PARIS – In the months after England’s 2019 World Cup defeat to the Springboks, then coach Eddie Jones admitted in his autobiography he got his front-row selection wrong by starting Mako Vunipola over Joe Marler.
The decision ultimately came back to bite him, as the Springboks got the ascendency at the set-piece. England never recovered.
They weren’t helped by the early loss of enforcer Kyle Sinkler, but it was Vunipola’s struggles and the creaky English scrum that was the lasting legacy of Jones’ seven-year reign.
Four years later and Jones’ successor, Steve Borthwick, has returned to Marler, with the veteran Harlequins prop starting over Ellis Genge in one of three changes to his side for Saturday’s (Sunday, 6am AEDT) second semi-final against the Springboks at the Stade de France.
He will partner Jamie George and Dan Cole in the front-row, while George Martin links up with Maro Itoje in the second-row.
The only change in the backline sees Freddie Steward return at fullback for Marcus Smith, who was ruled out after failing a Head Injury Assessment following England’s 30-24 win over Fiji.
Joe Marler will start at loose-head prop for England four years after coming off the bench during their World Cup final loss. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images,)
Borthwick, like all four players who spoke to the media on Thursday wouldn’t dare talk about the ghosts of Yokohama, but admitted dealing with the Springboks threat up front was essential for their hopes of making consecutive World Cup finals.
“We’ve got three brilliant loose-heads in this squad,” Borthwick said diplomatically.
“Ellis has been terrific and I thought he played really well last week. I think Joe coming back into the squad after some time away has been also an incredible influence around the group. Bevan Rodd is a younger player but I would have no hesitation in Bevan being in the 23 this weekend. So, it’s a real competitive position.
“I would say the performance of our bench through this tournament has been very, very good.
“Both of these players [Marler and Genge] are top-quality scrummagers and I think that’s really important given the strength of the South African scrum. Every piece of information has them as the best scrum in the world. So, we know we are going to need to scrum well throughout the game – not just at loose-head but understanding the combination of the two sets of front row forwards we have, that’s also important.
“I think Joe to start and Ellis to finish is the right combination this week.”
While Borthwick wouldn’t case judgement on his side, 2003 World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio did.
“England team out, strongest available for the way SB wants to play,” he tweeted.
“We were killed at the scrum in 2019 final. Marler makes us more solid … England will want to frustrate Boks and keep them out of the Redzone.”
Four years ago, Jones came into his own as he turned the focus on New Zealand’s media as he played on the Spy Gate scandal.
He managed to oversee one of the great World Cup upsets, knocking the All Blacks out at the semi-final stage for the second time.
He leapt on anything and everything to give his side some momentum off the field.
On Thursday, Borthwick was the antithesis, playing down anything and everything.
On Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus picking his side earlier in the week?
“Did he get it right? No. OK,” he said, after some time.
On suggestions the Springboks might have been ‘fiddling around’ with the HIA system against France?
“We’ve got a match officials team who are world class, led by Ben O’Keeffe,” Borthwick said.
“I’m sure every bit of process around the pitch will be in place, so there’s no issues there from my perspective. As far as Marcus is concerned, it’s vital to reiterate that player welfare is critical to us.”
Steve Borthwick refused to antagonise South Africa ahead of their World Cup semi-final in Paris. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Using the final loss four years ago as motivation?
“A lot has changed since the last time that we played South Africa: there’s a new coaching team, there’s a number of players that are different and we’ve moved on, and we’re in a different context, we’re in a semi-final of a World Cup,” Borthwick continued.
He was joined by his captain Owen Farrell, who added: “This feels like a new challenge, a new opportunity. Over four years, a lot happens in rugby. A lot happens in a week here. We’re excited for the opportunity in front of us. We’ve changed as a team and I imagine South Africa feel like they’ve changed over four years as well.”
World Cup-winning playmaker Handre Pollard had a slightly different take.
“You could see on their faces four years ago the disappointment,” he said.
“I’ve been a part of a squad that’s fallen out of a semi-final of a World Cup and it sits with you the rest of your life. There’s a lot of things you look back and regret and maybe thought you could do differently and I’m sure that they’ll come with that mindset this weekend.
“I think they’ll be ruthless, they’ll take their intensity and physicality to a new level, but we’ve prepared for that and we enjoy that. If there’s going to be beef, there’s going to be beef.”
Borthwick again poured cold water on what insight former South Africa strength and conditioning coach Aled Walters, now on England’s staff, provided throughout the week.
“One of the really great things as I reflect on it is I managed to prise him away from the Springboks at the start of 2020 to join us at Leicester, and then with England,” he said.
“Four years is a long time in rugby – four weeks is a long time in rugby. While their coaching team has been consistent with Rassie [Erasmus], Jacques [Nienaber] and Felix [Jones], they have changed. We understand that and he [Walters] is fully invested in helping us build our game.”
While most of England’s media bemoaned Sleepy Steve, Borthwick wasn’t brought in for headlines. He was brought in to win.
On the specific challenges South Africa will pose?
“A great deal of challenges, as you would expect from the number one side in the world. They’ve got that traditional set-piece power that they’ve had for a long time,” said Borthwick, Jones’ long-time assistant with Japan and England said.
“Their contestable kicking game is another great strength. One thing they’ve layered to their game over this last four years has been their ball movement and the speed they have on the edges.
“They also have a squad that is jam-packed full of power and size. They’ve got players coming off the bench who are very strong.
“We’ve got a pretty strong team as well. We’ve got a pretty strong bench.”
Win and that’s all England will remember.
Teams
South Africa (1-15): 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.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Willie Le Roux
England (1-15): 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
Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Chessum, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence
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