The World Cup final will reissue the duel between the two giants from the south. England has grown during the tournament, this Saturday they have executed their plan of not making mistakes with surgical precision, but it has not been enough to prevail against the abrasive rugby of South Africa. They may win or lose games, but when push comes to shove, like New Zealand, los Springboks They are always there, although tonight they have bordered on elimination.
From the sky to the ground, from the almost vertical kicks to the fight for the ball at grass level. This is how England has started, faster in almost everything. The game with the foot, his score during the championship, has already given him two punishing blows converted by Farrell in the first minutes of the semifinal (6-0, min. 8). Very well planted in the field, he XV of the Rose bothered in the touches and successfully defended the maul next to your test line. He won an undisguised war of nerves. The blur, a protest from Farrell that gave oxygen to los Springboks (6-3, min. 21).
Unreserved percussion and tackling raised the tension in a match with more prospect prose than poetry. Do not commit indiscipline, do not concede counterattacks, keep the ball safe. The British felt at ease. Owners of the initiative, they stepped on the rival 22 and scored points (9-3, min. 24). The mistake in the throw-ins hampered the South Africans, with less ball and quite a few problems in almost all facets.
The South African selectors must have seen the match badly when After half an hour they changed their opening half for tactical reasons. Pollard, who entered the squad replacing the injured heeler Marx, took responsibility. At the same time, the green and gold team grew, enclosed the British and, with a blow to the rival 22, preferred to tie the shot to the sticks (9-6, min. 35). To the woodwork, of course, England responded (12-6 at halftime).
The first half ended without rehearsals. Nothing surprising between two teams that know each other well. 13 of the 23 called up per side had participated in the 2019 final that was reissued this Saturday. Two teams facing each other in a physical challenge that is difficult to sustain as the minutes pass.