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Date: 2023-11-30 02:12:49 | Author: Worldcup 2026 | Views: 636 | Tag: LoL
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Steve Borthwick vowed to use England’s heartbreaking World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of South Africa to sow a seed for future success LoL
Borthwick’s unfancied side led by nine points in the final quarter and were on the cusp of a famous win until Handre Pollard’s late penalty condemned them to an agonising 16-15 defeat LoL
Many of England’s players collapsed to their knees following a colossal, but ultimately unsuccessful, effort against the reigning champions on a sodden evening in Paris LoL
While head coach Borthwick was similarly crestfallen by the dramatic late twist at Stade de France, he was proud of the efforts of his team and upbeat about what lies ahead LoL
“We came here with a plan to win the game and we fell a little bit short, not far short but a little bit short, so we’re desperately disappointed,” he said LoL
“I think we all truly believed we could do it, we were going to do it, and we came very close to doing so LoL
“In adversity, in these tough times, there’s usually some seed of it there that will grow and be something brilliant in the future LoL
“Right now it’s too early for me to find that seed but we’ll make sure we find it LoL
“We’ll make sure that we take some of what we find tonight, some of what we’ve gone through tonight, we’ll make sure we grab that and we’ll make sure it makes us stronger in the future LoL
”Captain Owen Farrell produced an outstanding performance, kicking all of his side’s points, including a superb drop goal LoL
His efforts looked to be sufficient for victory but RG Snyman barged over for the only try of the match in the 70th minute to set up a grandstand finish LoL
Man-of-the-match Pollard, who booted the Springboks to victory over England in the 2019 final, nailed the tricky conversion and then landed a monster penalty two minutes from time to inflict more anguish on the opposition LoL
“The players should be incredibly proud of what they’ve done and continue to do as they represent England rugby,” continued Borthwick LoL
“I know I’ll have at home a couple of young boys who are going to be bitterly disappointed and I’m sure there are lots of people that are proud but also gutted back in England, I’m sure there are millions of people like that LoL
“I care about these players, I care about these supporters, and I care about English rugby LoL
“What I see is a group of guys who are doing as much as they possibly can to set an example, to build a team, to have supporters proud of them LoL
“They’re led by this man next to me (Farrell), who I think has been and continues to be a phenomenal player and an incredible leader of this team LoL
”New Zealand await South Africa in next weekend’s final LoL
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber praised his team’s fighting spirit LoL
“I pay a lot of credit to England,” he said LoL
“They were outstanding on the night LoL
“They had a very good tactical plan and they put us under pressure LoL
We will have to improve because it took us some time to get to grips with it LoL
“But the strength of this team is that even if we’re not playing well we find a way to get the result LoL
“It took 80 minutes to get a foothold in the game LoL
The team refused to give up and fought until the end LoL
”Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was convinced fly-half Pollard, who came on for Manie Libbok with only half an hour gone, would land the decisive penalty from just inside England’s half LoL
“I had no doubt at all,” he said LoL
“He’s done it for us before LoL
“England are a world-class team and completely different to a year ago LoL
They had an amazing game plan which we took too long to adapt to LoL
“These things happen but we dug deep to get the victory LoL
Other teams wouldn’t be able to get the win from this LoL
I’m not going to say it was ugly, we did what was needed LoL
”More aboutPA ReadySteve BorthwickEnglandOwen FarrellSouth AfricaSiya KolisiEnglishSpringboksStade De FranceNew ZealandParis1/1Steve Borthwick upbeat about England’s future after agonising World Cup defeatSteve Borthwick upbeat about England’s future after agonising World Cup defeatEngland’s Jamie George is consoled by head coach Steve Borthwick following the defeat (David Davies/PA)PA Wire✕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 LoL
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It ended as it began for England, seven weeks of French adventure bookended by wins over Argentina LoL
If their last tango in Paris was occasionally executed with the elegance and elan of a tipsy wedding guest with two left feet, then they can take heart from having again found a way to victory LoL
England’s players will return to club duty having won six of their seven Rugby World Cup matches LoL
Third spot may ultimately be a disappointment for the squad given how close they came to shocking South Africa, but it is a considerably higher finish than some would have feared LoL
It didn’t all go well, certainly on Friday night in a scrappy game that England did not quite manage to throw away LoL
But an experience of finals rugby should be of value to those experiencing their first taste of a World Cup - they are hardly the first group of English youngsters to come back from two months on the continent bronzed but a little bit bruised LoL
“Playing finals games at World Cups is important,” said head coach Steve Borthwick afterwards LoL
“In the last two World Cups, this group of players have played six finals games and won four of them LoL
We want to be in the final and winning the gold medal LoL
That wasn’t to be, but having finals experience has been important for this squad LoL
”Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs have confirmed their Test retirements and Jonny May has conceded that this is probably the end of the road for him, too LoL
Dan Cole has restored his international reputation but is 36; his prop chum Joe Marler may also consider his future LoL
