The mantra echoes the words of French painter Duchamp, who said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” If England’s semi-final against South Africa is like their epic quarter-final clash with France two weeks ago, it will test every nerve. The Springboks are rugby’s equivalent of Mike Tyson’s uppercuts, and England will have to take multiple blows to have any chance of a shock.
It will be a stoic and disciplined display from the men in white, a team that does not panic under pressure. They are the only team to have conceded fewer penalties in the competition, while their defensive statistics are among the best in the tournament. They have dominated territory – only world number one Ireland has spent more time in the opposition half. They have the best success rate in recovering possession from kicks, while their ruck defense has become a piano wire, allowing them to concede just seven penalties all tournament.
Despite this defensive supremacy, England is a side that loves to play on the break. They are ranked fourth for running meters, behind South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, yet their tempo was quicker than that of the frantic Argentina in the quarter-final. The speed of their ball carriers, such as Billy Vunipola and Ellis Genge, made them difficult for Japan to contain. And they can also be effective in the set-piece, with Courtney Lawes and Tom Curry posing a potent breakdown threat.
In a tournament total of tactical kicking masters, Borthwick has been in his element. The England coach strongly believes in a structured game, and his players say he gives clear roles to each player. He is a man who trusts his players and believes in the process, which has yielded impressive results for his team.
But there is more to England than the kicking game, and it will be fascinating to see how they evolve against a side that can play as well as anyone. England must hope that their attacking weapons, such as fly-half George Ford, can develop into a force to be reckoned with.
With his superb drop goal against Japan, Ford injected some vitality into a match that was otherwise in danger of disintegrating into a stalemate. The 5’9″ and 85kg playmaker is not a bruiser, but he can break through tackles and is quick off the mark with his kicking. His kicking accuracy is a real asset to this team, and it will be interesting to see how his range of kicks develops against the South African backline. He is a superbly skilled player with the potential to be an integral member of this generation’s most excellent England side. Whether he can make the cut for the final against New Zealand remains to be seen, but he is certainly making his mark at the tournament.
