RWC Final: England v Springboks
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Four have become 2 and England and South Africa line up in the RWC final this weekend to conclude what goes down as the best tournament in my memory. Not necessarily for the rugby or the results, but for the hosting spirit. Years ago when Japan was awarded hosting rights I put it all down to marketing and optics. How wrong I was proved to be. The passion and especially hospitality from the Japanese to travelling teams and fans has been unmatched in anything I have ever seen. Arigato Japan.
On to the final. Eddie Jones and John Mitchell were spotted in the crowd at the Springbok v Wales semi final. Taking notes. Frankly, if their notes consisted of one full page, it would be because at least half the page was filled with doodles. This Bok team is not one packed with surprises or clever nuanced tactics. There is no new dry powder keg about to be opened. In fact, Rassie could pretty much announce the Bok 23 for the final today. It would again have a 6-2 bench split. The Springboks only have 2 weapons. A brutal pack, and an equally brutal defense. Match the first, and unpick the second and you can beat the Boks.
And that is what we have to look forward to. Rassie is a clever innovative coach, but he is a novice compared to the experienced and wily Eddie Jones. And Jones has the resources and coaching nous to deal with the Boks. The English forwards have the personnel to match South Africa, and they have an attacking structure that can get the ball to the edges fast enough to outflank the Bok rush defence. Certainly, on the strength of rugby performances produced by each team in their respective semi-finals, England are definite favourites.
But South Africans are strange beasts. They really don't know when they are supposed to be beaten. In their semi with Wales they had 40% possession and made double the tackles that Wales had to make. For them taking and causing pain in a defensive effort is more energizing than it would be for any other team. They seem to thrive on it. If England allows it to come down to an arm wrestle, don't count the Boks out just yet.
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If England lose we can speak about a choke quite frankly.
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If you like patterns in numbers, here is an interesting fact.
It took England 16 years of playing RWC's to win one. It has been 16 years since that victory.
SA took 12 years between their first victory and their second. It has been 12 years since that victory.
Someone is going to keep their pattern going
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While I stated that I expect the Bok 23 to be pretty much a done deal, there may be one interesting change.
If Kolbe is back to 100% fit, I wonder what the odds are of seeing him at 15, with Willie le Roux missing out completely?Only possible change I would expect.
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England are heavy favourites after that spectacular Semi Final performance with most punters and pundits.
Eddie Jones, John Mitchell and co would be wise to be on the lookout in the coming days for a mysterious lady going near their squad's sushi who is known as Suzie.
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@sparky said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:
England are heavy favourites after that spectacular Semi Final performance with most punters and pundits.
Eddie Jones, John Mitchell and co would be wise to be on the lookout in the coming days for a mysterious lady going near their squad's sushi who is known as Suzie.
I have no doubt that Suzie has long ago infiltrated their setup. She is THAT good
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I for one can't wait to see how England approach this match.
This is the double, possible triple, whammy
WC winners
Grand slam against the Rugby Championship sides on consecutive outings
No. 1 in the worldIf England win, they deserve all the accolades.
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@MiketheSnow yes, real bragging rights up for grabs.
And they're hot favourites.I can't wait for the English tabloid press this week.
Come Saturday, all England will need to do is pitch up at the stadium to take the title.Even the kiwis think so:
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@sparky said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:
England are heavy favourites after that spectacular Semi Final performance with most punters and pundits.
Eddie Jones, John Mitchell and co would be wise to be on the lookout in the coming days for a mysterious lady going near their squad's sushi who is known as Suzie.
They should be buts its only opened at a 4.5 point head start
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@MiketheSnow whether they can bring that same intensity next week is the key, especially if Eddie has been focussing on the AB match for 4 years! We know he is smart, but he has said that game has been pretty much his focus for 4 years...
For whatever reason, ABs struggled to do it 2 weeks in a row last 3 RWCs;
2011 Aus/France
2015 Fra/SA
2019 Ire/EngMAybe even a touch of motivation for SA; Eddie was only ever worried about the ABs
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@MiketheSnow said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:
I for one can't wait to see how England approach this match.
This is the double, possible triple, whammy
WC winners
Grand slam against the Rugby Championship sides on consecutive outings
No. 1 in the worldIf England win, they deserve all the accolades.
The Boks are at a huge advantage..all they have to do is run the EngvAB semi on a continuous loop and watch what the POMS will do because they have no other plan but to try to nullify the Bok attack by their smothering defence. Unlike the ABs the Boks will be ready for it...maybe this is were they need to kick it away for territory and the dwarf does his usual box kicks. Cross kicking for the wings will be a risk because there'll be at least three English players there like there was in the AB game...Eddie has shown his hand now so they can only do what they did against us. GO BOKKEEE!!
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Willi Heinz injured. Ben Spencer called in for England. No Kiwis in the final.
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@taniwharugby said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:
@MiketheSnow whether they can bring that same intensity next week is the key, especially if Eddie has been focussing on the AB match for 4 years! We know he is smart, but he has said that game has been pretty much his focus for 4 years...
For whatever reason, ABs struggled to do it 2 weeks in a row last 3 RWCs;
2011 Aus/France
2015 Fra/SA
2019 Ire/EngLooking back at 2003, Eddie did a number on your boys in the semi-final and that backed that up pretty good by nearly doing a number on us in the final. Whilst I'm sure the ABs game was the main target, he'll have a plan for the final too. Let's hope it works, 'cos the Boks are looking very hard to break down.
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@Blackheart said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:
@MiketheSnow said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:
I for one can't wait to see how England approach this match.
This is the double, possible triple, whammy
WC winners
Grand slam against the Rugby Championship sides on consecutive outings
No. 1 in the worldIf England win, they deserve all the accolades.
The Boks are at a huge advantage..all they have to do is run the EngvAB semi on a continuous loop and watch what the POMS will do because they have no other plan but to try to nullify the Bok attack by their smothering defence. Unlike the ABs the Boks will be ready for it...maybe this is were they need to kick it away for territory and the dwarf does his usual box kicks. Cross kicking for the wings will be a risk because there'll be at least three English players there like there was in the AB game...Eddie has shown his hand now so they can only do what they did against us. GO BOKKEEE!!
Or they can play Farrell at 10, Manu at 12, and Slade at 13 and offer a very different plan of attack in the backs.
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@Catogrande dunno, that match was turned on a controversial TMO call...
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@taniwharugby Sorry mate, which match?
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*England have several other injury concerns with Owen Farrell and Jonny May nursing dead legs, while prop Kyle Sinckler has a calf issue.
Anthony Watson was able to finish the win over the All Blacks but he received regular treatment during the game for an unspecified knock.*
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@Catogrande 2003...that try in the corner by Mils that wasnt given, then Aus go 100m to score moments later...
