Danie's 'unbelievable feeling'
2007-10-21 22:14
Hennie Brandt, Beeld
Paris - Danie Rossouw was merely hoping for the best as he watched the slow-motion television replay of his corner-flag tackle on Mark Cueto in the rugby World Cup final here on Saturday night.
At that stage, even the South African No 8 did not know whether he had managed to prevent the England wing from scoring what could have been a match-winning try.
But what he saw on the big screen in the Stade de France triggered "an unbelievable feeling".
One of Cueto's feet brushed the touchline a split second before he grounded the ball in the 43rd minute of the match.
"At first, I did not think I had managed to stop him from scoring," Rossouw said after South Africa's 15-6 victory.
"I just hoped for the best. It was the greatest feeling when I clearly saw on the big screen how his foot touched the line. It was an unbelievable feeling."
When England centre Mathew Tait cut through the Springbok backline, only to be tackled by Victor Matfield short of the line, the ball went to Cueto on the left.
"I saw they had an extra man on the outside and I just ran flat out to get there," Rossouw said later.
It seemed as if his tackle was in vain, but referee Alain Rolland asked the video official, Stuart Dickenson, to make the call.
After watching the incident for several minutes and from all angles Dickenson decided that Cueto had gone into touch.
Rolland, much to England's consternation, indicated that no try had been scored and awarded a penalty to England for an earlier infringement by the Springboks.
"I think it was a crucial moment in the match," the 29-year-old Rossouw said.