Rugby World Cup: England were wonderful underdogs but flaky favourites as Farrell and Co choke under pressure – The Sun

THIS was a choke of epic proportions from England’s rugby men.

Brutalised in the scrum, panic-stricken in possession and ultimately out-classed in all departments.

It is one thing to lose a World Cup final, another to go on to the grandest stage as clear favourites but to end up having your backsides handed to you on a plate.

Yet that was England’s fate.

The sense of deflation, and then of desolation, was overwhelming.

Their arrival had been delayed by 20 minutes due to heavy traffic. In truth, they barely turned up at all.

Eddie Jones’ only answer was to suggest drowning sorrows with a three-day drinking bender.

This was a magnificent South African performance, of course.

And an astonishing story of a Springbok side transformed from an abject rabble into world champions in less than two years.

The sight of Siya Kolisi — the first black Springbok captain, a township boy who grew up in abject poverty — was an iconic one for sure.

WASTED OPPORTUNITY

But oh, England.

How can it be possible to dominate and dethrone the back-to-back world champions from New Zealand one week and then fall to pieces seven days later?

It was outgoing Wales coach Warren “Mystic Meg” Gatland who suggested this possibility last week.

Gatland said: “We have seen in previous World Cups that teams sometimes play their final in semi-finals and don’t always turn up for a final, so it will be interesting to see how England are next week.”

And how Jones will be stung by those prescient words from his old Kiwi foe.

The head coach conceded the hangover from last week may have been a factor in England’s demise but claimed that not even the most forensic debrief would be able to prove it one way or another.

This England side are wonderful underdogs — but flaky favourites.

They travelled to Dublin at the start of this year’s Six Nations with the Irish supposedly nailed-on to win and they annihilated the men in green.

Yet in the potential Grand Slam decider in Cardiff, Jones’ men coughed up a half-time lead and subsided to defeat.

It was the same these past two weekends in Japan.

And questions must be asked about England’s ability to cope with expectation. What a wasted opportunity this was for the men wearing Red Roses.

There will be no breakthrough celebrities now, no New Year Honours.

And the open-top bus, which was due to parade through London on Tuesday can stay locked up in the depot.

Jones had named the youngest ever World Cup final starting XV — averaging 27 years and 60 days — but the fearlessness of youth, which Jones had demanded, was conspicuous by its absence.

SCATTY PASSING

England’s passing was scatty, their decision-making confused and their bodies were thoroughly out-muscled by the mighty Springbok pack, who won penalty after penalty.

Handre Pollard kicked South Africa clear, then Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe twisted the knife with eye-catching tries late on.

It all started to go horribly wrong in the third minute when Kyle Sinckler, who had enjoyed an outstanding
tournament, knocked himself sparko in an awkward fall in the third minute and had to be replaced by Dan Cole, who would endure a shocker.

England had talked a good game all week about “trusting in the processes” and not being taken in by the occasion but they looked frozen by stage fright from the off.

Springbok hero Pollard beat George Ford to his own up-and- under, scrum-half Ben Youngs flung a wild pass into touch and England’s first line-out was stolen.

The tone was well and truly set before Pollard had landed the first goal on nine minutes.

Owen Farrell levelled but, after Cole was lifted several feet in the air and England conceded a scrum penalty, Pollard restored the lead.

England’s one sustained attack saw the Vunipola brothers, Manu Tuilagi and Sam Underhill all crash towards the line but the Springbok defence was resolute and Farrell had to settle for a penalty.

When Billy Vunipola was punished for holding on, Pollard was dead-eyed again. And another scrum penalty left England 12-6 down at the break — skipper Farrell admitting they had “barely fired a shot”.

South Africa put on fresh props, immediately won another scrum penalty and extended their lead.

BATTERED AND BROKEN

Finally England hit back in the scrum, after the introduction of Joe Marler and Farrell kicked the penalty.

Tom Curry, England’s World Player of the Year nominee, forced a penalty and England finally seemed to have momentum. Yet while Farrell was wide with his kick, Pollard was accurate with one soon after.

And after Farrell had landed England’s final score, the crucial first try arrived and England were virtually dead in the water.

A crafty Mapimpi chip found Lukhanyo Am, who passed back for Mabimpi to crash over.

Pollard added the extras and 25-12 with 13 minutes to go looked unassailable.

Kolbe then produced his dazzling best, quick-stepping for the line with England looking battered and broken.

South Africa were just short of the largest winning margin in a World Cup final — 23 points when Australia beat France 35-12 in 1999 — but, in the circumstances, it felt like the most brutal.

“We’re going to have to kick stones for four years now,” said Jones, “and it’s pretty hard to kick stones for four years.”

Broken hearts, questionable guts and now stubbed toes too.

What an absolute sewage show.

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