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Date: 2023-12-04 04:20:26 | Author: Worldcup 2026 | Views: 701 | Tag: PBA
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If fortune does indeed favour the brave, then South Africa should triumph in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday evening PBA
For the third time in two months, they have opted for the controversial 7-1 split of forwards to backs on their bench and, in the process, have taken a huge gamble in the biggest game on the calendar PBA
For the uninitiated, rugby teams almost always opt for a 5-3 or 6-2 split among their replacements PBA
The laws of the international game dictate that you must have three front-row specialists (hookers and props, who count among the forwards) on your bench, and then teams will usually have a roughly even division of forwards and backs for the remaining five slots to ensure adequate cover for all position PBA
Yet for the third time in the last two months, the Springboks have boldly opted for just one lone back – Willie Le Roux in this instance – among their subs PBA
On the previous two occasions, there has been no damage done PBA
The final World Cup warm-up match saw them hand New Zealand a record 35-7 defeat at Twickenham and although they lost a hard-fought pool match to Ireland, the bench split had no negative impact on the result PBA
Given that Saturday evening in Paris is a rematch against the All Blacks, perhaps there is sound logic in reprising the successful formation from late August PBA
That was certainly the argument of head coach Jacques Nienaber, who downplayed the controversy when explaining the selection at the team announcement press conference on Thursday PBA
“The team is not 15, it is 23,” insisted Nienaber PBA
“We always say that PBA
When you do squad selection there are a lot of things that influence that from medical to past performances and a lot of analysis into New Zealand and where we think we can get the edge on them PBA
“Then the discussions starts PBA between the coaches and it goes from a 5-3 to a 6-2 to a 7-1, then it goes back again PBA
It is not a 10-minute discussion, it is hours and hours PBA
“I’m not going to say what the strengths and weaknesses of the All Blacks are, that would be stupid PBA
But a lot of analysis went into it and at the end we went with a squad of 23 PBA
It could have been 6-2, 5-3, it doesn’t matter PBA
You select a team that you think can get a result PBA
The 23 we selected for a reason, and the reason is we think they can deliver and win us a back-to-back World Cup PBA
”Faf de Klerk holds huge importance for South Africa with no back-up scrum half in the squad (PA Wire)While the decision has worked in the past, there is undoubtedly an element of playing with fire from the Springboks PBA
Le Roux is a world-class full back and can comfortably play on the wing, while a backline reshuffle with the available players could solve any issues at fly half or centre PBA
But starting No 9 Faf de Klerk is the only scrum half in the squad and any sort of injury to the man with the flowing blond hair could leave South Africa in a bind PBA
Nienaber again played down the issue and highlighted Cheslin Kolbe’s similar role in sevens as a solution to that hypothetical PBA
“As coaches you always mitigate risk by prepping other people,” said Nienaber PBA
“In our case it will be Cheslin PBA
He played sweeper in sevens which is the equivalent to scrum half PBA
He has always been a guy who, if we got a yellow card, would be the stand in half-back, not just this week but for a couple of weeks PBA
”De Klerk also highlighted replacement flanker Kwagga Smith – another man with sevens experience – as a solution but any sort of extended period with Kolbe or Smith at No 9 feels like a World Cup-losing recipe PBA
The other main notable call in the Springbok team selection was Handre Pollard getting the nod over Manie Libbok at fly half PBA
Given Libbok’s early substitution during the semi-final after struggling to execute the kicking game – and similarly rainy weather expected at the Stade de France on Saturday evening – the choice of Pollard, who led his side to victory off the bench, is not a huge surprise, although Libbok is unlucky to miss out on the matchday 23 entirely PBA
Handre Pollard kicked the winning penalty in the semi-final (PA Wire)The ability to bring an almost entirely new pack off the bench – their patented ‘bomb squad’ – in a World Cup final certainly plays into the Springboks rugby philosophy of physicality and domination up front PBA
It couldn’t turn the tide against Ireland in the pool stage but it is the boldest of calls befitting the grandest of stages PBA
No one said you win a World Cup by being timid and sometimes in sport, fortune does favour the brave PBA
