Welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Rugby World Cup Final as the eyes of the sporting world turn to Yokohama, where England take on South Africa.
Eddie Jones’s team have beaten Australia and New Zealand in sensational style on the past two Saturdays. If they can beat the Springboks, they will complete a year of triumph for English sport, following the cricketers’ remarkable World Cup win in July.
Jones has pulled together a team capable of winning the World Cup. The forwards are strong and the backs can pick a lock or punch a hole.
They may not have the experience of the 2003 World Cup-winning squad, but they have their spirit and togetherness and are on the verge of matching their achievement. They are 80 minutes from immortality.
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Team news
England: E Daly; A Watson, M Tuilagi, O Farrell (captain), J May; G Ford, B Youngs; M Vunipola, J George, K Sinckler, M Itoje, C Lawes, T Curry, S Underhill, B Vunipola.
Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie, J Marler, D Cole, G Kruis, M Wilson, B Spencer, H Slade, J Joseph.
South Africa: W Le Roux; C Kolbe, L Am, D De Allende, M Mapimpi; H Pollard, F De Klerk; T Mtawarira, M Mbonambi, F Malherbe, E Etzebeth, L De Jager, S Kolisi (captain), PS Du Toit, D Vermuelen.
Replacements: M Marx, S Kitshoff, V Koch, RG Snyman, F Mostert, F Louw, H Jantjies, F Steyn.
Referee: Jerome Garces (France).
Rugby World Cup knockout stage
| Oct 19 | England v Australia | QF 1, Oita | Report |
| Oct 19 | New Zealand v Ireland | QF 2, Tokyo | Report |
| Oct 20 | Wales 20-19 France | QF 3, Oita | Report |
| Oct 20 | Japan 3-26 South Africa | QF 4, Tokyo | Report |
| Oct 26 | England 19-7 New Zealand | SF 1, Yokohama | Report |
| Oct 27 | Wales 16-19 South Africa | SF 2, Yokohama | Report |
| Nov 1 | New Zealand v Wales | Third place play-off, Tokyo | Report |
| Nov 2 | England vs South Africa | Final, Yokohama | 9am |
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