Damian de Allende of the Springboks breaks past Tomos Williams of Wales before scoring his team’s first try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on October 27, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Springboks: De Allende’s muscle and Pollard’s boot clinch RWC final [video]
Rewatch the moment when Damien de Allende powered over for a crucial try that helped the Springboks clinch a place in the Rugby World Cup final.
Damian de Allende of the Springboks breaks past Tomos Williams of Wales before scoring his team’s first try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between Wales and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on October 27, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Ahead of the Springboks Rugby World Cup semifinal against Wales all signs pointed to a tight and tense contest and the match delivered that.
It was far from champagne rugby from either side but it was, nonetheless an absorbing contest between two of the game’s best in pressure situations.
The first half saw Handre Pollard and Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar exchange penalties early on before the Springboks edged in front 9-3 with five minutes to go to halftime but crucially conceded a goalable penalty before the break.
Springboks keep it tight
The second half began in the same fashion as the first with little to choose between two sides locked in a battle of the forwards and the kickers.
Bok fans concerned about Faf de Klerk’s box-kicking had to endure another nervous 80 minutes of the blonde bombshell’s hit and miss boot.
Fortunately for the Springboks the boot of Handre Pollard was in good touch but he would also provide the attacking spark for the Springboks only try.
Pollard was involved twice in the build-up to the Springboks five-pointer but Damian de Allende deserves all the credit for the actual score.
The Springboks had a penalty advantage and sent it wide quickly, it looked like they had butchered the opportunity but De Allende’s strength in contact proved decisive. He powered through a tackle out wide with a hand-off and stayed on his feet through another before driving to the line and slamming it over.
Wales found a response just after the hour mark after a sustained period of pressure on the Springbok line with Josh Adams crossing for his sixth try of the tournament.
The scores were level going into the final five minutes but it would be the Springboks who held their nerve and Pollard slotted a pressure kick to give South Africa the lead.
When the Boks were awarded a late penalty, they chose to simply boot it out not leaving a relatively straight forward shot at goal to chance, indicative of how much of a war the match was.
Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi was a relieved man after the breathless encounter saying Wales brought everything they had expected and more over the 80 minutes.
Pollard admitted some nervous moments when De Klerk launched a banana kick upfield that looked like it might fly out on the full but the ball bounced in and rolled deep into the Welsh 22.
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