Sport | Three things we learned from epic England v South Africa in Rugby World Cup semi-final

Handre Pollard

• The Springboks booked their place in the Rugby World Cup final after a dramatic semi-final win against England.
• Handre Pollard’s boot was the difference as his penalty secured South Africa victory.
• South Africa face New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final.
• For more, please visit News24’s Rugby World Cup Zone.

Three things we learned from South Africa’s dramatic 16-15 semi-final win over England that sets coach Jacques Nienaber’s team up for a final against New Zealand at the Stade de France next weekend:

Supreme Pollard

Handre Pollard didn’t make the initial 33-man Springbok squad, deemed not to have recovered sufficiently from a calf injury.

He made his comeback with 30 minutes in a Premiership Cup game with his club Leicester and before you know it he was on a plane to France as an injury replacement for hooker Malcolm Marx.

The more attacking-minded Manie Libbok had been preferred in the number 10 jersey, but came in for criticism for his wayward goal-kicking.

Libbok was hooked after 30 minutes of the semi-final, Pollard installed at flyhalf with one job: claw South Africa back into the game at a rainy Stade de France.

He hit an opening penalty and converted RG Snyman’s try, before soaking up all the pressure to nail a 49-metre penalty to win the game with just three min