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Date: 2023-12-07 11:26:58 | Author: Casino Winner | Views: 179 | Tag: peraplay
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As Handre Pollard put boot to ball, they held their breath, a night of countless kicks to be settled by one last hoist for the heavens peraplay
The replacement fly half’s penalty was straight and true – the champions had found a way peraplay
It was a wretched game for a wretched night upon which a rocky South Africa threatened a total horror show, yet at the same time impossible to look away from peraplay
It looked for so long like the ghosts of Yokohama would be exorcised, England’s pack standing up to the challenge to match South Africa at their own game peraplay
But the Springboks had just enough, RG Snyman punching over from close range and Pollard producing that final, decisive penalty peraplay
There was little here to please the aesthete but by God was it a compelling contest peraplay
Fears of a second successive semi-final drubbing proved unfounded as England’s unfancied underdogs swelled in stature to meet and so nearly beat the mighty Springboks peraplay
Instead, Springbok spectres will stalk them again peraplay
An unloved England were happy to play unlovely rugby peraplay
For so long it worked, Steve Borthwick’s side backing up their belief in themselves taking the reigning, defending champions to the limit peraplay
Pollard’s first-half introduction had been a substitution that said everything peraplay
Just half an hour had been played and already Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus had seen enough, retrieving their hook to make a trademark gutsy call peraplay
Off went Manie Libbok; on came Pollard on a night for route one rugby peraplay
After all the talk of the Springboks’ evolution, after only half-an-hour they were reverting to type peraplay
South Africa celebrate after RG Snyman’s second-half try (AFP via Getty Images)But as so often for these champion Springboks, it proved the right call, Pollard inevitably the man to land the knockout blow peraplay
Onwards South Africa go to take on New Zealand – a battle for a record fourth men’s World Cup crown feels a fitting final for a tournament bursting back into life after the Friday night dirge peraplay
Even before kick-off, there was a crackle and a fizz to the atmosphere that the first semi-final had lacked, a healthy contingent of French fans taking out their frustration on referee Ben O’Keeffe and a select few South Africans as their names flashed on the big screen peraplay
It was a near perfect opening ten minutes from England peraplay
The battle of the skies was always likely to be vital, and the intensity of the rain made it ever more so peraplay
The entirety of England’s back three, plus centre Joe Marchant, won their first aerial contests, while Maro Itoje’s lineout pressure resulted in a pinch at the front and a not-straight throw to the tail peraplay
South Africa infringed twice at ruck time in their own 22; Farrell capitalised both times from the tee peraplay
Tone set peraplay
Steve Borthwick’s side had come with next to no intent to play running rugby, over-resourcing every ruck to make certain of the ball peraplay
The caterpillar would form, the chasers mass, eager travellers ready for their next flight peraplay
A game of dribs and drabs inevitably became fractured and fractious, captains Kolisi and Farrell jawing at one another and the referee peraplay
Manu Tuilagi sparked a scuffle by placing an arm around the neck of Cobus Reinach, resulting in a South Africa penalty, before Farrell’s failure to hold his tongue a few minutes later moved Libbok within a kickable distance peraplay
South Africa’s fly half knocked through his side’s opening three peraplay
England fell narrowly short in a compelling physical contest (Getty Images)His opposite number re-extended England’s advantage immediately after, full-back Steward like a bounding gun-dog on the chase and forcing a backfield error peraplay
The next high hoist was Elliot Daly’s to chase, the wing detonating the chest of Duane Vermeulen peraplay
England, unloved but unbowed, were making physical statementsThe replacement ten was on the board via his right boot soon enough, a simple starter from just right of the posts after a rare English aerial error peraplay
Soon enough, normal service resumed - after England’s 22nd kick from hand of the half, Farrell’s fourth clean strike from the tee left their half-time lead six points peraplay
Everything seemed to be coming up roses peraplay
Granite-shouldered George Martin was thumping everything in sight, landing a series of heavyweight tackles; scrum half Alex Mitchell boxed clever, flighting his kicks from the base beautifully peraplay
With Pollard already on, Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux were always likely to arrive early in the second half, stability through the spine for South Africa clearly key peraplay
With the rain intensifying, the errors mounted, Jamie George uncharacteristically tossing two lineouts asunder peraplay
South Africa had yet to fire a shot but at least had the intent to do so peraplay
It was a match that could have been swung by one supreme bit of skill, and a lovely move peraplay
Le Roux’s hack ahead was too strong, ball trickling dead with the veteran full-back chasing in vain peraplay
Martin, Mitchell and Joe Marler departed, three of Borthwick’s boldest selection calls taking leave together, job appropriately done peraplay
Their bums had barely hit the bench when they rose to their feet, peering around the dugout to watch Farrell launch a drop goal seemingly from central Paris peraplay
