A history of South Africa vs England at the Rugby World Cup

Before they face off again on Saturday in the semifinals at Stade de France, here is a quick history of South Africa and England’s Rugby World Cup meetings.

1999 quarterfinal: England 21, South Africa 44

Due to an injury to Henry Honiball, backup Jannie de Beer led the reigning champion Springboks at flyhalf and produced a kicking performance that will go down in World Cup history.

In the second half, de Beer scored a world record five drop goals, five penalties, two conversions, and a superb 12-of-12 shooting performance at the posts.

Paul Grayson and de Beer engaged in a kicking duel during the game, which was characterized by stop-start play. At the 22–18 mark in the second half, Grayson struck the crossbar and was substituted by Jonny Wilkinson. Wilkinson trailed 25-21 after missing his first penalty shot but hitting the second.

South Africa was out of reach after De Beer’s fourth dive and his subsequent fifth drop from 40 meters. De Beer broke Percy Montgomery’s record for South Africa’s most points in a single game with two more penalties. Pieter Rossouw scored 34 points with one additional goalkick, converting his own chip ahead attempt.

“That was one of those days,” De Beer remarked.

Six days later, South Africa lost to eventual champion Australia in the semifinals in extra time.

England 25, South Africa 6 in Perth’s 2003 pool

After South Africa’s flyhalf Louis Koen missed four penalty kicks, they were deadlocked 6-6 at the half.

After sixty minutes, Jonny Wilkinson’s four penalties had reduced England’s lead to only 12-6.

The game-winning play occurred in the sixty-third minute when center Will Greenwood toed the ball ahead and touched down after flanker Lewis Moody had charged Koen down. To this day, it is the only World Cup try that England has scored against the Springboks.

For a 20-point total, England could sit back and trust on its legendary defense and two late drop goals from Wilkinson.

England coach Clive Woodward stated, “By our own standards, we weren’t anywhere near it, but we’ve now beaten South Africa five times in a row.”

After the pivotal pool match, South Africa lost to New Zealand in the quarterfinals, while England advanced to an easier quarterfinal matchup with Scotland and ultimately won the title.

South Africa 36, England 0 in the 2007 Paris pool

During their mid-year tour to the country, South Africa defeated England by scores of 58-10 and 55-22. Three months later, another crushing defeat by the Springboks left England’s World Cup defense in ruins.

At the Stade de France, the Boks had a 20-0 lead at the half thanks to conversions by Percy Montgomery from touchdowns by wing JP Pietersen and flanker Juan Smith. Pietersen scored another try after the half, and Montgomery concluded with eighteen points from the boot.

England didn’t appear to be scoring and never attempted a shot at goal. For the first time in nine years, it lost to South Africa without earning a point. It was also the most crushing World Cup loss for England, even bigger than the 1999 Jannie de Beer kickathon.

Martin Corry, the acting captain, stated, “We are a little shellshocked.”

Final 2007 score in Paris: South Africa 15, England 6.

The defending champion England defeated Australia in the quarterfinals and triumphed over host France in the semifinals. France was unable to recover from their unexpected victory over New Zealand in the Cardiff quarterfinal.

Unmatched In a tight match with strategic kicking, South Africa emerged as the early favorite. At halftime, the Springboks were up 9-3 after to three penalties from Percy Montgomery and one from Jonny Wilkinson.

After the break, England appeared to have scored, but wing Mark Cueto intervened to stop Danie Rossouw’s tackle.

With 19 minutes remaining, 20-year-old Frans Steyn kicked a 49-meter penalty for 15-6 after Wilkinson and Montgomery had traded penalties once more. The Boks won their second World Cup title by repelling waves of onslaught from England.

John Smit, the captain of the Springboks, remarked, “We were all so relieved that the four-year journey had actually paid off.”

2019 final: Yokohama, South Africa 32, England 12.

South Africa easily defeated Wales in the semifinals, while England destroyed the reigning champion New Zealand.

In the end, the English were the favorites, but the Springboks took control in return.

By halftime, Handre Pollard had put them ahead 12–6, and an hour later, 18–12. With the addition of their four remaining “Bomb Squad” forwards from the six on the eight-man bench in the second half, South Africa was able to keep control of the game up front, with England only coming close on the scoreboard.

The Boks produced closing tries by wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe to round off their record-tying third World Cup title.

South Africa’s first Black captain, Siya Kolisi, said, “We love you, South Africa, and we can achieve anything if we work together as one.”

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