Handre Pollard and Frans Steyn have both slotted sublime Rugby World Cup kicks for the Springboks against England. Who did it better, though?
Steyn’s nerveless kick from distance in the 2007 final put the contest to bed against England.
16 years later, Pollard stuck the knife into England again, this time in the semis.
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So, what do Pollard and the legendary François Steyn have in common? Well, they’ve both slotted massive penalties to help their sides to Rugby World Cup knockout wins against England. Frans Steyn did it in the biggest game of all back in 2007 in France when he was just 20 years old, seemingly unperturbed by the unbearable pressure heaped on his shoulders. He converted from 48 metres in the 62nd minute in the final to give the Springboks a 15-6 lead. England never recovered. Pollard’s nerveless penalty in the semi-final against England in 2023 sent the Boks to the final. The rest, as they say, is history.
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What do Pollard and the legendary François Steyn have in common? Well, they’ve both slotted massive penalties to help their sides to Rugby World Cup knockout wins against England. Frans Steyn did it in the biggest game of all back in 2007 in France when he was just 20 years old, seemingly unperturbed by the unbearable pressure heaped on his shoulders. He converted from 48 metres in the 62nd minute in the final to give the Springboks a 15-6 lead. England never recovered. Pollard said the nerveless penalty in last year’s semi-final was the best strike of his career.
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Who did it better, though? Can these kicks even be compared, given the different contexts and nuances involved?
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