Who would have thought the biggest obstacle to England winning the Rugby World Cup would be a lucky white shirt? Rassie Erasmus, the South Africa head coach, has revealed he favours the same matchday clothing whenever his side win and, regardless of his team’s opposition this weekend, will be wearing his now-trademark baggy, long-sleeved white shirt for the final on Saturday.
If his team go on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup it could become the most symbolic rugby garment since Nelson Mandela wore a Springbok jersey for the 1995 final. For that left-field storyline to materialise, however, his players will need to go for a slightly different look themselves. Should their selected gameplan be as sluggish and one‑dimensional as it was against Wales in the semi-final, the coach’s choice of outfit is not going to save them.
Related: Attritional Springboks show there is more than one way to World Cup final | Gerard Meagher
Related: Wales 16-19 South Africa: Rugby World Cup semi-final – as it happened
Continue reading...