The disappointed shrug from Andy Gomarsall a minute from time said it all.

The former Bicester Rugby Club player had just knocked on the ball, handing possession to South Africa in tonight's Rugby World Cup final with just a few seconds left and extinguished England's lingering hopes of rescuing the game.

Gomarsall's disappointed expression was mirrored across Oxford, the county and the country tonight as England lost the final 15-6.

Fans had turned out at pubs, bars and sports clubs to cheer on England to what was always going to be a hard task.

Gomarsall, whose family had travelled from Oxfordshire to cheer him on in Paris tonight, has been one of the stars as England hauled themselves to an unlikely appearance in the final. But the Boks just had too much in a disappointing final where all the points came from the boot.

England had one 'try' from Mark Cueto disallowed after the video ref ruled he had gone out of play before grounding the ball.

Nowhere was the disappointment more palpable tonight than at Bicester Rugby Club, where they had turned up to back their old boy.

Tim Warman-Johnston, 29, of East Oxford, watched the final at The Duke in St Clements Street in Oxford.

He said: "To be honest South Africa did deserve to win. I am massively disappointed but I wonder what would have happened if that disallowed try by Mark Cueto had been given.

"But at least we got the final which we would never have thought of five weeks ago."

Hannah Taylor, 28, also of East Oxford, added: "In the second half England played very well.

"We didn't let their backline get the ball but it's meant the evening has been a bit flat.

"Here's hoping Lewis Hamilton rescues the weekend for us tomorrow in the formula one."