WATCH: Stunning trick play that put Springboks on path to RWC glory

watch: stunning trick play that put springboks on path to rwc glory

WATCH: Stunning trick play that put Springboks on path to RWC glory

Over the course of the Springboks’ World Cup, there were countless moments of brilliance that played a key role in helping the team progress to back-to-back World Cup titles.

It was a sporting miracle in some ways that the Springboks managed to secure one-point wins in each of their playoff games, with the thrilling victory over hosts France in the quarter-final viewed by many as one of the greatest games of all time.

Although the dust has settled on the World Cup, and on that blockbuster quarter-final match, there is one game-changing moment that largely went unseen.

With the Springboks trailing 25-19 in the 65th minute and staring at an agonising defeat, South Africa received a scrum penalty on their own 22m line. It’s here that Faf de Klerk produced a stunning trick play that not many noticed at the time.

From the back of the scrum, De Klerk puts himself into a position where it appears that he is certain to line up a box kick.

Yet, playing under advantage, the scrumhalf instead flicks the ball between his legs – catching France off guard as Damian de Allende receives the ball and pops a pass to Jesse Kriel.

Kriel spots a big gap, and breaks away. He passes to Handre Pollard near the halfway line, with the flyhalf eventually shifting the ball back to De Allende. The centre then takes a brilliant decision to kick the ball ahead.

With France scrambling to retrieve the ball near their tryline, Kwagga Smith wins a turnover penalty after an incredible 80m play that started with the De Klerk trick play.

After being awarded the turnover penalty, the Springboks opt to tap and go, and from the resulting movement Eben Etzebeth scores the match-winning try to put South Africa on the path to World Cup glory.

You can re-watch this largely unheralded moment of magic from the Springboks below:

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