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#ENGvRSA Match Thread - the teams are lining up in the tunnel, the drummers are drumming, the crowd is buzzing, we're couting down to the #RugbyWorldCup final between England and South Africa. Now it's anthems for the last time, and 80 minutes of what I hope will be some cracking #rugby.

Not even three minutes in and we've had South Africa get a penalty kick, miss it, and then Mario Itoje has now cold-cocked Kyle Sinckler who will need to be stretchered off. Dan Cole warming up. Ah, he's walking off, looks like a HIA but most liley gone for the game now. #rwc2019 #ENGvRSA

First scrum of the evening and Bokke get a penalty because that's what scrums are for now. South Africa dance all the way up to the line only for England to counter-ruck and steal it back. England run it back from behind the tryline, May coming up strong. Pacy stuff so far.

England scrum leads to a pass to nowhere leads to isoalted man leads to penalty South Africa pretty much under the posts. Pollard to kick. Bokke dominating handling, scrum, and pace right now.

Itoje was a powerful force last week, and is proving to be the same this weekend. So far he's knocked his teammate unconscious and coughed up a knock-on for a penalty.

Ben Youngs just threw the ball to someone in the crowd. Maybe his mum was there? Coz no-one else was...

Scrumfest 2019 continues as South Africa get another penalty from the scrum and pile the pressure on the the England tryline. May clears it right back and it's more Saffa set-piece.

England finally get a sniff of the tryline and they're going through hands and phases now, finally seeing some English composure. Garces refs as only Garces can, dancing around a downed Springbok to award England a penalty on the Bok 22.

Injuries continue to mount. That looks like a dislocated shoulder to me, Lood De Jager's arm dangling like limp spaghetti.

South Africa push back hard from the penalty kick restart, jamming the ball all the way back up the field, now it's penalty time for Pollard. Boks are winning this in every way so far, physically and psychologically dominating England.

At some point South Africa is going to actually use the overlap on the left. I'd say three missed opportunities so far, but it's working and it will pay off soon enough.

England knocking on the door for a second time. The crowd finally gets involved and reminds us they're mostly English. Big hits from the defense, no penalties yet.

The gong has bombillated but we're back for yet another penalty from yet another Springbok scrum. Pollard lines up to close out the half. There's a very faint "swing low" in the nosebleeds. The crowd, and the England coaching squad are both going to have some questions in the break.

Seems like everyone is neutral today. Bak-San sporting home colours for the match today.

I hope we see some try-scoring in the second half. No-one wants to watch the final of any sport and watch the penalty count quietly tick away on the scoreboard.

#RWC2019 #ENGvRSA England v South Africa #Rugby World Cup FInal - Match THread. We are back for kickoff at the beginning of the second half. 40 minutes to go, let's see what England brings out of the tunnels to change up their play this half.

Scrumfest 19 soldiers on, and it's another penalty for SA.

Personally, I'm sick of it. Penalty after penalty is no way to run a sport. If we can't have a simple set piece without forcing a penalty every time, something's wrong.

Boks swap out their front row.

Guess what just happened?

Scrum.

Guess what happened next?

Penalty.

Please see previous toot. The exact same thing, but this time for England.

Riveting stuff.

Score a bloody try someone.

In a stunning change of events, South Africa earned a penalty from a maul instead of a scrum. Points were scored. Before I finished typing this, Garces blew a penalty for England.

This is clearly the team strategy. Earn penalties. Kick them.

This is not rugby.

Finally! Mapimpi chips, Am gathers and they are into the 22 and Am throws a gorgeous no-look pop pass back to Mapimpi and he’s down and grounded. Try SOuth Africa, conversion is good, blood is getting fired up all over the field now.

Woof. Real rugby now. Kolbe jinks and jags around a bunch or tired English legs. Try number two for the Boks.

It took 65 minutes but we got some world class rugby there for fifteen minutes, What a turnaround from last week, England with the dominance and South Africa looking weak against a battered Wales.

This week? Sprinboks fired up, moving the ball, dominating the space and closing out the second half with good, clean work getting them over the line, while England are literally blood-spattered and aimless, unable to answer any of the questions Bokke was bringing.

Congratulations South Africa!