![]() International Stadium Yokohama hosted the match | |||||||
Event | 2019 Rugby World Cup | ||||||
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Date | 2 November 2019 | ||||||
Venue | International Stadium Yokohama , Yokohama | ||||||
Player of the match | Duane Vermeulen (South Africa) | ||||||
Referee | Jérôme Garcès (France) [1] | ||||||
Attendance | 70,103 | ||||||
The 2019 Rugby World Cup final was a rugby union match played on 2 November 2019 at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan. It marked the culmination of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and was played between England and South Africa, a rematch of the 2007 Rugby World Cup final.
The match saw South Africa claim 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. [2] The official player of the match was South Africa's number eight, Duane Vermeulen. [3]
The match was the United Kingdom's most watched TV broadcast in 2019 with a peak audience of 12.8 million watching on ITV. [4]
England | Round | South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pool C | Pool stage | Pool B | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opponent | Result | Opponent | Result | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 35–3 | Match 1 | ![]() | 13–23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 45–7 | Match 2 | ![]() | 57–3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 39–10 | Match 3 | ![]() | 49–3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 0–0 1 | Match 4 | ![]() | 66–7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Final standing |
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Opponent | Result | Knockout stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 40–16 | Quarter-finals | ![]() | 26–3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 19–7 | Semi-finals | ![]() | 19–16 |
England's final pool match with France was called off on safety grounds due to the impact caused by Typhoon Hagibis; according to tournament rules, the result was declared a 0–0 draw. [5]
England reached the final after topping their pool with bonus point wins against Tonga, the United States and Argentina. Their final group match against France was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis and was recorded as a scoreless draw. [6] In the quarter-finals, England played Australia at Oita Stadium, Ōita. England won 40–16 thanks to two tries from Jonny May and one each from Kyle Sinckler and Anthony Watson, all converted by Owen Farrell, who also added four penalties. [7] In the semi-final at Yokohama Stadium, England played the reigning champions New Zealand. England beat the All Blacks 19–7, breaking New Zealand's 18-match winning streak at World Cups, with a try from Manu Tuilagi converted by Farrell, and four penalties from George Ford. [8] This was England's fourth appearance in a World Cup final, having last been world champions in 2003. [9] They had also reached the final in 1991, when they lost to Australia, [10] and 2007, losing to South Africa. [11] Prior to the final, England called up Saracens scrum-half Ben Spencer as a late replacement for Willi Heinz who had suffered a hamstring injury during the semi-final against New Zealand. [12] England named an unchanged starting team for the final. [13]
South Africa's World Cup campaign began with a loss to New Zealand in their opening match in the pool, but they followed it up with bonus-point wins over Namibia, Canada and Italy to progress in second place in Pool B. [14] [15] In the quarter-finals, they played the hosts Japan, winning 26–3 through two tries from Makazole Mapimpi and one from Faf de Klerk, with one conversion and three penalties from Handré Pollard. [16] In the semi-final, they played Wales and won 19–16 due to a converted try from Damian de Allende and four penalties from Pollard, including the match-winner in the 76th minute. [17] This was South Africa's third appearance in the World Cup final, following victories over New Zealand on home soil in 1995 and England in France in 2007. [11] South Africa made only one change for the final with Cheslin Kolbe replacing S'busiso Nkosi on the right wing. [13]
England started as favourites for the final, [18] but they had an unfortunate start to the game as Kyle Sinckler was substituted in the third minute after colliding with Maro Itoje, [19] leaving England with only one tighthead prop. [20] South Africa tight forwards Bongi Mbonambi and Lood de Jager also left the field with injuries in the 21st minute. [21] In the first half, the only points scored were from penalties, with South Africa leading 12–6 at half-time after several handling errors by England, [22] who came close to scoring a try, but did not manage to score after 26 phases. [20]
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, when he ran in on the left before touching down, making South Africa's lead 25–12 after the conversion. Despite South Africa having won two previous World Cups, he was the first Springbok to score a try in a World Cup final. [20] Cheslin Kolbe followed up with another try eight minutes later, running in from the right wing to make the final score 32–12. [20] [22] [23]
2 November 2019 18:00 JST (UTC+09) |
England ![]() | 12–32 | ![]() |
Pen: Farrell (4/5) 23', 35', 52', 60' | Report | Try: Mapimpi 66' c Kolbe 74' c Con: Pollard (2/2) 67', 75' Pen: Pollard (6/8) 10', 26', 39', 40'+3', 46', 58' |
International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama Attendance: 70,103 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() England | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() South Africa |
Player of the Match: Assistant referees: |
Notes:
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