Advertisement

England v South Africa, Rugby World Cup 2019 final: What time is kick-off tomorrow, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

The wait to find out the 2019 Rugby World Cup winners is nearly over - here is all you need to know about Saturday's final - Getty Images
The wait to find out the 2019 Rugby World Cup winners is nearly over - here is all you need to know about Saturday's final - Getty Images

What is it?

It is England v South Africa, the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. England are through, seeing off New Zealand on Saturday while South Africa saw off Wales in an underwhelming semi-final.

It is the most eagerly-anticipated international rugby match there is and only takes place every four years, with 80 minutes separating two teams from global domination.

Twenty teams started off RWC 2019 with the goal of becoming world champions, and the path to the final is never an easy one.

England last made the World Cup final in 2007 and won the tournament for the only time in their history in 2003.

When is it?

Saturday, November 2, 2019.

What time does it kick-off?

9am GMT, 6pm local (JST).

Read the full TV schedule for the final matches and our guide on where you can watch the final across the UK.

Where is it being held?

International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan. It was in this stadium that Japan had their famous win over Scotland in the pool stages and where both semi-finals were staged.

The stadium also hosted a number of football matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

What happened last time out?

In the 2015 final, New Zealand secured back-to-back titles after overcoming Australia 34-17 at Twickenham. That final between Australia and New Zealand was the highest scoring Rugby World Cup final ever.

Man of the match was given to All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter, who in his 112th and final appearance in international colours scored 19 points and engineered his side to victory.

It was also the last time New Zealand rugby icons Richie McCaw, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Keven Mealamu wore the famous all black jersey.

Dan Carter of New Zealand poses with the Webb Ellis Cup after victory in the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham Stadium on October 31, 2015 in London, United Kingdom - Credit: Getty Images
Dan Carter missed out on the World Cup final due to injury and was replaced by Stephen Donald Credit: Getty Images

Previous winners of the Rugby World Cup

New Zealand were looking to win their third successive Rugby World Cup but Steve Hansen's men could not overcome England.

England are the only northern hemisphere side to have won the tournament and have a chance to join Australia and South Africa on two World Cup victories.

A foreign coach has never managed to win a World Cup which means that England, coached by Australian Eddie Jones, have the chance to make history in that regard.

Recent player of the matches in World Cup Finals

One of England's squad could follow in the footsteps of one of these giants of the game who have won player of the match in the final.

2007: Victor Matfield (SA)

2011: Thierry Dusautoir (FRA)

2015: Dan Carter (NZ)

What is the latest news?

Jonny Wilkinson offered drop-goal guidance to Owen Farrell as England put the finishing touches to preparations for Saturday's World Cup final against South Africa.

Wilkinson was present for the week's last training session at Tokyo's Fuchu Asahi Football Park on the eve of the Springboks clash at International Stadium Yokohama.

Dressed in a grey T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and orange boots, he watched and gave advice as Farrell and Ben Youngs practised drop-goals in expectation of a tight encounter between the sport's top two ranked teams.

Farrell leads England into the climax to Japan 2019 from inside centre having recovered the dead leg sustained against New Zealand with Youngs and George Ford forming the half-backs.

Wilkinson famously struck the extra-time drop goal that clinched a 20-17 victory over Australia in the 2003 final - the nation's only World Cup triumph - and also started the global showpiece four years later.

The 40-year-old works with Eddie Jones' squad on an consultancy basis, offering his technical expertise on kicking to the likes of Farrell, Ford, Youngs and full-back Elliot Daly.

It is believed that this is the first time he has been involved in an England training session in Japan and his wisdom has come as the clock ticks down on a seismic collision with South Africa.

And Farrell's World Cup favourites will enter the repeat of the 2007 final boosted by a good luck message from the Duke of Sussex that included a photo of his son Archie in a Red Rose jersey.

"As a group we've had a couple of messages from Prince Harry," Bath flanker Sam Underhill said.

"He sent us a nice message of support, which was nice to receive. He showed his little lad in an England shirt, so that was a nice touch. I'm still waiting on my personal message!"

What are they saying?

Eddie Jones

"New Zealand are the God of rugby, so we had to take it to them," England head coach Jones said.

"We wanted to take it to them and show we could take the game to them, try to put them on the back foot as much as we could.

"They are a great team. They have won two World Cups in a row. They have got a great coach, a great captain, so we had to battle hard today.

"You always go in with an idea of how you want the game to be, but it never goes exactly like that.

"You have got to give so much credit to New Zealand, the way they kept fighting right until the end. We had to dig deep to win that game."

What are the latest odds?

  • England - 8/15

  • South Africa - 21/10

Need help choosing a bookmaker? Telegraph Betting runs the rule over the big names

Read the latest odds for the final.

What is our prediction?

England must go into this match as favourites after defeating the All Blacks convincingly. South Africa will need to up their game after an underwhelming display against Wales. England by seven