Pollard's late penalty sends South Africa into World Cup final

PARIS :Replacement flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked a last-gasp penalty as South Africa somehow found a way to get past a dominant England on Saturday and claim a 16-15 victory that sent them into a World Cup final against fellow triple champions New Zealand.

The defending champions looked on the verge of defeat as England's kicking game kept them pegged back in their own half on a rainy Paris night, but they hit back with a try by RG Snyman before replacement Pollard landed a penalty from the halfway line to snatch victory.

The two super powers of the sport will meet in the final for the second time, after South Africa triumphed on home soil in 1995 in their first appearance at the tournament.

For most of the match, however, it looked as if it would be 2019 runners-up England returning to the final. On a rainy Paris night, England played a perfect tactical game, kicking accurately, chasing hard and forcing South Africa into errors.

Coach Steve Borthwick had promised he had a plan to unsettle the world champions but there was nothing radical about their approach as they kicked relentlessly in the rain and outplayed the Springboks in the air.

England forced South Africa into the sort of errors they avoided in their epic quarter-final win over France.

England’s control and accurate pressure earned Owen Farrell two early penalty opportunities, both of which he slotted for a 6-0 lead.

After 15 minutes South Africa won a kickable penalty but, lacking faith in Manie Libbok, they kicked for the corner and were turned over and they did the same a minute later, and lost possession again.

Libbok did slot one over but he looked off the pace and was taken off after 31 minutes, replaced by Pollard, who soon landed a penalty.

England, however,