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2019 Springboks Defeat Jones Taunts Gatland With ‘Best Wishes’
In the Play-Off Remark
30th, Eddie Jones

October Wales To Reach has taunted
Warren Gatland
after the Wales

| World Cup Final coach questioned
whether England
EXAMINER ales’ World Cup changes made by Gatland, the stands as both sides strug- have played their
World Cup final a
game early by
replacing ankle-injury victim
gled to find any pattern or
in
dream
ended
IRISH WYokohama as they Liam Williams, while number rhythm. overwhelming
New Zealand.
made another painful semi-final
eight Ross Moriarty took over
There was precious little
was
Gatland
exit after losing 19-16 to South
ambition either, with boot to
from Josh Navidi and fit-again
Africa. centre Jonathan Davies ball being the dominant and speaking after his team had been beaten 19-16 by South Africa,
The Springboks will face returned for Owen Watkin. predictable approach. who now face the 2003 champions on Saturday in a repeat of the
England in next Saturday’s final South Africa were without Wales needed to get some 2007 showpiece.
following fly-half Handre injured wing Cheslin Kolbe, so width on their game and Twenty four hours before England and the Springboks collide
Pollard’s match-winning penal- S’bu Nikosi deputized and stretch a Springboks outfit at International Stadium Yokohama, Wales will confront the All
ty four minutes from time. Springboks scrum-half Faf de seemingly intent on a no-frills Blacks in the bronze final 24 hours earlier – Gatland’s last match
Pollard kicked 14 points and Klerk made an immediate con- approach, despite De Klerk’s at the helm.
center Pollard kicked 14 points tribution through a kick and verve, but Pollard’s reliable “Well, guys, can you just send my best wishes to Warren to
and center Damian de Allende chase into Wales’ 22, but North boot then put them six points make sure he enjoys the third and fourth place play-off,” Jones
scored a try, with their oppo- cleared the danger and Wales clear. said at a press conference on Monday
nents replying through wing moved confidently up field. It was a dismal end to the Jones and Gatland are long-standing sparring partners and the
Josh Adams’ Wales record- Both teams readily resorted first-half for Wales, despite outgoing Wales boss on Saturday made a pointed remark about
equalling sixth try in one to tactical kicking, but Wales Biggar kicking a second penal- England’s crushing win against the world champions.
World Cup, three Dan Biggar looked to have a more creative ty, as Francis and North depart- “We have seen in previous World Cups that teams some-
penalties and a Leigh spark about them, with scrum- ed the action in rapid succes- times play their final in semi-finals and don’t always turn up for
Halfpenny conversion. half Gareth Davies prominent sion. a final,” Gatland said.
For Wales, who were semi- as he marked reaching 50 caps. Biggar gave Wales just the “So it will be interesting to see how England are next week
final casualties against France The opening 10 minutes, start they needed to the second and it could be a good game.”
eight years ago when captain though, were a considerable period, kicking them level with Jones has seen off heavyweight rival coaches Gatland, Steve
Sam Warburton was sent off, it notch down in terms of pace a third penalty. Hansen and Michael Cheika so far in Japan, but he has even
proved an agonizing experi- and intensity on England’s With the stakes so high, grander aims as the UK staggers through its Brexit ordeal.
ence. semi-final against New there appeared little chance of If South Africa can be overcome, he hopes it will lift the
Their hopes of confirming a Zealand. the game opening up, and it gloom of the nation.
first all-northern hemisphere South Africa looked to was 9-9 with 30 minutes left. “It’s great – you give the country something to cheer about
Rugby World Cup final were attack off first-phase ball as De Tries by De Allende and and with Brexit at the moment they probably need something to
dashed and they also lost wing Klerk pulled the strings and his Adams – both converted – cheer about,” Jones said.
George North and prop Tomas half-back partner Pollard meant the game appeared to be “It’s the job of a team to make the country happy and we’ve
Francis to first-half injuries. kicked the Springboks ahead heading towards extra-time. made the country happy. Not as happy as they can be because
Wales now play New through a 15th-minute penalty. Adams’ score matched the there is still a game to go as we’ve said.
Zealand in the third and fourth But that score was cancelled Wales best for one World Cup “The crowds here generally in the World Cup have been fan-
place play-off. It will be head out three minutes later when tournament set by Shane tastic and I thought our supporters on Saturday night were mas-
coach Warren Gatland’s final Biggar found the target with a Williams, but South Africa had sively instrumental in helping us get home.
game at the helm before he wide-angled penalty, only for just enough in the attack to “Their singing and their general support of the team has been
steps down after 12 years. Wales to concede a scrum shade an attritional encounter. outstanding. We urge them to keep doing that.”
England and South Africa, penalty in a game dominated In the end, in came down to Jones has delivered a major boost to hopes of winning a sec-
though, will contest a second by set-pieces, and Pollard Pollard keeping his nerve as ond World Cup by declaring Jonny May has recovered well from
final 12 years after the last one stepped up to make it 6-3. South Africa inched to the final the dead leg sustained in the 19-7 rout of New Zealand.
that the Springboks narrowly England head coach Eddie and crestfallen Wales were left The Leicester try machine was touch and go to face the All
clinched. Jones and his defense specialist to reflect on what might have Blacks because of a hamstring issue and, having recovered from
Halfpenny was among three John Mitchell watched from been. C that, he lasted 45 minutes before suffering an additional injury
setback.
“We had a walk through this (Monday) morning and we had
to tell Jonny to slow down a bit,” Jones said.
“He’s probably in better condition than he was last week at
this stage. Immeasurably better.”
Owen Farrell also incurred a dead leg in the first-half of
arguably the greatest victory in English rugby history but he
managed to finish the match, albeit while handing the kicking
duties to George Ford.
“Owen’s a bit sore but he’ll be fine. We’ve got a few others
carrying bumps and bruises because it was a tough old game,”
Jones said.
England will on Monday be joined at their Tokyo base by Ben
Spencer, the Saracens scrum-half who has been summoned as an
injury replacement for hamstring-injury victim Willi Heinz.
Heinz’s tournament is over but he will remain with the squad
to help prepare Spencer, who will make his World Cup debut as
a replacement in the final. C