Springboks Win 2019 Rugby World Cup
On Saturday at the Yokohama Stadium in Tokyo, unranked South Africa defeated the England rugby union team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Springboks, who were the underdogs going into the game, played like the better team and deserved to win against a mostly uninspired England team that had a game plan that pre-tournament favorites South Africa could read far too easily.
This was a game where tactics mattered more than talent. Eddie Jones, the former Bokke coach, couldn't use his rugby smarts to lead the English team to victory. Of course, it should be noted that Rassie Erasmus had selected a rather inexperienced Springbok team for the battle in Japan. Still, it looks like the green guys in the tight shorts came through for their coach in the big one.
South Africa vs England: RWC Final
In the space of about 18 months, Rassie Erasmus, the current Rugby Coach of the Year, has taken the Springbok team from the depths of the world rugby rankings to the top. Previously, the Springboks had been criticized for a lack of physicality and had even been pushed around by the likes of Italy. While the Boks were losing heavily and slipping in the rankings, they were supposedly sticking to a game plan that would pay off down the road. And what paid off down the road was the same as before - a Boks team that physically dominates all opponents.
Wrap of Rugby World Cup Final
The Rugby World Cup final is the culmination of years of preparation. The defensive performance in the Webb Ellis Cup final could be the sign of a bright future for this current crop of players. If Erasmus can keep the same players together, the Springboks can become a dominant force in world rugby over the next four years leading up to the 2019 RWC in France.
If omens are anything to go by, it could be another 12 years before the Bokke shake the rugby world to its core again. But for now, it's time to accept that this current team is capable of building a new dynasty, just as New Zealand has done for the past eight years (and counting).