World Cup final 2007

England and South Africa emerge to a packed Stade de France for the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup

Princes William and Harry are among an estimated 50,000 English supporters who have made the trip to Paris

The tension mounts for the England fans in the crowd

England wing Paul Sackey gets to grips with his oppositie number and main Springbok threat, Bryan Habana, early on

South Africa take the lead when Mathew Tait slips, holds on and Percy Montgomery slots over the resulting penalty

Jonny Wilkinson responds with a penalty kick of his own, but screws an attempted drop kick wide in a tight contest

However, Montgomery nails two more penalties, the second on the stroke of half-time to put the Springboks 9-3 ahead

England start brightly after the break and Tait makes amends for his first-half slip with a blistering 50-yard run

Tait is tackled just short of the line, but the ball is passed out to Mark Cueto who slides over for what looks like a try

The decision is reverted to the Australian Television Match Official who rules that Cueto's left foot brushed the touchline

It is a tough decision to take for Cueto and the England team, but the numerous replays proved it was correct

Referee Alain Rolland has been playing advantage though, so England pick up three points courtesy of Wilkinson's boot

But England's hopes of a comeback are dented when Jason Robinson limps out of his final game with a groin injury

The boot of Montgomery makes it 12-6 with a fourth penalty before the full-back is nudged out of play by Toby Flood

And when Ben Kay transgresses on the hour mark, Francois Steyn kicks a monster from just inside England's half

Wilkinson comes up agonisingly short with another drop kick attempt with his weaker right foot as time begins to run out

And time does indeed run out for England as South Africa record a 15-6 victory to become world champions

There is no repeat victory for England who are disconsolate as they collect their runners-up medals

But for South Africa, it is a deserved win and the culmination of four year's planning for captain John Smit's young team

Smit dedicated the win to the Springboks fans, saying: "Thank you very much for all your support, even in bad times."

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