Owen Farrell’s final Rugby World Cup chance gone? | Steve Borthwick: We thought we’d won it
When you come into a match as absolute underdogs, it is even more heartbreaking to lose in a close match than to be blown out of the water – that is what England experienced in their 16-15 defeat to South Africa in the semi-final. finals of the Rugby World Cup.
England dominated 78 minutes of the match, especially in the first half, with Alex Mitchell kicking perfectly and the forwards laying down the most incredible platforms.
Owen Farrell, who has come under intense scrutiny during this tournament, was a standout player for England and they looked like the England of old: ruthless, well-drilled and working as one.
England might well regret the fact that their game plan apparently rested on the idea that it would be virtually impossible for them to cross the whitewash. In the big dances, winning with such a defensive, attacking mentality will never be easy.
Two and a half minutes can be the difference between sport’s highest highs and cruelest lows, and South Africa were once again on the right side of that emotional battle as Handre Pollard’s late penalty put the Spriongboks ahead for the first time put. time in the game.
If they win the Rugby World Cup they will have won it the hard way, but for now England will be thinking about what could have happened…
Greenwood: England’s best performance in three years; It’s devastating for them
Former England center and 2003 World Cup winner Will Greenwood told Sky Sports after returning full-time…
“In the short term it is devastating for them. In the long run, it was simply a sensational performance, even if they may not see it that way.
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Ex-England player Will Greenwood discusses how close England came to reaching the Rugby World Cup final after a narrow defeat to South Africa.
“The first half couldn’t have been better for England. Manie Libbok kicked poorly and was sent off; we got to their lineout.
“England played absolutely perfectly to the letter of the law. South Africa went the wrong way, we started taking the penalties and collecting the points. South Africa itself rejected a number of points, went to the corner, but England defended the line-out fantastically well.
“It was limited rugby but that’s what you do in wet weather. The pack was excellent. Farrell was great. We were all over it.
“But the substitution they made… Ox Nche and Vincent Koch came on as loosehead and tighthead and changed the dynamic of the scrum. And when you take Eben Etzebeth away you think ‘wow, we won this game’, but they then brought in a 6’10” guy called RG Snyman who dominated the lineout, started off and eventually scored the try.
“It was a real test match. In terms of the World Cup semi-final, everything that wasn’t there last night (New Zealand vs Argentina) was an intense affair.
“England were written off, but they pushed them to the limit. Everyone was predicting a final between New Zealand and South Africa. They didn’t see it coming this way.
“Tonight England in a white shirt gave their best performance for two to three years. Steve Borthwick managed to get those guys, had a master plan and stuck to his guns.
“Compared to where we were, it’s huge steps forward. But that’s no consolation for those guys and Steve Borthwick who probably thought they were in a World Cup final with five or six minutes left on the clock.”
Farrell: I’m incredibly proud
England captain Farrell, who at 32 may well be among the players playing their last World Cup Test, refused to think negatively in the immediate aftermath.
Owen Farrell exuded understanding that his last chance of winning a World Cup had come and gone with the heartbreaking loss
“I’ve seen him do that a few times (Pollard). That’s a massive blow if I’ve ever seen one, so fair play to him,” Farrell said.
“My overriding feeling now is not so much about the game, but about how proud I am of the group. How proud I am of what they have done together over the past five months. It didn’t all go our way.
“The fight we showed today and the effort we made. The willpower was excellent at times today and I hope we made everyone at home proud too.
“This is definitely the last World Cup for some people, but I do know one thing: this team has a bright future.
“Pride is the only thing on my mind right now. We all went through it, it was a real rollercoaster.”
Borthwick: The players were great; This is a very good group of players
England head coach Steve Borthwick told ITV Sport…
England’s players looked dejected as the match ended 15-16 against South Africa
“From our point of view, I thought the players were great.
“Yes, there are things we could have done better, but we are disappointed because we thought we were going to win the game. When we came here tonight, we thought we were going to win the game.
“As I stand here now, the players must be very proud of their achievements, and the supporters must be very proud of their team.
“It is too early to analyze such a match. We will think and recover.
“This is a very good group of players.”
Steward: Sports are cruel, but we have to use this emotion
England’s Freddie Steward told ITV Sport…
Freddie Steward showed his emotion both in the anthem and at the end of the match after a great performance that ended in defeat
“Disappointed but proud at the same time.
“We were written off before today and that performance shows how close this group is and what we are capable of.
“I’m so proud of the boys, and it’s a shame we couldn’t get there tonight. It’s a game of small margins.
“We had a really solid performance in the first half and at half-time we were probably in the driver’s seat.
“But then we lost some dominance in the set-piece, dropped a few balls and made a few mistakes, and South Africa made us pay for it.
“We were so close. Sport is sometimes cruel and there is a lot of emotion in the boys. We have to use that.”
Kolisi: It was ugly, but I’m proud of the fight we showed
South African captain Siya Kolisi told ITV Sport…
The England players were visibly emotional after their loss to South Africa
“Honestly, all the hard work we put in is paying off.
“It was ugly today, that’s what champions are made of.
“I give credit to England, they have worked hard. Coach Steve and Owen have held themselves together and shown who they are. They are not a team to be taken lightly.
“For my team today it was ugly, just like last week, but we found a way to fight back and get back into the game, so well done to the boys.
“I’m really proud of the fight we showed.”
What’s next?
Victory for South Africa means they will now face New Zealand in a World Cup final at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, October 28 (kick-off 8pm BST).
The defeat for England means they will face Argentina in the third place World Cup match at the Stade de France in Paris next week on Friday 27 October (kick-off 8pm BST).