SF v SA

[fivepointer]

Scrum was decisive. Got SA back into the game and led to the final (questionable) penalty.

England did a lot right and deserve a great deal of credit for the way they played. Not pretty but they worked hard and mostly effectively within a very limited gameplan.

Not the game i was expecting, so credit to all for a gutsy effort.

[Mr Mwenda]

Some players really stood up. Heartening, considering how a lot of the banter online has been about how pitiful England are.

BillyV looked so off the pace. It was upsetting seeing someone who has done such good stuff before end his international career like this.

I wonder how many more years england'll get out of Curry. He just looks done when he walks. What a shift through.

Maro Itoje is bloody brilliant.

On Farrell, Christ he is thick - he played well but giving up the 10m for arguing is pitiful.

Now to unleash the secret attacking game against Argentina for bronze.

[Puja]

We're picking on Sinckler, but I think Martin going off from the tighthead lock position made a massive difference. We looked much less comfortable without him, even with Cole on.

That last scrum penalty was utter bullshit though. Don't blame Owen and George for being fuming on that one.

Puja

[Insouciant]

Simples..SA reserve pack vastly superior to Eng at scrumtime.
Steward's poor kick sealed it at the crucial time.
Well done SA.
Well done Eng for making a game of it, helped by the weather.
Never looked like scoring a try, has to be said.

The only time's we might have scored a try was that lineout in their 22 and we lost it. Poor execution at crucial moments I guess.

TBH though, in the main we played really well. Limited plan. Stuck to it. Almost managed it. If we could have fashioned one more three pointer we'd have had it but our attack at the end was non-existent (as indeed for most of the game). On a negative, the brave defeat is possibly the worst result going forwards if certain player get to hang on a bit longer despite performances prior to this evening.

[jngf]

With George Ford at 10 I think we might have won that - Boks we’re knackered and a shadow of last match - to be fair England played far better than hitherto - still not a creative team though which is why I think we ultimately weren’t quite worthy of a World Cup final place on this occasion

[Adam_P]

Borthwick has gained some credit with this performance, as have a fair number of players. But if Billy Vunipola plays another game for England, he can get to fuck

[Scrumhead]

With George Ford at 10 I think we might have won that - Boks we’re knackered and a shadow of last match - to be fair England played far better than hitherto - still not a creative team though which is why I think we ultimately weren’t quite worthy of a World Cup final place on this occasion

Were the Boks creative?

[Scrumhead]

In fairness. That’s the best I’ve ever heard Farrell speak.

An honest interview.

[Insouciant]

Borthwick has gained some credit with this performance, as have a fair number of players. But if Billy Vunipola plays another game for England, he can get to fuck

It doesn't feel nice to single players out after such a great effort, but BV was pretty poor. Curry limped off so he likely had to be replaced, but on a defensive lineout of that nature? Tough time to do it.

[Adam_P]

I'd take a one legged, 79 minute Curry over a fresh Vunipola

[jngf]

Borthwick has gained some credit with this performance, as have a fair number of players. But if Billy Vunipola plays another game for England, he can get to fuck

Ditto Lawes, May, Cole, and you know who

[fivepointer]

Borthwick got most of his selection calls right but Ludlam should have been on the bench for this game. Vunipola shouldnt have been in the 23.

[Puja]

Borthwick has gained some credit with this performance, as have a fair number of players. But if Billy Vunipola plays another game for England, he can get to fuck

It doesn't feel nice to single players out after such a great effort, but BV was pretty poor. Curry limped off so he likely had to be replaced, but on a defensive lineout of that nature? Tough time to do it.

Came on for the blood injury and cocked up by knocking on and giving them possession for their pen.

Came on as a full sub and drifted off in defence, completely ignoring the breakaway.

I can understand the instinct to want BillyV on the bench and hope he'll pull out one more big performance - his ceiling is so much higher than any other option. However, that performance was match-losing.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Borthwick has gained some credit with this performance, as have a fair number of players. But if Billy Vunipola plays another game for England, he can get to fuck

Ditto Lawes, May, Cole, and you know who

In terms of future development sure, but all of those players were decent, good or excellent today

[Insouciant]

In fairness. That’s the best I’ve ever heard Farrell speak.

An honest interview.

What did he say? Any highlights?

[FKAS]

Borthwick has gained some credit with this performance, as have a fair number of players. But if Billy Vunipola plays another game for England, he can get to fuck

Borthwick has taken a lot of stick over his tactics but they were pretty good today. Martin at lock was an inspired pick over the reliably good Chessum. We made it a far closer game than anybody expected and meant the Boks needed a couple of questionable calls to get the victory instead of the massacre we expected.

Let's hope he builds on this with a rebuild ahead of the 6N.

[jngf]

With George Ford at 10 I think we might have won that - Boks we’re knackered and a shadow of last match - to be fair England played far better than hitherto - still not a creative team though which is why I think we ultimately weren’t quite worthy of a World Cup final place on this occasion

Were the Boks creative?

Not in this match but I feel they can be but with current set up that’s not the case for us with Borthwick’s reliance on stodgy attritional rugby

[Mikey Brown]

In fairness. That’s the best I’ve ever heard Farrell speak.

An honest interview.

Didn’t mind that from Borthwick either. The positivity actually felt genuine rather than performative.

[Insouciant]

In fairness. That’s the best I’ve ever heard Farrell speak.

An honest interview.

Didn’t mind that from Borthwick either. The positivity actually felt genuine rather than performative.

Did he answer a question without re-framing everything?

[Epaminondas Pules]

I’ve searched PornHub extensively and never seen a more angled Koch!

[jngf]

In fairness. That’s the best I’ve ever heard Farrell speak.

An honest interview.

What did he say? Any highlights?

He comes accross as humble in press conferences but a complete hot head when the pressure’s on in the match itself (penalty kicks accepted bar that time out) and not a great captain and not a test quality player when there’s clearly better options at 10 and 12. He’s more value to Saracens than England now

[Spiffy]

The conditions were terrible, but even so, that was a pathetic attempt to play rugby by both teams. Zero creativity on display. SA got suckered into playing the game England wanted and almost paid the price.
Prepare yourselves for the heave-inducing adulation of Captain Courageous in the Sunday papers.

[Mellsblue]

I’ve searched PornHub extensively and never seen a more angled Koch!

Even after a decade of research?

[Lizard]

A lot of that was a pretty hard watch for the neutral. I feel for England, who dominated a lot of the match, but frankly you've got to score tries these days.

I'm on the look out for a category 3 or 4 Final ticket at about face value. Please let me know if you have any leads.

[Banquo]

kriel....didnt touch the ball....marchant once.

11 pens are a killer.

fazball nearly worked. Pack were ace, bar 25 mins scrummaging and georges bizarre glitching