How Bok brutes overcame England
October 29 2007
It is more than a week since South Africa won the World Cup, by beating England 15-6 in the final in Paris, but the plaudits continue to come in for John Smit's Springboks.
England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall has added his voice to the chorus of commendations, saying that South Africa's raw power was the key factor.
Gomarsall said England's forwards had laid the platform for the tense quarter-final and semi-final victories over Australia (12-10) and France (14-9), but the Springboks had the edge at the breakdown and set-pieces in their win in the final.
"In the end South Africa's physicality was the difference," Gomarsall told Reuters in Sydney, where he is on holiday.
"They have a lot of big guys and they were able to put us under pressure in a way that Australia and France could not."
Gomarsall said the key moment of the match came just after half-time when the video official ruled out what had appeared to be a try by England winger Mark Cueto.
"The disallowed try was a huge turning point but we are not using it as an excuse," Gomarsall said.
"The momentum we had built up was lost and South Africa grew from that moment. It seemed like whatever we did for the rest of the game we just could not break their defence."
Gomarsall said the England players felt huge disappointment after failing to retain the trophy they had won in Australia four years ago.
"There is a massive disappointment and sense of frustration that we didn't win it but, on reflection, everyone was very proud of how we got to the final." he said.
"We went over there to win it and we had an amazing journey."
Gomarsall was a member of the squad in 2003 but did not play in the latter stages, including the final win over Australia and began this year's tournament as third-choice scrum-half.
"To achieve the victory in 2003 when we went into the tournament as favourites was unbelievable and the contrast with this year could not have been greater," he said.
"We had been written off."