CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!

Rugby World Cup Final 2007: South Africa 15 – 06 England.
South Africa – Penalties: Percy Montgomery (4), Frans Steyn.
England – Penalties: Jonny Wilkinson (2).

What They Said

Jake White

“It doesn’t get any bigger than that.

“It’s an unbelievable experience. It hasn’t sunk in yet.

“To see the president of our country sitting on the players’ shoulders holding the World Cup, it doesn’t get much better than that.

“It’s a massive thing for our country, it doesn’t get bigger than that in the context of where we come from.

“I always said defences win World Cups.

“It’s amazing how history repeats itself. There were no tries in 1995, two tries in the 2003 final and no tries here.

“It just shows how important defence is. All credit to my Springboks.

“We were defending so well and we never really felt that they were asking questions of our line.

“When we were two scores ahead and we turned their line-out over, we knew they would have to chase it. We slowed the game down and we have learned that over the past four years.

“I think it would be wrong not to compliment England.

“People wrote them off. People talk about pride, passion and teamwork, and they have proved they will not go out without a fight.

“They gave everything they had, but winning back-to-back World Cups is always difficult.

“I must be honest, it hasn’t sunk in just yet. I think it is one of those things you will only understand what’s happened when you get home. Obviously it has been massive winning the world cup and seeing the supporters last night and enjoying it with our families and our friends, I don’t think it sinks in till a little bit later.

“I think it is important for South Africa to build on what was achieved last night, I mean it’s a very special thing. We now get a second chance of creating something special again. It is in everybody’s interest to make sure we use this as a great building block for the future.

“I look around and I think to myself so many things have changed. It’s amazing how they say in politics a week is a long time but in rugby I tell you 80 minutes is a fantastic thing. It would be hard to hand the team over to someone else. It’s nice when you’re world champions and everyone’s giving you accolades, but it’s a lonely place when you’re down.

“This is much bigger than South Africa rugby. To see our state president on the shoulders of one of the players, with the William Webb Ellis Trophy in his hands, there’s no bigger statement in our country than that. What we need as a nation is to understand how big this is. There’s no reason why South African rugby and South Africa can’t take this has a huge plus and build on it.”

Eddie Jones

“This was Test match rugby. A slugathon. If people don’t like that type of rugby, then they don’t like Test match rugby. I thought tonight we showed that we were the best team in the competition. World Cup finals are knock-em-down, grind-’em-out kind of affairs.

“Everybody thought that the scrum was going to be the factor tonight but instead it was the line-out. That’s the beauty of rugby, you just never know.”

John Smit

“We had 45-million-odd South Africans and the rest of the world shouting for us tonight.

“They were a completely different side tonight. It really was anyone’s game and they (England) played particularly well.

“But I would have taken 3-0.

“Jake White, what he’s done in four years is unbelievable. He has given us the direction and confidence to win this Cup.

“Percy deserves the most accolades out of the group.

“He is the most-capped player in the history of South African rugby and he has copped a lot of criticism.

“But he is the perfect example of a professional. You can’t fault him for the fact that he is brave, he took high balls, kicked the penalties right over and shoulder-charged a camera.

“It must be horrible for the people who have ridiculed him for his looks, his hair and his highlights – they must be disappointed he has won the World Cup for us.”

“Twelve years ago, I sat watching the final at Ellis Park and wondered whether it was possible to do it again. Dreams come true.

“I can’t put it into words what it feels like. It’s something that has taken four years and many experiences.

“We have carried the hopes of a nation on our shoulders and now we are taking the trophy back.

“Jake’s words four years ago were that we were going to win the World Cup. He is not a liar.

“We have lost a lot of sleep over the last seven weeks over that little cup.

“The guys said it was hard to get it off me after the match – I said to them I wanted to hold on to it for the rest of my life.”

Phil Vickery

“I can’t fault anyone – the players, the supporters – we’ve had a magical time here.

“But fair play to South Africa – they were the better team and this is their victory.

“A big thank you to all our supporters. It has been a special time for all.

“It has been a roller-coaster few weeks for us. I have played with some real warriors at this World Cup and there were memories I will always have.

“I am deeply proud of all the players. It has been a real honour to be captain of this side. I am disappointed not to get a victory today but life goes on.

“The game swung on crucial decisions at crucial times, not just from the players but from officials as well.

“You get decisions like that in a game. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t. I’m not going to stand here and blame the referee. South Africa deserved their win.

“We probably just didn’t quite have enough on the night.

“South Africa performed better under the high-pressure situations.

“I said to John Smit on the field afterwards, ‘It was thoroughly deserved, well done’ – and they did.”

Jonny Wilkinson

“We had a lot of ground to catch up in this tournament and the guys all took the responsibility and I was proud of them all.

“I have given everything I had to this effort. I have never given anything less than everything and it has been a hell of a journey with these guys.

“We have played pressure rugby for all of this tournament and even (this match) there were only a few points in it.

“The Prime Minister said: `Well done. All the boys back home are proud of you. Unfortunately it just wasn’t your day.”‘

Mark Cueto

“I watched it on the replay and I thought it was a 100% try.

“From the front the ball was grounded well. From the back you could see I wasn’t in touch. The foot they thought was in touch lifted up before it went over the line so for me it was a 100% try.

“It was a crucial point. We were six points behind. With the try we would have been within one with Wilko to take the kick.

“It was a tight game. Neither side looked like scoring, so it was a key moment.”

Lawrence Dallaglio

“It was one of those 50-50 decisions. If you are a South African it was a try, if you are English it wasn’t.

“On another day it could have been given but the decisions all went our way in the quarter-final and the semi-final.

“This was a day we needed all the decisions to go our way.

“It was a big decision which changed the course of the game, we only got three points out of it which ultimately wasn’t good enough.”

Mike Catt

“It has been been a hell of a journey.

“It feels a little bit different being on the other side of it. But what a group of guys to be involved with.”

Toby Flood

“It is hard to take. It was a bit of a sombre changing room but we can hold our heads up.

“When I came on it was a game that was there to be won but they are a very difficult team to break down. They fully deserved their win.”