England go so close but Springboks steal it
Owen Farrell predicted great things for England despite their heartbreaking semi-final defeat to the holders, and world number ones, South Africa in Paris last night.
Leicester fly-half Handre Pollard put the Springboks through to Saturday’s final against New Zealand with a 78th minute penalty that spelled the end for Steve Borthwick‘s men as they lost 16-15.
England put in their best display under head coach Borthwick as they went toe-to-toe with the South Africans and were leading 15-6 with 11 minutes to go.
But a try from replacement lock RG Snyman and Pollard’s nerveless finish condemned England to a third place play-off against Argentina on Friday.
And Farrell tipped his hat to Pollard who was thrown on by a panic-stricken South African coaching group for Manie Libbok after just 31 minutes.
Farrell said: “I have seen him do that a few times and that is a clutch kick if ever I have seen one. So fair play to him. We can sit here and pick any moment, but my overriding feeling is how proud I am of the group. The fight we showed, and the sheer will…I hope we have made everyone back home proud. This is the last World Cup for some people but this team has got a bright future.
“We have been through it all from the warm-up games, had cards thrown us at left, right and centre and shown the pride and passion we did today, and the fight for each other – I am unbelievably proud.”
Borthwick added: “Credit to South Africa, they had to find a way to come back and get a result. The players were magnificent, and we are disappointed because coming into tonight we thought we would win the game.
“This is a very, very good group of players. Look at that squad – we had seven players who were 25 and under and in this group, we have players who are going to be an England shirt for a long, long time. There was so much done very well, we will reflect and recover. We are in the game on Friday night and we will concentrate on that.”
Courtney Lawes and Jonny May have already indicated this would be their last World Cup campaign and others such as Dan Cole and Joe Marler have probably played their last hand.
Full-back Freddie Steward will almost certainly be around for the next World Cup in Australia but vowed to use the hurt next time around down under.
“There is disappointment but pride at the same time,” he said. “We were written off before today. That performance today shows how tight this group is and what we are capable of.
First half we put in a really solid performance. We were in the driving seat at half-time. But we lost a bit of dominance at the set piece, dropped a few ball and made a few errors.
“There’s a lot of emotion from the boys, but we’ve got to use that for the next chance we get. Some boys have probably had their last dance tonight, and they should be unbelievably proud of their effort.”
The South Africans were rattled as England took the game to them with young lock George Martin putting in a powerhouse performance and they conceded early penalties which Farrell converted. And when the captain’s drop goal went over to give England a nine-point lead it looked like glory for Borthwick and co but the Boks clawed their way back in thanks to their replacements.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said: “All the hard work we’ve put in, it was ugly today but that’s what champions are made of. I feel for England, today they showed who they are and credit to them for reaching the semi-final and the work they put in. Our discipline was awful in the first half, but we showed what we can do in the second half.”
