2019 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final vs Ireland

Lore & Background

South Africa claimed their third Rugby World Cup title with a 32–12 victory, with tries from Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe adding to six penalties and two conversions from Handré Pollard. The official player of the match was South Africa's number eight, Duane Vermeulen. England reached the final after topping their pool, beating Australia in the quarter-finals, and defeating New Zealand 19–7 in the semi-final. South Africa progressed after a pool-stage loss to New Zealand, then wins over Japan in the quarter-finals and Wales in the semi-finals.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled off the Kobe harbor, biting at the exposed skin of players huddled under floodlights. The silence from the New Zealand bench was heavier than the humidity in the air. On the pitch, Beauden Barrett scrambled for a loose ball, his eyes wide with disbelief as an Irish defender, seemingly out of nowhere, crashed into him. The scoreboard glowed red: 46 to 14. There were no haka chants echoing now, only the hollow thud of boots on wet grass and the distant roar of a celebrating Irish contingent. The dream of three-peat had evaporated in ninety minutes, leaving behind the stark realization that even giants could stumble.

Reader's Guide

The match saw South Africa lead 12–6 at half-time after several handling errors by England. Two more successful penalties for each side made the score 18–12 early in the second half. Makazole Mapimpi scored the first try in the 66th minute, and Cheslin Kolbe followed with another try eight minutes later, making the final score 32–12.

Did You Know?

• Siya Kolisi earned his 50th test cap.
• François Steyn became the second Springbok player to win two World Cups.
• Jérôme Garcès became the first French referee to take charge of a Rugby World Cup final.
• South Africa became the first Southern Hemisphere team to win The Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup in the same year.
• South Africa became the first team to win the Rugby World Cup having lost a match during the pool stage.