The Springboks have, not for the first time, been given little chance of joy by a leading New Zealand website as they prepare for the World Cup final.

Stuff.co.nz have installed England as overwhelming favourites following their brilliant dismantling job of the All Blacks on Saturday.

The site has consistently written down the Boks chances in Japan but Rassie Erasmus’ men have held firm and seen off every challenge since their opening Pool B defeat by the Kiwis.

In Saturday’s final at the Yokohama Stadium the world No 1 will face the second-best team in the world, according to the latest World Rugby rankings.

That’s as far as the good news – off the field – goes with the Springboks going into the game with a 29% chance. To put it into context, the Welsh have better odds (31%) of finishing third when they meet New Zealand on Friday.

The theme from the Kiwi media has followed on trend for the duration of the tournament, now the ‘underdog’ South Africans have 80 minutes to prove them wrong … again.