Rugby World Cup 2019: Team of the tournament as Springboks dominate following final victory over England
Springboks clinched their third World Cup triumph with a 32-12 victory over England to cap 48 fantastic games full of action, drama and high-class rugby in Japan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.South Africa brought the curtain down on the 2019 Rugby World Cup in style by reclaiming their status as world champions with a thumping 32-12 victory over England.
In what was the 48th and final match to take place in Japan, the Springboks clinched their third World Cup triumph in their history, joining the All Blacks as the most successful nation in rugby history.
The destructive performance blew England out of their path and dashed Eddie Jones’s side’s hopes of emulating the 2003 World Cup winners, who remain the only side from England to have gone all the way, while New Zealand recovered from their surprise semi-final defeat to beat Wales to third-place.
But the World Cup gave us plenty more than just the final stages, with Japan lighting up the tournament with their historic run to the quarter-finals and Fiji showing what they can do with their raw athletic ability.
With the ninth Rugby World Cup done and dusted, who makes our team of the tournament from all 48 matches? In true Eddie Jones fashion, we’ve selected a best 23 as opposed to a best XV, because why shouldn’t we join him in the age of modern rugby where finishers count just as much as starters?
Click through the gallery above to see our team of the World Cup and who makes the replacements’ bench to just miss out on the starting XV.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments