In 2019, England’s rugby team faced heartbreak in the World Cup final when their scrum faltered against South Africa. Fast forward four years, and England’s hopes of redemption were quashed in a scrappy semi-final showdown.
Coach Steve Borthwick made significant changes to the team’s front row, opting for fresh legs in the form of Kyle Sinckler and Ellis Genge. The intention was clear: inject energy into the squad. However, this move seemed to backfire as veteran props Dan Cole and Joe Marler had been holding their own in the scrum until their early substitutions.
England enjoyed a whopping 73% of possession during the match, dominating the second half territorially. Nevertheless, their inability to convert this advantage into points was their downfall. A sole 53rd-minute drop goal from Owen Farrell was all they could muster, and their lack of a clear plan for breaching South Africa’s defense was evident.
Instead of pursuing creative attacking plays, it appeared that England was relying on their opponents to concede penalties under pressure. South Africa’s discipline, however, held firm, and England couldn’t capitalize on it.
In a rare moment when England set up for a maul from a promising lineout position, they were penalized for a crooked throw. South Africa, despite rarely venturing into England’s half, managed to score the only try of the game, with RG Snyman crossing the line.
“England did not get near to scoring a try, and that is what they have got to look at,” remarked Clive Woodward, who coached England to victory over South Africa in the 2003 World Cup. “Scoring tries is the next level England have to take their game to.”
Will Greenwood, the scorer of a crucial try in that 2003 World Cup, labeled England’s performance on Saturday as one of their best in recent years. He highlighted their control of the game and territorial dominance. However, the crucial scrum penalties, combined with their inability to break South Africa’s defense, saw their World Cup aspirations crumble.
England’s loss in the semi-final leaves them pondering what might have been and underscores the importance of crafting a more versatile and creative attacking game plan for future endeavors.
