England gain credit in defeat as World Cup journey ends in heartbreaking fashion

21 October 2023 , 21:29

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England gain credit in defeat as World Cup journey ends in heartbreaking fashion

With England protecting an early lead, the fearsome Franco Mostert - 18 stones of Springbok power - charged towards the try-line.

But one yard short, Mostert, was brought to a shuddering halt by George Martin with a tackle that reverberated around the cacophonous Stade de France. Martin, a giant of a man yet only 22 years of age and making only a fourth start for his country and lasting only 52 minutes, epitomised this Herculean England effort.

They left every drop of sweat, every last breath of effort, on a field north of Paris. That they eventually came up agonisingly short should not detract from this brave performance. They gained more credit in this defeat than they did in all their wins at this tournament.

Not for the style of their rugby nor for their technical brilliance - the details below the scoreline showing they did not cross the try-line. And that the match ended with England making one final mistake was symptomatic of so much of the rugby that has been played under the guidance of Steve Borthwick.

This was a match that was within their grasp but they let it slip in those final defining moments. They will wonder what could - and perhaps should - have been. But they did themselves and their white jerseys proud, no one can deny that. After all, they were not quite a David to the Springboks’ Goliath, but they were not far off it.

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Just ahead of the game, the wind and rain abated slightly but the emotions did not, Freddie Steward shedding a tear during the singing of the National Anthem. Games of this magnitude, though, are occasions when emotions have to be kept in check, when adrenaline has to be controlled when discipline has to be maintained.

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And for so, so long, England did all those things. But that did not mean they took a backward step. Yes, it is a given at this level and on these occasions, but the physical commitment was eye-watering in its intensity. Quite simply, Borthwick’s men set out to batter the Boks out of any sort of stride.

And if you wanted a symbol of how their plan worked until the cruel, bitter end, then you need have looked no further than the South Africans hooking fly-half Mannie Libbok after barely half an hour. Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes and the irrepressibleJoe Marler rattled the hot favourites from the very start.

Handre Pollard kicked the winning points

Andy Dunn