy alongside his brave countrymen and women who had sacrificed so much for that moment. From coaches to medical staff, each member played a vital role in lifting South Africa’s collective spirits – the bitterness and negativity soothed by the commonality of sharing the simplest, yet rarest, of jubilant moments.

South African hopes may have been guided by predictable bias before the tournament but as it progressed that hope morphed into true belief. Confidence grew as rivals faltered and in the end, South Africa was rewarded with scenes of sheer unrestricted, unhinged and incomparable ecstasy. The feeling will linger like the warm embrace of a loved one and when it eventually fades, we know we get to do it all again in four years. See you in France in 2023!