Yokohama, Japan – Rugby World Cup final: By South Africa beating England 32-12 in RWC 2019 Final, the Springboks caused a major upset against the highly fancied and favoured English Roses.
RWC 2019, what went wrong, England? A reply
Having been asked to reply regarding England and their ‘failure’, firstly thanks. When I saw England play Australia, I told my Kiwi friend that England were the best performing team I had seen at the RWC 2019. The following week, I watched England vs New Zealand with the same friend, and true to form, they demolished NZ. They cut through the All Blacks and made them look 2nd rate. After this performance, England became overwhelming favourites to lift the Webb Ellis trophy, for the first time since their first win in Australia in 2003.
The match against the Springboks would be a replay of their match in 2007, where they came up 2nd best in the France final. This year, 2019, was different, as the English had a team that looked capable of playing on all fronts and their demolition job on the Kiwis made them favourites to lift the Rugby World Cup 2019 title.
South Africa vs Wales RWC 2019 semi final
Some South African fans before the Wales game, were expecting SA to roll Wales over because of the France match. I begged to differ, warning that France play a different game of flair and that Wales would be a different proposition because of their similar game, and this proved to be true. The Wales pack was heavier than the SA pack, and the 1st 4 scrums didn’t move, however, as Rassie Erasmus mentioned, he had planned for the tournament by replacing the whole front row to keep his front row fresh. South Africa were able to scrape through 19 – 16, to book their place in the final.
Wales went down but South Africa had made a number of mistakes during that match and were lucky, in the words of Rassie Erasmus, the South Africa team manager and coach.
RWC 2019 Build-up to the final against England
Then came England. The nation who all too often talk themselves up before a match. A former winner of Wimbledon, last year before the Croatia WC 2018 semi final game, said that England think they have won the semi final before even playing, and that they underestimating the Croatians in arrogant fashion. Goran proved to be right, and football was not coming home
Turn your eyes to the build-up to England vs South Africa, and they did it again. All England had to do was turn up for the game ..
England’s major mistake in RWC2019 Final vs South Africa
They made one major mistake, taking SA on in the scrum, to prove they were just as capable as the Springbok pack. Once the truth sunk in, it sent the team into disarray, and as long as SA put points on the board first, we knew we were in with a chance. This the Springboks did, also edging things at half time.
England came out with fresh vigour in the 2nd half and showed glimpses of what could be. However, England never got to play their back-line game as they did against the Kiwis, because they couldn’t.
The more the game went on; the more the sheer need and desire for SA to win came into account. We all know finals are like nothing else, and that skill and brilliance previously counts for nought.
Once the try was scored, it was all over bar the shouting. England had no way back and defeat stared them in the face till the final whistle.
The reality of it, England overestimated their own ability and failed to do the basics
On the day, the best team won
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