South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus was delighted after leading his side to Rugby World Cup glory after being England 32-12.
England were the favourites going into the game but the Springboks overpowered them and stopped Eddie Jones’ side from getting into the groove of the game.
Erasmus was immensely proud of his side after they defied expectations to win the World Cup for a record-equaling third time.
"The boys believed in themselves, this bunch of guys have been together for 19 weeks, we know one another really well.
"We've got so much respect for England we really prepared well and I think we fought hard till the end, and I'm so proud of them and I think also a little bit fortunate. But we are really enjoying it at this stage,” Erasmus said.
The former Munster coach oversaw a remarkable change in fortunes for his side after the Springboks fell to seventh in the World Rankings just two years ago.
"There are so many good things in South Africa but always in the past, we seem to look at all the bad things.
“We just decided, listen let's stand together and work really hard and play well on the field and then from that all the other things will come out later and I think that's what we did,” Erasmus commented.
Erasmus, who will now move on from the head coach role to become South Africa’s Director of Rugby, gave thanks to the people of Japan for hosting the World Cup as well as the South African fans.
"I, first of all, would like to say thank you to Japan for the way they hosted the World Cup.
“And then to the Springboks supporters I would like to say, we never felt alone in Japan, we felt them all the way, and not just the supporters here in Japan, but also those back home,” Erasmus said.
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