Borthwick's verdict: Scrums, O'Keeffe, Curry claim, Boks at full-time
England boss Steve Borthwick has revisited Saturday night’s agonising one-point Rugby World Cup semi-final loss in Paris. His team were leading 15-6 and looking poised to reach the final versus New Zealand until a 69th-minute converted RG Snyman try and a 78th-minute Handre Pollard penalty kick dramatically altered the scoreboard and saw South Africa win 15-16.
The ferocious contest produced multiple talking points, including the scrum where South Africa gained last-quarter momentum, a shift that culminated in sub England loosehead Ellis Genge getting penalised at the final set-piece to present Pollard with his kick from near the halfway line to seal the comeback result.
There was also an allegation made by England’s Tom Curry in relation to the use of discriminatory language by Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi, and the full-time whistle also ignited a dust-up between the teams with England taking exception to the way that Willie le Roux, in particular, celebrated in their faces.
First the scrum battle and the general level of officiating by referee Ben O’Keeffe. “Clearly that [the scrum] was one of the key factors,” admitted the England boss. “As I have discussed with the team over these few months, as we start building our understanding of the game, everything in rugby is connected.
“Everything has some kind of knock-on effect in some sort of way, shape or form. What you have got to do is be tactically smart and adaptable. I credit South Africa for how they found a way to get a result from being down on the scoreboard. They are the number one side in the world for a reason.
“I have studied the game a couple of times since it finished, as you would expect me to, to fully understand what our learnings are from it. In terms of the individual decisions, I want to make sure we build a team that can ensure we get the results we want. That is our job. From our point of view, I’ll control that.
“I’m not going to be sitting talking about referees. I think we have a great standard of officiating at this tournament. I think Ben refereed well and I think his whole team did a good job. I’ll concentrate on how I can make my team stronger.”
Regarding the allegation made by Curry that he was subjected to discriminatory language, a claim that World Rugby confirmed on Monday they were formally investigating, Borthwick said: “I am not going to comment on anything regarding that incident.”
As for the aggravating way some South African players celebrated when the full-time whistle was blown by O’Keeffe, the England coach added: “They will handle themselves as they decide to.
“I believe the England rugby team can have such a positive effect on people. It had a huge impact on me, I have seen it have an impact on a whole host of people and communities.
“I’ll talk to players about that almost on a daily basis. I want them to have a positive impact everywhere they go. I think I am proud of the way the team has played. I am proud of the way they train and I am also really proud of the way they conduct themselves, that is what we will continue to do.
“I thought it was a great test match. I think both teams gave everything they had in that game. We approached the game with the belief that we were going to win the game.
“Unfortunately, we fell just a little bit short. From that experience, as painful as it is – and it is very painful – we will be better in the future.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
2 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
2 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to comments