@Dodge said in RWC SF: England v Springboks:

We’re going to get smashed. Our forwards are no physical match for the Boks, in the loose or at the set piece. And our backs aren’t good enough to live off shit ball, which is all they’ll get. Mitchell is going to get squashed going backwards.

Actually dreading how embarrassing it might be.

How I wish that your post becomes reality Dodge.

But I think you're being overly pessimistic.
England are starting to put it together when it counts.
Their self belief has grown considerably and player performance with it.
They have settled on a game plan which is well suited to knockout rugby.

As a Bok fan, I am nervous for this game. I'm hoping we didn't play our "final" this Sunday against France.
There is a memory from a 2019 semi England played in that is haunting me....

It’s funny isn’t it, England have been dogshit for a fair while, but the history of England rugby means teams and fans have a memory of England performing at moments when it matters in World Cups, goes for the England side too, which must have an impact in certain games. The Irish and the French seem to have almost the opposite problem, they have a history of not doing it and teams and fans know that. That monkey is a tough one to shake, and as the saying goes, for them, it’s four more years.

Felt pretty bereft this morning for both of them, tough to see how either will have a better team or a better chance than they had this year so that hurdle just gets higher.

England can win this. Every time they get into the half pen or drop goal. Get Marcus Smith to run into their locks and get them red carded, as ROG alluded to. Everyone can look off their game against Fiji. England have the characters to get through this. See how Borthwick approaches it.

@game_film said in RWC SF: England v Springboks:

England can win this. Every time they get into the half pen or drop goal. Get Marcus Smith to run into their locks and get them red carded, as ROG alluded to. Everyone can look off their game against Fiji. England have the characters to get through this. See how Borthwick approaches it.

That is what worries me.

I think England will edge this and win. Their forwards will match the Springboks and they will have more gas and composure in the last ten minutes.

England to win? I can't see them getting anywhere near the Boks. They're going up about 3-4 levels and can thank the draw for getting this far. Their forwards have barely held their own against tier 2 opposition in the last 2 weeks, so I give them next to no hope in this next match against a brutal Boks pack.

SA by 20 at least.

@African-Monkey forget about that. England haven't play not even close to their full potential. The Boks had a tough game and will have to pull them up to that level again. We also will have a total different gameplan against England.

@OomPB I think they have. Getting this far for them is a great result with how limited they are. They're just not very good.

@African-Monkey I think England will be competitive for about 50 mins, then the SA grind game will beat them into submission and run away with it, especially once they utilise thier HIA bench

@Dodge England beat the Boks last time they played in 2021. Marcus Smith was playing 10 though

Teams from that day:

England Team
1 Bevan Rodd
2 Jamie Blamire
3 Kyle Sinckler
4 Maro Itoje
5 Jonny Hill
6 Courtney Lawes (Captain)
7 Sam Underhill
8 Tom Curry
9 Ben Youngs
10 Marcus Smith
11 Jonny May
12 Manu Tuilagi
13 Henry Slade
14 Joe Marchant
15 Freddie Steward

South Africa Team
1 Ox Nché
2 Bongi Mbonambi
3 Trevor Nyakane
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Lood de Jager
6 Siya Kolisi (Captain)
7 Kwagga Smith
8 Duane Vermeulen
9 Cobus Reinach
10 Handré Pollard
11 Makazole Mapimpi
12 Damian de Allende
13 Lukhanyo Am
14 Jesse Kriel
15 Willie le Roux

@stodders

Are you forgetting the November 2022 game when we got mullered?

I think the English back row can live with the Boks. I'm not sure the tight 5 can. And i don't know where their points are coming from.
I think some are underselling the Fijian pack a little. They are really physical, and really hard at the breakdown, and the English beat them.
South Africa will have to work to win this, but it i think it's the weapons out wider that will make the difference.

@Billy-Webb said in RWC SF: England v Springboks:

There is a memory from a 2019 semi England played in that is haunting me....

You'll be fine, I'm sure Rassie Nienaber wont change the make up of the team to combat one aspect of England's play and then not combat that aspect at all during the game.

@mariner4life said in RWC SF: England v Springboks:

I think the English back row can live with the Boks. I'm not sure the tight 5 can. And i don't know where their points are coming from.

@Catogrande did England play last November? I thought they took the time off

@stodders

Touche mon frère!

Ben O'Keeffe is the ref

@KiwiMurph said in RWC SF: England v Springboks:

Ben O'Keeffe is the ref

16 Boks against 15.

Luke Pearce for final, please.

Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) will take charge of England v South Africa in Saint-Denis on Saturday, 21 October (21:00 CET). He will be joined by assistant referees Andrew Brace (Ireland) and Paul Williams (New Zealand) and TMO Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand).