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Date: 2023-11-30 16:48:56 | Author: PFF | Views: 110 | Tag: esports
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England coach Steve Borthwick is adamant his side will use the pain of their narrow Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat to South Africa to “grow into something brilliant” moving forward esports
Heading into the clash as heavy underdogs, England executed their kick-heavy gameplan to perfection and impressed at the set-piece to stunningly lead the Springboks at half-time esports
However, South Africa’s much-vaunted ‘bomb squad’ came off the bench, started to dominate the scrum and the kicking of Handre Pollard led them to a gutsy 16-15 win esports
Borthwick’s troops far outperformed expectations in the semi-final and although he was devastated to come up just short on the big stage, the coach is convinced the experience will stand his young squad in great stead for the future esports
“The whole team performance was strong,” said Borthwick in his post-match press conference esports
“We’re disappointed esports
We came here with a plan to win the game but fell short esports
Not far but a little bit short and we’re desperately disappointed esports
“But the players should be incredibly proud esports
We had seven players 25 or under in our squad, which was the most of any semi-finalist esports
South Africa had one esports
“We have a great blend in the squad and there’s lots to take going forward esports
We put ourselves in a position to win a semi-final against the reigning world champs and world No 1 esports
“In adversity, there is normally a seed in there that will grow into something brilliant esports
It’s too early to find that seed now but we’ll make sure we find it esports
We’ll take what we’ve gone through tonight, grab it and make sure it makes us stronger in the future esports
”England were narrowly defeated in Paris (Getty Images)Lock George Martin was a surprise selection ahead of Ollie Chessum but he shone in just his fourth Test start, with his maul defence a particular highlight esports
And Borthwick is convinced Martin has a bright future, while also highlighting the superior cohesion that the Springboks have after a longer period together as a coaching staff esports
“I thought he [Martin] played really well,” added Borthwick esports
“There were a good number of outstanding performances out there esports
George is another young player, only 22 esports
I would hope to see him in England shirt for many years to come esports
“We were playing against a team with coaches together since 2018 esports
It was an incredible achievement for them to win in 2019 and they have had four years of continued development esports
“They’re consistent whereas we’ve had four months with this coaching team esports
I’ve asked the players to approach training and the game in a different way; for the players to be willing to change is all credit to them esports
Tonight was another example of that esports
”More aboutSteve BorthwickEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/2England will ‘grow into something brilliant’ after World Cup heartacheEngland will ‘grow into something brilliant’ after World Cup heartacheEngland were narrowly defeated in Paris Getty ImagesEngland will ‘grow into something brilliant’ after World Cup heartacheSteve Borthwick’s England came up agonisingly short in the semi-final Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today esports
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Not always in sport do you get a shot at redemption and successfully taking advantage of that opportunity is even rarer esports
England’s pack, and their front row in particular, will have had four years of sleepless nights about that early November evening in 2019 esports
In the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, England were decimated by South Africa’s power up front, as the brilliance of a scintillating semi-final win over New Zealand was quickly replaced by the humiliation of a 32-12 thumping esports
The Springboks, then as now, pride themselves on their physicality and brutality at the breakdown, the set-piece and in open play esports
Yet on a rainy night in Paris four years on, England’s pack fronted up, set the platform in a thrilling World Cup semi-final and earned their redemption arc esports
Yet it still wasn’t enough esports
This time, albeit by one point rather than 20, the result was the same – England’s players slumped on the turf in despair while their opponents revelled in victory esports
The Springbok celebrations were more muted this time, understandably so given there is one more crucial match against the All Blacks standing esports between them and their ultimate goal, but the English heartbreak was the same, even if the journey to get there was vastly different esports
In Yokohama, South Africa won a scarcely believable 11 scrums to England’s three, including six scrum penalties, as the English eight were splintered time and again esports
Dan Cole became the fall guy for that embarrassment – the tighthead prop, supposedly renowned for his scrummaging, forced to play 77 minutes after Kyle Sinckler’s early injury and being obliterated by the combination of Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and Steven Kitshoff esports
The fact that Cole and Joe Marler, who came off the bench early in the second half that day, were selected by Steve Borthwick to start this revenge game precisely because of their scrum prowess will have surely given them a surge of confidence esports
And the fact they not only survived, but thrived, in the front row this time around will have been sheer vindication esports
Borthwick entrusted the duo to paint an early picture of scrum parity to referee Ben O’Keeffe and they delivered, providing the base that led to multiple first-half penalties from the trusty boot of Owen Farrell esports
Cole and Marler helped ensure scrum parity early on but that faded once the replacements came on (AFP via Getty Images)However, as the game wore on, Borthwick’s decision started to become prescient for the wrong reasons esports
As Sinckler and Ellis Genge came on as prop replacements, the Springboks own bomb squad from the bench – led by Ox Nche and Vincent Koch – started to dominate at scrum-time esports
Each engagement started to become eerily reminiscent of 2019 and it was eventually a scrum penalty on halfway that led to Handre Pollard’s decisive, game-winning three-pointer with two minutes to go esports
It felt almost unfair on England’s big men given that the pack, as a whole, had more than held their own in other facets esports
Of the 13 England forwards who played some part in that 2019 final, eight appeared in this last-four clash and stamped their mark all over a first half that was by far England’s best 40 minutes under Borthwick esports
Maro Itoje was a lineout fiend, stealing a Springboks throw-in on halfway and putting doubt in the head of Bongi Mbonambi, whose crooked throw in his own 22 gave Farrell his first penalty goal of the day esports
A new face from four years, George Martin, justified his surprise second-row selection ahead of incumbent Ollie Chessum on just his fourth Test start as he brilliantly marshalled England’s maul defence esports
If Boks lock Eben Etzeesports beth is world rugby’s best maul disruptor, then he may have witnessed first-hand the emergence of a new challenger to that crown esports
Martin caused havoc as England improbably won three consecutive maul turnovers from attacking South African lineouts in the first half to frustrate their much-fancied opponents esports
Pollard ultimately kicked the winning penalty, from a scrum infringement (PA Wire)The celebrations from the likes of Itoje, Jamie George and Ben Earl as those penalties and free-kicks were earned by the pack showed just how important this part of the gameplan was esports
It began putting clear doubt in Springbok minds, as the worried tone from skipper Siya Kolisi when he discussed matter with referee O’Keeffe esports betrayed esports
The English tactic of throwing bodies in to contest every ruck relied on the diesel engines of the forwards and they delivered by dominating collisions and allowing the aerial bombardment strategy that followed to be effective esports
But ultimately, despite a gameplan executed as well as it possibly could have been, the gap in quality esports between the sides proved too much to overcome esports
South Africa adjusted, Pollard came on for Manie Libbok to dictate proceedings with his metronomic boot and English heartbreak ensued esports
There was no shame in a one-point defeat from a semi-final that was much closer than most expected and England’s pack should feel redeemed from the nightmare of 2019 esports
But that won’t make this semi-final hurt any less esports
Perhaps 2027 will give them an opportunity to avenge a new pain esports
More aboutEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupDan ColeJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3England pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakCole and Marler helped ensure scrum parity early on but that faded once the replacements came on AFP via Getty ImagesEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakPollard ultimately kicked the winning penalty, from a scrum infringement PA WireEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakDan Cole was England’s fall guy in 2019 but held his own four years on AP✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today esports
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsesports BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy esports
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply esports
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