England's plan to beat South Africa - insight into downing the World Cup holders
England have the unenviable task of trying to down the world champions South Africa if they want to make a fourth World Cup final.
Steve Borthwick's side have benefitted from a slightly fortuitous draw in France whilst the Springboks have highlighted their champions qualities, knocking out Les Blues in an epic encounter in Paris last weekend as they showed every facet of their game.
South Africa's power was too much for England back in 2019, but four years on and Rassie Erasmus' outfit look even better, making Borthwick's task this weekend even more daunting. The Red Rose might be the only unbeaten team left in the tournament, but they are firm underdogs.
Fly-half George Ford has proved vital in England's progress, producing a sensational performance against Argentina in their World Cup opener. Mirror Sport picked the brains of his brother, Joe, a former Premiership fly-half and now head coach of ambitious Championship outfit Doncaster.
A physical and quick defence
A problem the British and Irish Lions found out two years ago was that you just can't go through some teams. South Africa's physicality is no secret, and teams who try and match them so often come up second best, failing to get a platform to play from.
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Ireland had success in their pool stage win a few weeks ago and Ford believes that could prove to be a blueprint with their attack often changing the point of contact to gain momentum. That will require the fly-half, the forward pods, and those offering themselves as an option out the back, all to be viable targets.
The joy had by the French in Sunday's quarter down the short side is also something England could consider, especially as it negates the physicality and size advantage. Two of their three tries came when they attacked the side where South Africa had fewer numbers.
France had success when attacking South Africa's short side (ITV)Ford suggested: "I think you have to play differently, obviously Ireland were great and they changed the point of attack constantly in the first three phases to try and get momentum. So off the forwards, then out the back to the next pod. If you run into them two, three, four phases they'll just win the physicality battle so you've got to be brave and go early.
"You've got to be ready to pull the trigger in the first few phases otherwise you'll have to kick the ball back to them because it'll be hard to play multi-phase against their defence. In the French game they got a lot of joy on the short side, they're aggressive in defence so the way to combat that is keep going on the short side."
A staple of the South African defence has been the speed with which their centres fly up. Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende, who have been the preferred pairing, have often been seen bringing exceptional line speed. That cuts off the fly-halves passing option to his outside backs, or at least making the pass a risky one with the possibility of an intercept particularly high.
Ford highlighted how it is difficult to take on, but their decision to fly up will leave space in behind them, allowing for several variations of kicks which, if executed well, could cause the Springboks to think twice about their aggression.
South Africa's centres, in this case Jesse Kriel, have shot up out the line, leaving the fly-half with a high-risk pass if he wants to take him on (ITV)"It is really hard to take on," he said. "If you're trying to to round it, go early, but also use your kick game with chips and cross field kicks. Throw them in early and it might get them second guessing, but it'll be difficult to take it on.
"I'd be encouraging the half backs to change the picture early, you've got to make them move and make them make decisions. You've got to stick at it, even if you make mistakes, because you won't get the perfect picture if you try and wait for it."
A kicking battle
The previous selection of the England 15 has been a talking point with Freddie Steward, so often a regular, overlooked for the quarter-final with Marcus Smith serving as a makeshift option. By no means a conventional fullback, but it allowed Borthwick to get an extra playmaker on the field without having to play one at fly-half and the other at inside centre. The England boss though has reverted back to the Leicester Tigers man for the last four clash.
South Africa will bring an immense kick threat, widely regarded as the world's best. The pinpoint accuracy from the boot of their 9, 10 and sometimes 15 gives great time for their chasers, the likes of Cheslin Kolbe, to get after those in the back field.
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South Africa will have kick threats from their half backs as well as their fullbackFord also highlighted how the Springboks went after young French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey last weekend. By no means the tallest player on the pitch, they targeted him rather than his team-mates who would be more comfortable under the high ball. It furthers underlines the need for England's fullback to be incredibly confident and reliable when the kick bombs come flying down.
"I think if you get your selection wrong at 15 South Africa will eat you alive," said Ford. "They're no nonsense and they have a lot of variation, even if you try and hide someone in the back field they'll find you with other kickers. They did a load of cross field bombs against France. It is one part of their game that they are so good at."
A battle of points and the power of the drop goal
As seen in almost all of the quarter-final games, it is a game of inches, with almost all of them being decided by one score. That means keeping the score board ticking is vital, be that with tries or, more likely, with the boot. England saw off Argentina with 14 men in their opener and all 27 of their points came from one man's boot.
Ford believes that England have to keep taking the points when they're on offer. He said: "It is a tough one, 9/10 I'd say take the points. How tight was every game last weekend? Whenever you can, you can't turn points down. But if you feel you've got momentum you have to back yourself. If I was coaching Doncaster in a big game I'd say take everything, because it always comes down to the last few minutes."
Owen Farrell had plenty of time to execute his drop goal after a smart play against Fiji (ITV)One way of doing that is through the drop goal, which was all-important when England conquered the world back in 2003. Jonny Wilkinson kicked three points after three points and in this World Cup English fly-halves, be it Ford or Farrell, have found huge value in doing so.
Farrell's three in Sunday's win over Fiji was particularly crucial with the scores level and the game in the final ten minutes. It was the deception that made the kick that much easier for the Saracens man as he cut across the field, looking set to pass, before steadying himself without anyone attempting to charge him down.
"The big thing is surprise," said Ford. "The forwards don't need to know, so let them carry on so it looks like you genuinely are just trying to play. The 9 and 10 will probably have a call, whenever it is quick ball, so if you get a quick ruck play it. Sometimes you can actually stand flat, like if you're going to play, and then step off your left and bang one. Sometimes if you drop into the pocket it actually becomes more obvious. Problem is England have done a few so South Africa will have previewed that."
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