Erasmus predicts a warofattrition final

YOKOHAMA: South Africa heads into the Rugby World Cup final against England next Saturday knowing it still has plenty to work on but fully expecting another war of attrition rather than an open game, according to coach Rassie Erasmus.

The Springboks advanced to their third final with a taut 1916 victory over Wales in Yokohama on Sunday, which was ultimately decided by first fiveeighth Handre Pollard’s boot with a conversion and four penalties — the last coming with four minutes remaining.

‘‘We have given ourselves a chance. We have played England four times in the last 18 months . . . and we are accustomed to how they play,’’ Erasmus told reporters.

‘‘They’re a lot better than the last time we played them, especially with the way they dismantled New Zealand.

‘‘We think we are in with a chance. I’m not 100% sure the Rugby World Cup final will be won by an expansive game plan with wonderful tries.

‘‘It might be, I might be wrong. I think we will go and grind it out.’’

After England beat New Zealand 197 in a hightempo, physically combative semifinal on Saturday, the 67,750 fans at Yokohama Stadium on Sunday watched a defensive slugfest.

Erasmus said the nature of Wales’ game had meant South Africa had to adapt its own to counteract its opponents’ strengths and then try to wrestle its way to victory.

‘‘We know they are a team that strangle the life out of the opposition . . . so we expected that and had to match it,’’ Erasmus said.

‘‘It might not have been a great spectacle to watch but . . . the boys stuck to their guns and adapted to that.’’

While the Springboks do have an expansive side to their game, in the knockout phase they have relied on their massive pack to wear down the opposition, either with ball in hand or in defence.

When in possession on Sunday, halfback Faf de Klerk invariably put up a contestable kick while, on the rare occasion the ball made it past him, Pollard and fullback Willie le Roux kicked deep or second five Damian de Allende smashed into contact.

South Africa’s ‘‘death by 1000 kicks’’ approach may not have won over many neutrals in the crowd, but it was effective at putting pressure on Wales and allowing it to get down field and win penalties.

It also was a safe and ruthless way to ensure that it reached the final, Wales coach Warren Gatland conceded.

‘‘For them, it was about making the final and doing what they needed to do,’’ he said.

‘‘We have seen in previous World Cups that teams play their finals in the semis and don’t turn up for the finals, so it could be a very good game.’’