Boris Johnson attends the G7- Day Two. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins other World Leaders for the family photo at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France. Picture by Andrew Parsons / i-Images
Ramaphosa taunts Bojo ahead of Boks vs England RWC final
Cyril Ramaphosa laid down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the Springboks neautralized Wales to book a Rugby World,Cup final against England.
Boris Johnson attends the G7- Day Two. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins other World Leaders for the family photo at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France. Picture by Andrew Parsons / i-Images
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa believes that he will hand the Webb Ellis trophy to Siya Kolisi next Saturday and has fired off a tweet to British PM Boris Johnson.
Johnson and the United Kingdom might have been hoping that Wales could keep the final a home unions affair but the Springboks played spoiler claiming a hard-fought 19-16 win over Warren Gatland’s men in Yokohama.
England earned their place in the final on Saturday beating the All Blacks 19-7 with a near-flawless display of Test rugby.
After the match against Wales, Ramaphosa wasted little time in declaring that he was on his way to Japan and looked forward to seeing Johnson at the final.
Ramaphosa tweets his support
Ramaphosa to emulate Mandela and Mbeki
![Ramaphosa]()
Picture taken on June 24, 1995 at Johannesburg showing South African President Nelson Mandela (L) congratulating Springbok skipper François Pienaar after handing him the William Webb Ellis trophy. – The Springboks beat New Zealand 15-12 after over-time in the rugby World Cup final. (Photo by Jean-Pierre Muller / AFP) 
South African players hold the William Webb Ellis trophy as they celebrate with South African president Thabo Mbeki (UP) after the rugby union World Cup final match England vs. South Africa, 20 October 2007 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. South Africa defeated England 15-6. (Photo by Paul Ellis / AFP / Getty)
South African presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki were involved in the trophy ceremonies in 1995 and 2007 respectively.
A delegation from the Royal Family are expected to attend the match as well alongside Johnson.
Wales’ defeat in the semi-final means that Prince William and Prince Harry don’t have to go head to head in the Rugby World Cup final. Williams is patron of Wales Rugby Union while Harry succeeded the Queen as patron of the England team in 2017. It would be very surprising if Harry was not in attendance at the final
England have won the Rugby World Cup only once back in 2003 when Clive Woodward’s team bested a Wallabies outfit coached by Eddie Jones, the man tasked with ending the Springboks 2019 World Cup dream.
Brexit bothering Bojo
Johnson might not be immediately focused on the Rugby World Cup as he attempts to have his Brexit deal pushed through before the 1 November deadline which is just a day before the final.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport Nathi Mthethwa congratulated the team on their efforts to reach the Rugby World Cup final.
2007 revisited
The Springboks last lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2007 when they beat England in a tight final in Paris, only Frans Steyn is still in the set-up 12 years on.
For England their only triumph came in 2003 when a Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal gave the Roses an extra-time win over the Wallabies in Perth.
The Rugby World Cup Final between England and South Africa will take place at the International Stadium Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 11:00 SAST and will be broadcast live on Supersport with commentary available on SABC Radio.
