We made too many mistakes, admits Chessum

By NICK POWELL

South Africa ….22pts

Tries: Sieberhagen 11, Beets 18, Else 39

Conversions: Smith 12, 19

Penalties: Smith 21

England …………. 15pts

Tries: Wright 23, Carr 40+3

Conversions: Slevin 40+4

Penalties: Slevin 3

England’s tournament ended in disappointing fashion as they were beaten in the bronze medal match for the ninth time in 13 tournaments.

England turned the ball over far too often in a scoreless second-half, as they spent most of the contest recovering from a poor start which saw them trailing 17-3 to the hosts South Africa after 20 minutes.

After Connor Slevin’s early penalty had given them the lead, Hennie Sierberhagen and Corné Beets scored in quick succession before Jean Smith knocked over a penalty. Craig Wright kept England in touch, and though the Baby Boks’ Juann Else restored the 14-point advantage just before the break, Zach Carr made it a one-score game at half-time. But despite having the better of the play in the second period, England turned over the ball 10 times over the course of the match, against a South African side who had only made seven turnovers in their previous four games in the tournament.

England captain Lewis Chessum said: “We made it difficult on ourselves at times there. We gave the ball away, didn’t look after it well enough and conceded silly penalties. You can’t give a side like that as many turnovers as we did.

“I’m incredibly proud of these boys, I’ve had the opportunity to play in this team for two years now, and they’ve made these two years class. We kept fighting there and that’s all you can ask.”

Slevin’s early penalty looked to have settled any English nerves, but a pick-and-go score for flanker Sieberhagen gave South Africa the lead and they had their second not long after as No. 8 Beets went over after a powerful carry from centre Damian Markus off a 22-metre line scrum.

South Africa were 14 in front thanks to Smith’s penalty, but a moment of magic from Harlequins and London Scottish‘s Cassius Cleaves finally gave England a foothold.

Retrieving possession from his 22, he beat two defenders before powering into a gap, eventually setting up hooker Wright who showed great pace to run it from 45 metres.

Clevin’s missed conversion kept the buffer at two scores for South Africa, and though Smith missed a penalty chance too South Africa did get the next score as Wright’s opposite number Else went over, albeit from much closer range as he was at the back of an advancing maul.

There was less than a minute on the clock in the half when Smtih missed his conversion, but England got one more score in the half from a maul of their own as Zach Carr broke away to finish and leave the half-time score at 22-15 as Slevin added the extras.

England dominated the first 10 minutes of the second half as they went in search of the equalising try, but impresive back rower Chandler Cunningham-South was denied inches away from the line and in the end the visitors had to rely on a turnover from Afolabi Fasogbon to stop them going further behind a few minutes later.

Much of the second half was played in between the two 22s, but England had a late surge at the end with a series of powerful carries and half breaks into space.

Their support play was not up to the same standard, however, and South Africa held on.

“So happy to end the tournament on that note,” South African skipper Paul De Villiers said. “We wanted to get some pride back for the jersey, so I’m very happy for the boys and I hope people could see the fight in us.”

Leader: Captain Lewis Chessum takes lineout ball for England