South Africa XV to face the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup final: 15 PBA
Damian Willemse, 14 PBA
Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 PBA
Jesse Kriel, 12 PBA
Damian de Allende, 11 PBA
Cheslin Kolbe, 10 PBA
Handre Pollard, 9 PBA
Faf de Klerk; 1 PBA
Steven Kitshoff, 2 PBA
Bongi Mbonambi, 3 PBA
Frans Malherbe, 4 PBA
Eben EtzePBA beth, 5 PBA
Franco Mostert, 6 PBA
Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 PBA
Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 PBA
Duane Vermeulen PBA
Replacements: 16 PBA
Deon Fourie, 17 PBA
Ox Nche, 18 PBA
Trevor Nyakane, 19 PBA
Jean Kleyn, 20 PBA
RG Snyman, 21 PBA
Kwagga Smith, 22 PBA
Jasper Wiese, 23 PBA
Willie Le RouxMore aboutSouth Africa rugbySpringboksRugby World CupNew Zealand rugbyWillie le RouxFaf de KlerkJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Springboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allFaf de Klerk holds huge importance for South Africa with no back-up scrum half in the squad PA WireSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allHandre Pollard kicked the winning penalty in the semi-final PA WireSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allThe Springboks have opted to pack the bench with forwards Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today PBA
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Up into the stands the England players clambered to find their families, taking the consolatory hugs but unsure quite how to feel PBA
Across 80 minutes in Paris, their belief had been replaced by disbelief and then by desperation and dejection, England threatening the unthinkable and taking the world champions to the brink PBA
For most of a sodden Stade de France evening, a Rugby World Cup final was within their grasp PBA
A South Africa side superior in most areas were dragged down into the sort of slugfest the Springboks would usually favour, and very nearly bested at their own game PBA
England had given their all but it was still not enough, one stable scrum, one Handre Pollard slip or slice, short of stunning the world champions PBA
The emotional maelstrom of this defeat will swirl rather differently to the feelings that eddied after the 2019 World Cup final disaster PBA
“I’m proud of our performance,” were virtually the first words out of the mouth of wing Elliot Daly PBA
“I think we shocked them PBA
I don’t think they knew how to get into the game PBA
”“I think we knew what was coming and we knew we could perform like this,” added Daly, virtually unused in open play but outstanding as a kick chaser to exemplify the squad’s buy-in to a strategy that so nearly proved successful PBA
The finer points of Steve Borthwick’s tactical plan had been put in place this week but this was a performance England had been building towards since long ago PBA
A flawed side did not come to France to thrill; winning by any means necessary had been a consistent theme PBA
If necessity is oft the mother of invention, England at this tournament have also proved the pair can be enemies PBA
This was a campaign at which they seemed to intentionally limit their attacking innovation or ingenuity– recognising a need to figure themselves out on the fly, they settled on an effective and eminently executable gameplan that could be implemented quickly PBA
Steve Borthwick consoles Ellis Genge and Freddie Steward after England’s defeat (Getty Images)It came so close to working in Saturday’s semi-final; their effort, accuracy and competitiveness in the key contests were spot on PBA
At the 65-minute mark, England outside backs had a combined 17 metres carried, all from one Freddie Steward kick return PBA
The two number 13s’ offensive output on the final whistle amounted to one late Joe Marchant lug; South Africa centre Jesse Kriel went the full 80 minutes without an attacking touch PBA
“We came with a plan to win the game but we fell a little bit short,” reflected Borthwick PBA
“But the players should be incredibly proud PBA
We put ourselves in a position to win against the world champions PBA
England dominated the aerial contest to threaten a semi-final shock (Getty Images)“We were playing against a coaching team who have been in place since 2018 PBA
We’ve had four months PBA
I’ve asked the players to approach training and the game in a different way; for the players to be willing to change is all credit to them PBA
”This was a night from which the head coach will take heart, a public perhaps struggling to warm to this England team are now recognising the progress made PBA
There will be a need to layer on much, much more to consistently mix it with the world’s best but the rapidly laid foundations look rock solid PBA