Once ball left boot, there never seemed even a smidgen of doubt - was this to be Farrell’s Wilkinson moment?Owen Farrell’s drop goal looked to have put England on the verge of victory (AP)At that stage, England’s four outside backs had a combined 17 run metres, all from one Steward kick return peraplay
Aesthetically-pleasing the gameplan was not but those with English hearts cared not, sweaters shed to reveal red roses on white chests right around the Stade de France peraplay
On a rare attacking opportunity, Farrell might have made more with an overlap on the left but could not resist another kick peraplay
In truth, it was a touch aimless, but a ball skimming over a sodden surface was never likely to settle in the hands simply - through Kurt-Lee Arendse’s hands it went like a greased weasel peraplay
England could not make much of the position and the momentum started to turn peraplay
Ox Nche providing immediate impact on the loosehead for South Africa, and Snyman stomped with intent from the second row, too peraplay
A kick to the corner from a penalty in England’s half allowed Snyman a close-range carrying opportunity – the lock is a a Goliath even among the South African colossi and would not be stopped peraplay
Nche went to work once more, earning a scrum penalty on halfway peraplay
Pollard hoisted and through it went – England had been kicked out peraplay
More aboutRugby World CupEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyHandre PollardSteve BorthwickJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/4England dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callEngland dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callSouth Africa celebrate after RG Snyman’s second-half tryAFP via Getty ImagesEngland dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callEngland fell narrowly short in a compelling physical contest Getty ImagesEngland dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callOwen Farrell’s drop goal looked to have put England on the verge of victory APEngland dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callHandre Pollard kicked South Africa to victory 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 peraplay
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Fran Kirby shook off suggestions she might feel intimidated by the new faces in England’s camp after she returned from her long absence in the 1-0 victory over Belgium on Friday peraplay
Kirby had not played for England since the Lionesses faced the Czech Republic in a friendly last October and missed this year’s World Cup after undergoing knee surgery peraplay
The Chelsea midfielder received a warm reception by the sold-out crowd in Leicester when she came on in the 65th minute of the Nations League clash peraplay
Kirby said: “It feels like I haven’t been away peraplay
Obviously, I know a lot of the girls from playing against them peraplay
“Everyone who has come in has brought a fresh face and a new standard peraplay
It has been nice to be in training around them and getting to know them more personally peraplay
“I don’t think I need to mould in at all, I’m probably one of the oldest players here now peraplay
I think I know what I’m doing peraplay
“It’s nice to be on the pitch, it’s nice to get a win, so I’m happy peraplay
“I’ve been working really hard over the summer to try and get back as quickly as possible and to be involved tonight was really special peraplay
”Kirby, who has suffered a spate of injuries and fitness issues in recent years, announced in May she would be going under the knife to fix a knee issue that had long plagued her, with doctors determining surgery was the only way to rectify the situation peraplay
The 2019-20 season saw Kirby diagnosed with pericarditis, a heart condition, and in 2022 she was sidelined with a fatigue-related illness that led to her installing an oxygen tent at her home peraplay
As for this most recent problem, Kirby said: “At the beginning it was quite tough because you don’t really know when the end of the injury is peraplay
I accepted quite early on that I wasn’t going to be part of the World Cup squad, not that it made it any easier peraplay
“I was able to support the girls and feel the same emotions that they were feeling and going through peraplay
Being back with them now just means that all of the hard work paid off in the summer peraplay
”Friday’s victory moved the Lionesses up to second place in Group One, with a quick turnaround before they face Belgium again in Tuesday’s return fixture peraplay
England need to finish top to advance in the tournament, which also serves as a qualifier for next summer’s Olympics in Paris peraplay
Kirby’s reception from supporters was perhaps second-loudest to only former Leicester goalkeeper Mary Earps, who seemed to elicit a roar every time she made a stop en route to earning England a first clean sheet since they faced Nigeria in the last-16 at the World Cup peraplay
Kirby said: “The support that I’ve had over the past year has been incredible from fans – national team and Chelsea peraplay
I can’t fault anyone for their support and that has been really pivotal for me coming back peraplay
“It’s frustrating when I’m injured and can’t be out there, so to hear that reception when I came on is really special and it’s something that I won’t forget peraplay
“I’ve been working really hard to get back out on the pitch as much as possible and I want to stay there peraplay
”More aboutFran KirbyLionessesMary EarpsNations LeagueEngland womenJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/1Kirby felt like she’d never been away on return to England sideKirby felt like she’d never been away on return to England sideFran Kirby of England looks on during the UEFA Women's Nations League matchThe FA via 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 peraplay
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