"Cost them the game" - Four players who underperformed for England in semi-final
Rugby NewsSaturday, 21 October 2023 at 22:44
We take at four players who weren't able to deliver their best performances as England fell to a narrow defeat to South Africa in the World Cup semi-final.
The reigning champions were never in front until a long-range penalty from replacement Handre Pollard with just two minutes left on the clock.
Under unrelenting rain, scrum-half Alex Mitchell and fly-half Owen Farrell went to the air again and again for England, whose defence and breakdown work was ferocious as the Springboks had few answers.
Four Farrell first-half penalties to one from Manie Libbok and one from Handre Pollard - who replaced Libbok after just 30 minutes - put England 12-6 up at half-time lead, which Farrell extended to 15-6 with a thumping drop-goal.
But with the Springboks bench exerting increasing influence, replacement second-row RG Synman crashed over after 69 minutes and Pollard's conversion brought them to within two points.
But another scrum penalty after 78 minutes gave Pollard the chance to break England's hearts and send South Africa into their fourth RWC final.
#1. Manu Tuilagi
Guardian 5/10: " Penalty against for pushing after England had done so well to stop South Africa maul but tackled hard as he always does."
Telegraph 6/10: "Barely used as an attacking weapon but filled his role in keeping the Springbok midfield honest. One silly penalty for grabbing Reinach nearly proved costly."
Planet Rugby 6/10: " Made some decent hits in midfield but we understandably didn’t see much of him with ball in hand."
#2. Billy Vunipola
Planet Rugby 2/10: "Billy Vunipola also had an absolute stinker."
Evening Standard 5/10: "Not as his best again and will be frustrated with his levels at this competition."
#3&4. Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler
Telegraph 2/10: "The bomb squad plan failed to detonate. England lost the match as the Springboks dominated the scrum in the second half."
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