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England were sent crashing out of the World Cup 44-21 by champions South Africa in Paris after an astonishing kicking exhibition from Springboks fly-half Jannie de Beer. De Beer dropped a world record five goals - all in the second-half - and claimed a new South African points record of 34 in one Test.
Springboks' skipper Joost Van Der Westhuizen and wing Pieter Rossouw
scored tries towards the end of each half, while England could only reply
through seven penalties, six from Paul Grayson and one by second-half substitute
Jonny Wilkinson.
England trailed by just four points early in the second-half as they
looked to secure a Twickenham semi-final appointment with Australia next
Saturday, but de Beer put the boot into them in remarkable fashion.
Each time the ball split the posts it was like driving a stake through England's heart.In the end, the scoreline possibly flattered South Africa, but there was no doubting their supremacy overall and England will have to wait another four years in their bid for global supremacy. Afterwards de Beer called it just 'one of those days' after his boot condemned England to defeat. De Beer said: "I am happy to be part of a winning team.
"We had one or two ideas we thought might come off against England and
they did. "It was one of those days. If you are not going to score too
many tries you have to take the opportunities when you get them. "We knew
we had a chance when we were drawn to play England in Paris. Twickenham
might have been another story."
© PA Sporting Life Ltd.