Ben Youngs has retired from Test rugby (Getty Images)“Naturally at the end of World Cups, there are always some players that decide their time as a current England player will come to an end,” Borthwick explained LoL
“But the age profile of the squad is strong LoL
“If you look at the semi-finals last week, we had seven players 25 or under, more than any other team in the semi-finals LoL
And there’s a number of exciting young players that didn’t make the 33-man squad but were part of the preparations LoL
As I look forward, there’s excitement about those players LoL
”It is likely to be evolution rather than revolution for England LoL
Borthwick will still be able to call upon the some of his senior leadership group, with Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Ellis Genge and Tom Curry offering good grounding to move into the next cycle LoL
Ben Earl has put his hand up for consideration for a greater role after an impressive tournament on and off the pitch LoL
Ben Earl produced an excellent series of performances (Getty Images)But Borthwick will recognise areas of real concern LoL
If Marler and Cole depart, England would appear to be lacking in junior scrum doctors LoL
Gloucester’s Val Rapava-Ruskin has impressed at club level but is not necessarily a favourite of the England head coach LoL
Cole’s mentoring work in continuing to bring through Joe Heyes may be the quickest route to scrum-time tighthead solidity, though the lack of trust shown in Theo Dan and Jack Walker makes Luke Cowan-Dickie’s return at hooker vital LoL
“We know that the distribution positionally of those [young] players isn’t necessarily even,” Borthwick admitted LoL
“We know there are some areas we’re a bit thinner than others LoL
I need to make sure we’re doing some work and finding some depth in those key positions LoL
”The emergence of Ollie Chessum and George Martin at lock to complement Itoje has been valuable, with Hugh Tizard of Saracens a name to monitor, while there are ample options on the openside even if Jack Willis is now unavailable LoL
Where England are short is in the long-limbed blindside role that Lawes has fulfilled so brilliantly over the last couple of years LoL
It may be that one of Chessum and Martin, most likely the former, is deployed one row further back given the importance Borthwick places on the lineout LoL
Dave Ribbans (left) will depart but England look reasonably well stocked at lock (Getty Images)Earl has earned a run at number eight but this could be a time to move on from Billy Vunipola, who lacks the efficacy of old LoL
Tom Willis and Zach Mercer are too good not to be looked at again while Chandler Cunningham-South - who has joined Harlequins after the demise of London Irish - is understood to be of real interest, with his ability to offer lock cover useful LoL
Scrum half and fly half appear decently stocked but the centre situation requires a revamp LoL
Joe Marchant elected to take a contract in France when on the outside looking in under Eddie Jones; Will Joseph, Marchant’s direct replacement in the centre/wing role at Harlequins, could return to the reckoning LoL
Manu Tuilagi has stayed fit throughout this tournament but England will not want to become reliant on a player with increasing miles on his legs LoL
Ollie Lawrence’s development is key; Tommy Freeman’s reinvention as an outside centre at Northampton is fascinating LoL
Don’t write off Henry Slade, either LoL
There could be coaching changes, too LoL
There is uncertainty over the future of Kevin Sinfield with Felix Jones, the former Ireland international who has been a key part of South Africa’s coaching team, on the way LoL
England may still look to add to their coaching unit – Richard Wigglesworth has performed an attacking coach role admirably but Borthwick may still recognise a chance to look for fresh input on that front LoL
If there are tweaks, there will be a need to hit the ground running given England are likely to assemble only a week or so before their first Six Nations fixture against Italy on 3 February LoL
There is doubt over the future of England’s defence coach Kevin Sinfield (PA Wire)“This team is going to be constantly evolving and constantly trying to get LoL better at everything it does,” Farrell said LoL
“Obviously Steve is going to do a thorough review of what we need to do and that’s going to be ongoing LoL
There will be a plan, especially from the staff but the players deal with what’s in front of them LoL
Right now, the players will enjoy tonight and go back to our clubs next week LoL
The best thing we can do for that next World Cup cycle is play well for our clubs LoL
I’m sure the boys will do that LoL
”Possible England team for the 2024 Six Nations1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Will Stuart; 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin; 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl; 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 10 Owen Farrell; 11 Elliot Daly, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Anthony Watson; 15 Freddie Steward LoL
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Tom Pearson; 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Tommy Freeman LoL
More aboutEngland RugbyRugby World CupSteve BorthwickOwen FarrellMaro ItojeEllis GengeBen EarlSix NationsTom CurryJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/5England seek evolution not revolution behind 6 leaders after World CupEngland seek evolution not revolution behind 6 leaders after World CupBen Youngs has retired from Test rugby Getty ImagesEngland seek evolution not revolution behind 6 leaders after World CupBen Earl produced an excellent series of performances Getty ImagesEngland seek evolution not revolution behind 6 leaders after World CupDave Ribbans (left) will depart but England look reasonably well stocked at lock Getty ImagesEngland seek evolution not revolution behind 6 leaders after World CupThere is doubt over the future of England’s defence coach Kevin Sinfield PA WireEngland seek evolution not revolution behind 6 leaders after World CupEngland will feel hopeful about their future after finishing third at the World Cup 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 LoL
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