{"id":339885,"date":"2023-10-19T22:20:49","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T22:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=339885"},"modified":"2023-10-20T00:02:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T00:02:57","slug":"unbeaten-england-seek-revenge-in-world-cup-final-rematch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=339885","title":{"rendered":"Unbeaten England seek revenge in World Cup final rematch"},"content":{"rendered":"

As much as England<\/a> coach Steve Borthwick has insisted his team's focus is on the right here, right now at the Rugby World Cup<\/a>, there will be reminders of history everywhere against South Africa<\/a> in their semi-final.<\/p>\n

Borthwick will send 13 survivors of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final loss to the Springboks into their latest battle at the Stade de France, with a place in this title-deciding game in sight.<\/p>\n

South Africa will have 15 of the players that beat England four years ago to lift the trophy in Yokohama in its 23.<\/p>\n

Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the home of rugby, Stan Sport.<\/strong><\/em> Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

While England has experienced a dramatic coaching change from the brash Eddie Jones<\/a> to the far less outspoken Borthwick since Japan, the lasting outlook against the reigning champion Springboks is still revenge, four years later and with the English as underdogs this time.<\/p>\n

\"Players<\/p>\n

It would be served especially cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is always belief that is strong in this team. There are players that have performed at the very highest levels. They can\u2019t wait for this," Borthwick said.<\/p>\n

That's about as far as Borthwick has let himself go in a campaign that's been largely defined by his and England's inward-looking emphasis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe concentrate very much on us. It\u2019s what we\u2019ve done every single week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Read the room': Moment AFL star had to move on<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Is it wacky?': Icon smashing 'stigma' with comeback<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> India suffer worrying injury scare as star hobbles off<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The mind-your-own-business manner of Borthwick and England has not set the tournament on fire, but they are still in the last four of a World Cup after losing six out of nine this year ahead of the tournament and being initially consigned to the section of teams not to watch out for in France.<\/p>\n

Borthwick's big achievement has been to not let that disastrous build-up seep into the World Cup effort. He's been successful so far to produce the only unbeaten team left in the World Cup, even if a kinder draw has played some role in that.<\/p>\n

\"Steve<\/p>\n

For the first time at this World Cup, England faces a team it's not expected to beat, but would desperately love to put things right against for 2019, and for a more distant lost final to South Africa when the Rugby World Cup was last in France in 2007. Once again, the English reaction has been reserved.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve just talked about embracing it," England captain Owen Farrell said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout trying to get the best out of ourselves in these occasions. It\u2019s not necessarily anything new, anything out of the ordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is probably Farrell's last shot at the Webb Ellis Cup, though. Same for vice-captain Courtney Lawes and almost every one of the others who missed out in Japan.<\/p>\n

\"South<\/p>\n

South Africa's Rugby World Cup is all about history. It's about matching New Zealand as the only two teams to defend the title.<\/p>\n

It's about a record fourth title that would put the Springboks one ahead of their great rivals. And it's about the end of an era.<\/p>\n

Coach Jacques Nienaber is set to leave after France to break up the brains trust alongside Rassie Erasmus \u2014 now director of rugby \u2014 that inherited a Springboks squad in disarray and losing regularly in 2018.<\/p>\n

\"Springboks<\/p>\n

Nienaber and Erasmus could finish their five years of work with the most successful Springboks team ever. That would be looking dangerously far ahead of Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not silly,\u201d South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said.<\/p>\n

He believes England will absolutely \u201cwant to prove something\u201d after the last final, and after its pre-tournament write-off by the so-called experts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have improved compared to before the World Cup," said Kolisi.<\/p>\n

"You can see the intent, the work rate, the aggression they have around the field. It\u2019s a completely different team.<\/p>\n

"That\u2019s why they are the only unbeaten team in the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"South<\/p>\n

South Africa has put out the same lineup that edged host France in a 29-28 quarterfinal thriller to go to No.1 in the rankings and reinforce its favourites tag against No.5 England.<\/p>\n

England has made minor tweaks, including promoting prop Joe Marler to start in what's being viewed as an indication that England will scrum for its lives for the first hour against the rated Springboks pack.<\/p>\n

England also reinforced its forwards with the inclusion of second-rower George Martin, while fullback Freddie Steward starts with Marcus Smith out completely after failing a head injury assessment.<\/p>\n

South Africa has won four of the five previous World Cup meetings. England has a way of winning semi-finals, though, coming through four out of five against all opponents in the pressure of last-four showdowns, including a big upset against defending champion New Zealand in 2019, which might ring a bell for the Springboks right now.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t look at history,\u201d Nienaber said, proving that's not only an English trait.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportRugby\/status\/1714416055173435840<\/a><\/p>\n

SOUTH AFRICA (1-15):<\/strong> Steven Kitshoff, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (c), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian Willemse.<\/p>\n

Replacements:<\/strong> Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Willie Le Roux<\/p>\n

ENGLAND (1-15):<\/strong> Joe Marler, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell (c), Elliot Daly, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Jonny May, Freddie Steward<\/p>\n

Replacements:<\/strong> Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Chessum, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As much as England coach Steve Borthwick has insisted his team's focus is on the right here, right now at the Rugby World Cup, there […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":339882,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339885"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=339885"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":339892,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339885\/revisions\/339892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/339882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=339885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=339885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=339885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}