Handre Pollard kicks at goal. Photo: Dave Winter/Shutterstock/Backpagepix
Iceman Handre Pollard kicks the Springboks into the Rugby World Cup final
Handre Pollard kicked the winning goal for the Springboks but we need to give Ox Nche his flowers for this win.
Handre Pollard kicks at goal. Photo: Dave Winter/Shutterstock/Backpagepix
Handre Pollard goaled a late penalty from halfway to give the Springboks another one-point win in the knockouts and a place in the final.
England were made to rue there few missed chances as they failed to hold off a Springbok fightback.
The Springboks pull off a great escape
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When Owen Farrell slotted a drop goal to give England a 15-9 lead it looked like the Springboks were toast.
However, the forwards really stepped up and a turnaround at setpiece time inspired the epic fightback that cumlinated with the Springboks taking the lead for the first time with less than two minutes to play.
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RG Snyman scored the only try of the game in the last ten minutes after he came on to replace Eben Etzebeth.
The Springboks have their defence to thank for England not running away with the game as the Roses dominated in the air.
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Freddie Steward would have been the man of the match if England came through with a huge performance from fullback.
Manie Libbok was pulled from the game after just half an hour with the Springboks seemingly unable to create enough for the pivot to work with.
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The calming influence of bringing on Pollard took away from the attacking game but in greasy conditions it proved the right call.
Damian Willemse also struggled and when Willie Le Roux came on the Springboks were less shaky.
Front row won it
Ultimately the Springboks front row and particularly the substitutes would turn the match in the favour of the Green and Gold.
Pollard was given the man of the match award, but really it should have gone to scrum Trojan Ox Nche won a string of late penalties that made the win possible.
The Springboks will need to rethink their starting lineup after they made a very flat start to this match with the All Blacks awaiting them in the Rugby World Cup final.
