Disallowed score was 100% a try, laments disappointed Cueto
And the Sale Sharks wing’s sense of disbelief was only deepened by texters who bombarded his mobile phone while England fought tooth and nail to successfully defend their world title.
Cueto said: “There were about 30 text messages on my phone. I think 29 out of the 30 had ‘robbed’ in the text.”
Had Cueto’s 43rd minute ‘try’ been allowed, then England might well have gone on to complete mission improbable and retain the Webb Ellis Trophy against overwhelming odds.
But those hopes effectively crashed once 39-year-old Australian Stuart Dickinson decided Cueto’s foot made contact with the touchline as he dived over under pressure from Danie Rossouw’s despairing tackle.
Television match official Dickinson consulted numerous replays before breaking English hearts by delivering a verdict Cueto will probably never understand.
He added: “My gut instinct when I went over the line was that it was a try. As a player, you generally know when you are in or not. For me, it was 100% a try.
“From the front you could see the grounding was fine. From the back, they were obviously looking at the foot, but to me my foot came off the ground as I went over the line.
“I was amazed when it wasn’t awarded – I couldn’t believe it.’’
It proved a crushing blow for an England side dismissed as 80-1 no-hopers after losing 36-0 to South Africa in the pool stages 36 days earlier.
In the end though, not even 2003 World Cup final hero Wilkinson could steer England past a South African side brilliantly coached by Jake White that fulfilled what they always felt was their destiny.
Springboks full-back Percy Montgomery – the tournament’s top points scorer — kicked four penalties with Francois Steyn adding a killer long-range effort, while Wilkinson booted a double for England, yet their hopes of becoming the first country to retain the World Cup ended in tears and despair.
It was a typically resilient England performance, but South Africa simply refused to go the same way as Australia and France.
While England tamed the Wallabies and then stunned Les Bleus, their final great challenge proved a game too far.
South Africa, world champions for the second time in 12 years, squeezed England into submission, helped by a stunning performance from man-of-the-match Victor Matfield.
Not only did the giant Blue Bulls lock pull off a try-saving tackle on Tait just seconds before Cueto’s video nasty, but he spearheaded South African lineout domination to such an extent that England lost seven on their own throw.
South Africa’s immense discipline proved another telling factor – they only conceded five penalties and free-kicks throughout the whole game – and none of those were awarded for foul play.
England were hampered by injuries to skipper Phil Vickery, full-back Jason Robinson – in his final match before retiring from Test rugby – centre Mike Catt and flanker Joe Worsley.
All four players failed to last the distance, with Worsley being forced off nursing a hamstring problem just eight minutes after replacing Lewis Moody, meaning reserve scrum-half Peter Richards – all 5ft 9in of him – switching to emergency back-row duty.
England head coach Brian Ashton said: “Obviously we are bitterly, bitterly disappointed we didn’t win the game. But the general gist is that the lads can hold their heads high – they have nothing to be ashamed of.
“These last seven weeks have been a great adventure, and I am very proud of the players.
“No-one, outside our squad, thought we would do anything at all. We showed the world that if things had gone slightly differently, we would have won.
“I feel very positive for England rugby. We have very good players coming through, and the more mature players are not necessarily finishing.”
Unlike four years ago, England will not return to Heathrow today with rugby union’s golden prize. But for a team that started the tournament looking like it couldn’t even win a raffle, let alone the World Cup, the transformation means they will again touch down as heroes.
Pens: Wilkinson 2.
Montgomery 4, Steyn.
Robinson, Sackey, Tait, Catt, Cueto, Wilkinson, Gomarsall, Sheridan, Regan, Vickery, Shaw, Kay, Corry, Moody, Easter, Worsley.
Hipkiss for Robinson (47), Flood for Catt (51), Chuter for Regan (63), Stevens for Vickery (41), Worsley for Moody (63), Dallaglio for Easter (65), Richards for Worsley (71).
Montgomery, Pietersen, Fourie, Steyn, Habana, James, du Preez, du Randt, Smit, van der Linde, B. Botha, Matfield, Burger, Smith, Rossouw. Replacements: van Heerden for Rossouw (72).
80,000.
Alain Rolland (Ireland).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
