Thoughts on two World Cups – the England perspective
The words England and English will be appearing a lot in this post.
The Rugby World Cup Final was a tense, thrilling, match but afterwards there was some criticism of English referee Wayne Barnes.
The problem is that – if you are continually told you are the best in the world – you acquire star status as much as the players and therefore tend to dominate.
Add to this inconsistency and, as with VAR in soccer, the solution does not resolve the problem – in rugby’s case, violent play.
Was the violent play by Sam Cane (red card) significantly worse than that of Silya Kelosi (yellow card)?
Technically yes, but it led to an uneven spectacle.
As in the 2019 World Cup cricket defeat, New Zealand were gracious afterwards but many fear that South Africa, with 2 consecutive wins and 4 overall, will be too boastful.
Don’t forget their last 3 victories were only by one point. Still, they deserved this victory but I was baffled that the All Blacks – when it was 6-12 – chose to kick two penalties to touch rather than convert them and put points on the board as Handré Pollard always does.
England surprised me – and many rugby correspondents with a satisfactory campaign – scaring the World Champions.
It’s the last hurrah for Ben Youngs, Courtney Lawes , Manu Tualagi – probably Owen Farrell also – but Ben Earl and George Martin were revelations and those that follow Premiership rugby will know of the strength in depth, with George Ford inexplicably dropped still only 30, and Ollie Chessum, Lawrence, Harry Arundel, Marcus Smith and Caden Murley ready to step up to the plate.
Freddy Stewards is at his peak but – whilst excellent under the high ball – is his overall game good enough?
The less said about England’s attempt to defend their cricket World Cup the better. Jos Buttler is no Eion Morgan and India is always a tough country to visit but they do not seem good enough.
