Rugby World Cup 2023: The Scrum That Won The World Cup For The Springboks
The following article is likely to annoy England fans, and by extension, their New Zealand counterparts. It will leave the South African rugby community breathing a sigh of relief long after the fact. Don’t say you have not been warned. And it is meant in good fun.
.jpg)
It’s the 57th minute of the second 2023 Rugby World Cup semifinal between England and South Africa at the Stade de France in Paris. Surprisingly, the Red Roses are in a deserved 15-6 lead over the off-colour and increasingly desperate Springboks, and have earned themselves a scrum six metres away from the defending champions’ tryline.
The momentum is with England, and one can sense that any score by Steve Borthwick’s men – a try, a penalty or a drop goal – will kill off any South African hopes of winning the match.
And then one of the most important scrums in Springbok history occurs, as Retshogofaditswe 'Ox" Nche and company absolutely crunch England's chassis when it matters most.
At the end of a victorious tournament campaign, there is always THAT moment. The moment. The one that defines everything. This clutch scrum upended the game on its ear.
South Africa, in a momentum swing, would proceed to score 10 unanswered points to eventually squeak home 16-15. If I was an England fan, this phase of play with the knockout blow about to be landed but missing will make me ill for a long long, loooooong time. What a missed opportunity.
I mentioned the Kiwis earlier. Had they met England in
the final, they would have absolutely hammered England, I believe. Instead,
they had to run into the greatest Springbok team of all time who were not
prepared to let go of the William Webb Ellis Cup. The margins are that fine in
sport.
Comments
Post a Comment