They think it’s all oval ..it is now

Springboks dump English & claim glory with power-packed show

He said: “It is really special and it was more than just a game for us. We are really grateful to have our families here and all I want to do is to inspire my kids and every other kid in South Africa.

“I never dreamed of a day like this at all. When I was a kid, all I was thinking about was getting my next meal.

“Since I have been alive, I have never seen South Africa like this.

“With all the challenges we have, the coach said to us that we are not playing for ourselves any more, we are playing for the people back home. And that is what we wanted to do today.

“We appreciate all the support – people in the taverns, in the shebeens, farms, homeless people and people in the rural areas.

“Thank you so much, we appreciate the support. We love you South Africa and we can achieve anything if we work together as one.

“I honestly can’t explain how I was feeling, seeing the joy in my team-mates’ faces, as I know how hard they have worked and the coaches have worked.

“We had to believe in each other and believe in the plan. He (Erasmus) kept telling us how good we are and drove us to places we’ve never been before.

“The first meeting ( between the players and Erasmus) was in Johannesburg and it was just straightforward. He told us exactly what we were doing as players – getting a lot of money and doing things off the field. We didn’t make rugby the main thing.

“He told us it had to change. The Springboks are more important than our personal goals. People lost salary to come and see us play.

“It changed our mindset, we cut off social media and we put heart and soul on the field. He is always honest with us. You always knew where you stood – we are really grateful.”

Erasmus – who took over at the helm in March 2018 – added: “In South Africa, it (pressure) is not having a job, having a close relative who is murdered.

“Rugby should not create pressure, it should create hope. We have a privilege, not a burden.

“Hope is when you play well and people watch the game and have a nice brai ( barbecue) and watch the game, and no matter of political or religious difference for those 80 minutes, you agree when you usually disagree.

“I just think the boys believed in themselves. A bunch of guys who’ve been together 19 weeks, who know one another really well. We’ve got so much respect for England.

“We were a little fortunate but we’re really enjoying it at this stage.”

He paid a glowing tribute to 28-year-old Kolisi, who was appointed captain in May 2016 and has now lifted rugby union’s ultimate prize.

“It is easy to talk about going through hard times and struggl ing to get opportunities but it is tough when there are days when you didn’t have food or couldn’t go to school or didn’t have shoes to wear,” Erasmus said.

“When you sit down and think about it, there was a stage when Siya didn’t have food to eat and, yes, that is the captain and he led South Africa to hold this cup. That is what Siya is.”

Counterpart Jones was left searching for answers as his players – who so comprehensively dumped New Zealand last week – fluffed their lines and were left battered and bloodied by this World Cup final hammering.

The coach had no explanation for the way his side were mauled by the underdogs – and admitted they’ll all need a few beers to help ease their pain.

Jones said: “I don’t know why we didn’t play well. The only thing I am worried about now is having a few beers and that’s the only thing we will all worry about. And then after we have a few beers today, we will probably have a few

“You can have the most investigative debrief of your game and you still won’t know what was wrong.

“We are going to be kicking stones for four years, and it is hard to kick stones for four years, so we are massively disappointed.”

England’s Ben Youngs said: “We are devastated, to fal l short is heartbreaking. It’s hard because when you’re in your half, you are vulnerable with their kicker and their set-piece. It just didn’t happen tonight.”

Former Eng land st a r

Paul Grayson summed up the country’s feelings.

He a dde d : “We s a id t he r e wa s pot ent i a l ly a

South Af r ica s to rm coming and cou ld

E n g l a nd deal with t h e physicality of th e

Springboks at fever pitch?

The answer is no.”

It was special and it was more than just a game for us. I want to inspire every other kid in South Africa. I never