Wynne Gray's 50 greatest rugby moments: No.30

South Africa defeated England in a tryless final in 2007. Photo / Getty

Five weeks before the 2007 RWC final, the Springboks walloped England 36-0 in pool play.

It was a massive hiding and England blew out to 80-1 as outsiders to create tournament history and repeat their triumph from four years before. They recovered to battle past Tonga and USA but an early exit seemed imminent.

Somehow they squeezed past the Wallabies and outlasted hosts France and had the chance to defend their title against the Springboks at Stade de France.

It was a motley match to conclude a tournament of average standards with neither side showing much enterprise with the stakes so high. It was a shock when English centre Matthew Tait ran through some ordinary defence and then broke a number of other tackles in a stirring 50m burst.

Quick ruck ball went left and as wing Mark Cueto dived across the line, Springbok No 8 Danie Rossouw made a late covering lunge and managed to make some impact.

Referee Alain Rolland called on television match official Stuart Dickinson for a verdict. The delay was excruciating for both teams and the 80,000 crowd packed into the Stade de France.

After numerous replays and a lengthy delay, Dickinson felt Cueto's trailing leg had clipped the touchline just before he planted the ball across the line and the try was disallowed.

The final was decided on penalties, 15-6 in the Springboks favour as Percy Montgomery and Frans Steyn outduelled Jonny Wilkinson.

Much like the 2011 decider, it was an unexpectedly tense conclusion after the team's blowout in pool play.

The Springboks were a well-drilled but cautious side under the coaching of Jake White and the captaincy of John Smit and picked up their second crown in four attempts against a committed England side which lacked much spark.

They had four men from their 2003 triumph-Wilkinson, Phil Vickery, Ben Kay and Jason Robinson while the Springboks had prop Os du Randt who was part of their successful 1995 campaign on home soil.