Poetic Justice

Courtesy of two very different semi-finals this year’s World Cup final will see England, bidding for a second title, take on South Africa who will be competing for their third triumph. The last time these two sides met in a World Cup was back in 2007 where they played out this same fixture with the Springboks winning 15-6, a game not without its controversy. Since that day they’ve met twelve more times with South Africa winning eight of them, but perhaps crucially and most encouragingly, England have won the last two. England are the favourites; their performances so far have turned heads whilst South Africa have quietly gone about their business doing what they needed but no more. England’s victories have been born out of solid defence and exciting attack they’ve gathered speed getting better and better as the tournament progresses. Their victory over New Zealand perhaps unfairly described by many as a ‘surprise’ was brilliant, the score line flattering their opponents if anyone.