Rugby: South Africa rule the world!

Percy Montgomery © Getty Images

England 6 - 15 South Africa

Springboks are the World Rugby champions, after have beaten England 15-6 in a tense final in Paris.

There were no tries. After six minutes South Africa by Percy Montgomery made 3-0 with a kick of penalty. Jonny Wilkinson with a penalty established a draw 3-3. With 15 minutes Montgomery made 6-3 after Lewis Moody has beens penalised for a surreptitious trip.

Wilkinson missed a dropp for goal from a favourable position and the match at the end of first-half scored 6-3. Montgomery goaled a penalty and made 9-3 the score at the end of the first-half.

Wilkinson made the score 9-6 (penalty) but English team wouldn't go to score again. In the next 38 minutes England did not score again. Montgomery with a straightforward kick at goal made 12-6 after 50 minutes and Steyn drove over a penalty goal of great length and accuracy and put the score 12-6. The last 18 minutes the score didn't change.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Television match official: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)

South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Os du Randt.

Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Johannes Muller, 19 Wikus van Heerden, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 André Pretorius, 22 Wynand Olivier.

England: 15 Jason Robinson, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Mike Catt, 11 Mark Cueto , 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Martin Corry, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Mark Regan, 1 Andrew Sheridan.

Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Lawrence Dallaglio, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Peter Richards, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Dan Hipkiss.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Pens: Montgomery 4, Steyn

For England:
Pen: Wilkinson 2

Argentina got the third place winning the Bronze Medal match against France 34-10