England’s coach has gone back to what he feels has worked and we have discovered the new trend is actually the old trend – the one established by the World Cup winners 12 years agoI look at this England side and I see so many similarities with the South Africa team who won the World Cup in 2007. It seems like things have come full circle for Eddie Jones because he was a World Cup winner with the Springboks 12 years ago and his England side are following the same blueprint as they look to defeat South Africa on Saturday.A quick look at the statistics back it up. When South Africa beat England 36-0 in the pool stages in 2007,...
They added to the Rugby World Cup semi-final theatre against the All Blacks without overstepping the boundaries of decencyThe V-shaped formation England went for in Yokohama, which emulated France’s response in the 2011 World Cup final at Eden Park, set the tone for their dominant semi-final victory over the All Blacks.Sure, several players stepped over the halfway line and World Rugby probably feels duty-bound to fine England for breaching this rule, having done likewise with France eight years ago. It must also be acknowledged that officials were only doing their job in attempting to instruct England prop Joe Marler, and others, to move back behind the line. Those players knew exactly what they were doing. Related: England could face fine...
South Africa should provide a sterner test than New Zealand but I think England will be able to create more in attackThe biggest compliment I can pay to England is that they made New Zealand look one-dimensional on Saturday. The All Blacks possess the best attacking armoury in the world and England made them look like they didn’t really know what to do. The first half in particular from England was the best I have seen from them and I cannot remember a match in which New Zealand have been so comprehensively outgunned.Later that day Harlequins played Bristol and, of course, all the English boys were giving me a bit, as they should, but from a Kiwi perspective it was...
The biggest concern for the England coaching staff could be that the side has peaked a week before Saturday’s finalSporting perfection is uncommonly rare. Occasionally in tennis or golf someone such as Roger Federer or Tiger Woods will strike a ball so sweetly it feels as if a higher power is involved. In a team game such as rugby union, with so many different moving parts, it is even harder. For everything to click for 80 minutes is meant to be an impossible dream.Eddie Jones has been wrestling with this inherent challenge for much of his career. Three years ago he decided to address the subject with his players, using gymnastics as a case study. “We spoke about Nadia Comaneci,”...
The Springboks were unimpressive against Wales and will need their pack to be at its intimidating best against EnglandWho 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...