The Springboks edged a ferocious but tryless encounter, with four penalties from Percy Montgomery and a long-range effort from Francois Steyn.

England thought they had scored the only try of the game when Mark Cueto dived over in the corner – but his effort was ruled out by the television official.

England’s only points came from the boot of Jonny Wilkinson.

England lacked ideas in the closing stages as South Africa did a text-book job of defending their nine-point advantage.

Wilkinson’s long-range drop-goal attempt dropped short – and although England had plenty of possession, the Springboks defended defiantly to win them the World Cup.

England struggled early in the lineout, losing their first two, but a powerful scrum had the Springboks in huge trouble.

They attacked off the back to charge through four phases and into the South Africa 22.

England’s dominance of the scrum and breakdown were the key factors in their quarter-final victory over Australia and they needed to be superior in both in both elements today.

But South Africa hit them with some strong counter-rucking and snatched back possession to clear their lines.

England tested the South African back three under a succession of high balls and the Springboks dealt with them well.

Mathew Tait thought he saw an opening and looked to run the ball out of his own 22 but slipped on the surface and was caught holding onto possession, offering Percy Montgomery a simple penalty to put South Africa 3-0 ahead.

Scrum-half Andy Gomarsall continued the aerial assault towards JP Pietersen and Shaw pounced to regain possession for England when the wing spilled a high kick.

England moved the ball wide to Paul Sackey and South Africa were penalised for killing the ball, allowing Jonny Wilkinson his first shot at goal of the final.

It was difficult shot from the right touchline but Wilkinson threaded it perfectly to draw England level.

Wilkinson produced a huge tackle in midfield but Lewis Moody was penalised for a trip on South Africa fly-half Butch James and Montgomery edged the Springboks ahead again.

England worked their way back downfield but Wilkinson’s attempted drop-goal slid wide of the posts.

Vickery was penalised for offside on half-way - which was too far out for Montgomery. Francois Steyn, the 20-year-old centre, took over and his kick had the distance but missed to the left of the post.

James regathered his own chip and for a second found himself in space but England closed down well and slowed the ball down.

Wilkinson put in another huge tackle, this time on Pietersen who failed to release the ball allowing England to ease the pressure.

The physicality of the game was bone-shuddering and Juan Smith smashed Nick Easter in the tackle as the England number eight looked to attack from the base of a scrum.

England’s driving maul had South Africa on the retreat and Catt, using every ounce of experience, then pinned South Africa with an inch-perfect kick after Tait had won the turnover.

The first half-hour was not a classic contest by any means – but England were denying South Africa the continuity and possession that makes them such a dangerous team.

Steyn almost sparked an opening with an elusive run through three tackle, but England’s scramble defence coped magnificently.

Du Randt tried to rumble on but was hauled down – and then huge tackles from Sackey on Steyn and Martin Corry halted South Africa’s charge in the left corner.

The Springboks attempted to drive over the line. But referee Alain Rolland spotted a knock-on, and England had survived.

South Africa were struggling under the power of Andrew Sheridan at the five-metre scrum but won the put-in after reeling it round.

England repelled Smith’s charge for the line but were penalised for hands in the ruck – and Montgomery, who had previously had treatment for a leg injury, made no mistakes with kick.

England were forced into a half-time change with Vickery replaced by Matt Stevens and Corry taking over as captain.

England had a reputation leading into the final of being able to pull through in close finishes, having done it in both the quarter-final win over the Wallabies and against France last weekend.

But to stay in touch England needed to score next. The catalyst was Tait, who stole brilliantly on halfway and then escaped two defenders to be stopped within touching distance of the line.

England recycled the ball quickly and Gomarsall’s pass was flicked on by Wilkinson for Cueto who dived for the line under pressure from Danie Rossouw.

The large England contingent inside the Stade de France were convinced he had scored but after endless replays, the video referee Stuart Dickinson ruled no try.

It was as tight a decision as could be but play was brought back for a penalty against Schalk Burger.

Wilkinson’s kick just crept over after hitting the inside of the far post.

England then lost Robinson to injury. Dan Hipkiss came into the centre and Tait moved to full-back.

Steyn made another slippery run through the midfield and after Corry was penalised for hands in the ruck, Montgomery slotted his fourth penalty to give South Africa a six-point advantage.

England sent on Toby Flood for Catt, who had produced a masterclass performance at inside centre, and then built seven phases of possession to work their way into the South Africa half.

It left England with an inexperienced back division but they took the game to South Africa, with Hipkiss in particular carrying the ball well.

It gave England momentum and earned another excellent platform when South Africa scrum-half Fourie du Preez cleared straight to touch from outside his 22.

Hipkiss pounded forward again, driven on by his forwards, but Gomarsall’s chip over the top skipped over the dead-ball line.

Flood, who was chasing it down, was fortunate to escape censure when he pushed Montgomery over the advertising hoardings and into a fixed camera behind the in-goal area.

Ben Kay was harshly penalised for crossing just 10 minutes after South Africa had got away with a blatant case of obstruction in their own half.

Steyn landed the penalty from halfway to push the Springboks nine points ahead.

England piled forward, putting the phases together well to get over the gain line, but Wilkinson spurned the chance of a drop goal and eventually Hipkiss was put under huge pressure and coughed up possession.

Cueto was taken out late by John Smit as he chased down his own chip forward and Wilkinson punted England deep into South African territory.

But England’s lineout misfired and as the clock ticked down they suffered another setback when replacement flanker Joe Worsley went off injured.

The only substitute left for England was scrum-half Peter Richards, who had to go into the back row.