South Africa v New Zealand: the Rugby World Cup final nobody ...
World Rugby's new regulation will severely affect the Springbok-All Black rivalry. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
At the conclusion of South Africa's narrow Rugby World Cup semifinal win against Wales in Japan four years ago, the camera panned to an interested bystander in the stands, one Eddie Jones. The Australian - in his capacity as the then England coach, the Springboks' opponents in the final - had a traditional smirk on his face, only this time it suggested "nothing to see here".
Watching the Boks similarly scrape by England by a single point in Saturday's semifinal, New Zealand, their opponents in the final, could be forgiven for thinking the same as Jones all those years ago. For the second week in succession, the world champions were the second-best team in their match in every respect other than the final scoreline, while the All Blacks got a guard of honour as they shadow-practised their way to a 44-6 victory.
It would be a dangerous mistake to make, given what subsequently happened to Jones' English team in the 2019 final in Yokohama. Well, that and the uncanny similarities between the Springboks' campaigns at the last World Cup and this one.
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