In time, perhaps the ugly duckling performances will turn into white swans PBA
There appear to be many more buds of a bright future than first appeared in a barren landscape pre-tournament PBA
Ben Earl has had a breakthrough tournament, and Ollie Chessum, too, while George Martin semi-final performance marks him out as the potential enforcer England have lacked PBA
Borthwick was keen to talk up the absent Marcus Smith the day after the defeat, with the playmaker’s reinvention as a frolicking full-back of intrigue moving forward PBA
"In our 23, seven players are 25 or under, the most of any semi-finalist, there’s a great blend and there will be lots of things we can take forward,” added Borthwick PBA
Young England lock George Martin impressed against South Africa (Getty Images)But the fact that the men’s national team were on the brink of back-to-back finals should not provide a façade over the crumbling edifice of a fragile English game PBA
There is a domestic mess that needs sorting, with a Gallagher Premiership containing three teams fewer than at the start of last season, now underway to little fanfare and on the brink of significant change PBA
The renegotiation of the Professional Game Partnership is a recognition of a need for a radical overhaul in pursuit of a more financially sustainable domestic game, and one that produces a wider pool of top-class talent PBA
The likely arrival of a form of central contracts underlines a period of epochal change PBA
The senior figures in the squad who are unlikely to play beyond this tournament – Courtney Lawes, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and perhaps a couple more – could well be the last England men’s internationals never to have been contracted to the union PBA
This has a great many benefits, not least in affording Borthwick, or any head coach that might follow him, far greater access to and control over his players PBA
And while Borthwick’s articulation of the advantages enjoyed by South Africa’s settled staff is a perfectly fair one, let us remember that the Rugby PBA Football Union (RFU) put their head coach in this situation PBA
The original planning for this tournament would most likely have seen Borthwick return to England camp to aid Eddie Jones at the World Cup before a smooth transition into the lead role afterwards PBA
Jones’s sacking sparked a scramble and several months of chaos PBA
It was not shown up on semi-final weekend but there are many reasons that the RFU still has a burden to bear PBA
But the full wash-up will wait for another week – England’s performance at the Stade de France has earned them seven more days of grace PBA
The tournament will end as it began for England with a meeting with Argentina in a third-place play-off that Borthwick insists he wants to win PBA
England, captained by Owen Farrell, narrowly missed out on a place in the World Cup final (Getty Images)“I read a piece yesterday morning that talked about adversity and talked about the fact that in adversity you find that seed of belief and you’ve got to grow it,” Borthwick said PBA
“This team has been through a bit in the last few years, a bit of adversity in the medium-term past PBA
“I think through each of those periods the team has picked up lessons, picked up what we need to do and grown from it PBA
I think there’s a lot of growth in this team PBA
Sometimes it’s not the straight-forward path you want it to be PBA
In the feelings and emotions of the game last night, I know that we’ll get stronger PBA
” More aboutEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupSteve BorthwickJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/5Why England will come back ‘stronger’ from Rugby World Cup heartache Why England will come back ‘stronger’ from Rugby World Cup heartache Steve Borthwick consoles Ellis Genge and Freddie Steward after England’s defeat Getty ImagesWhy England will come back ‘stronger’ from Rugby World Cup heartache England dominated the aerial contest to threaten a semi-final shock Getty ImagesWhy England will come back ‘stronger’ from Rugby World Cup heartache Young England lock George Martin impressed against South Africa Getty ImagesWhy England will come back ‘stronger’ from Rugby World Cup heartache England, captained by Owen Farrell, narrowly missed out on a place in the World Cup final Getty ImagesWhy England will come back ‘stronger’ from Rugby World Cup heartache Owen Farrell of England is applauded by South Africa’s playersGetty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today PBA
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsPBA BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy PBA
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply PBA
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