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Date: 2023-12-03 05:01:53 | Author: PFF | Views: 202 | Tag: league
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The England players will remember the feeling league
Look back on the images of that night in Yokohama and see the empty eyes, despair writ large on wounded faces as South Africa celebrated beyond them league
The Springboks had not just secured World Cup victory but romped to it, an England side coursing with optimism after a stunning semi-final performance against New Zealand left lifeless and limp league
To some extent, it is a low from which England have never recovered league
The last four years have exposed deep flaws both within the national team and the game more widely, with talks of an even more radical domestic overhaul league
The 23 Englishmen involved then were the youngest collective to reach a World Cup final: the promise and potential of that group has been frittered away, Eddie Jones indulged past the point of no return and then sacked with less than a year until this tournament league
The gamble that the Rugby league Football Union (RFU) took when disposing of Jones at the end of the autumn last year relied entirely on getting to this point, the union recognising that a relatively friendly draw meant progression to the last four would remain eminently achievable even with a late change of coach league
Unlike Wales and Australia, who balanced the same equation when making their own regime changes and entered this tournament in a similar state, England have at least given themselves a shot in a semi-final league
The meticulous Steve Borthwick proved the right man to plot an emergency course league
Barring a total thrashing on Saturday night, his side have avoided embarrassment, navigating out of the choppy waters of August and through calmer September seas league
RecommendedSteve Borthwick explains Marcus Smith’s absence from England team to face South AfricaSouth Africa inspired by struggles of whole nation – Siya KolisiThe England blueprint to upset South Africa and reach Rugby World Cup finalBut there’s a Springbok storm on the horizon league
Given the different strata the two sides seem to occupy, it is unsurprisingly that few give them hope against South Africa, but England have fed off an underdog mentality throughout this tournament, insisting they’ve been written off too soon league
England believe they have the bite to back up that bark league
“Obviously it was disappointing four years ago,” said wing Elliot Daly, among 13 England matchday squad members in 2019 taking on the Springboks again league
“But I think the feel around this team is that it’s a very different team to then league
“Obviously, I had a bit of time out from the squad and, since coming back in, there’s a different feeling within this group league
We are going to try and harness that league
We’ve had the last year, two years of planning going into this, to hopefully perform our best on the weekend league
”To make next week’s showpiece will require a performance at a level above anything they have produced in France so far league
While South Africa will be wary of a team with little to lose, they are league better than this England team in virtually every facet, their gameplan more complete and cohesive league
Keep their heads and a final berth is theirs for the taking league
‘There’s a heightened sense of awareness, a heightened sense of what needs to be done,’ says lock Maro Itoje (AFP/Getty)The focus, as always with a Springbok side, will be on the majesty of their muscular pack and the extent to which England can match their might both at the set piece and tackling punch league
But their ability to offer diverse attacking threat can sometimes go overlooked – the backing of Manie Libbok at 10, a baton-waving maestro to Handre Pollard’s ticking metronome league
This is a complete and very good rugby team forged over five years in Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber’s kiln league
England, by contrast, are having to do it all in the pressure game league
Recognising that there is no time to throw all of their irons in the fire, England have focused on what they call their “building blocks” – the set piece, fitness, and a kick pressure game league
The plan is to physically peak again for this contest, having sagged slightly against Samoa after their pool stage rest week and building back up against Fiji league
Strong final quarters have been a theme of England’s tournament but there is no doubt that they will need a full 80-minute performance, which the squad admit they have yet to produce, to topple the world champions league
“The belief is strong in this team,” Steve Borthwick insisted league
“I sensed that all the way through since I got involved again with the team league
England’s head coach Steve Borthwick leads a training session (AFP/Getty)“There are players who have performed to the very highest of levels league
Players who have played knockout rugby, finals rugby before league
”In 2019, Siya Kolisi stated that he felt South Africa had beaten England in the World Cup final because of their greater motivation, a sense that they were playing something bigger league
The Springboks captain has revisited that motif this week but England don’t lack for belief – and insist that, this time, it will be different league
“There’s definitely a different energy around the place this week in comparison to other big games I’ve played,” articulated Maro Itoje league
“There’s a different feel league
There’s a heightened sense of awareness, a heightened sense of what needs to be done league
“I think people are aware of what’s at stake league
People are aware of the importance of doing your job, the importance of doing your role within the team league
There’s not many opportunities to be at this stage or at this level league
This is an experience for us to take the bull by the horns league
”More aboutEngland RugbyRugby World CupSouth Africa rugbySpringboksSteve BorthwickJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Why England believe against South Africa this time, even if you don’tWhy England believe against South Africa this time, even if you don’t‘There’s a heightened sense of awareness, a heightened sense of what needs to be done,’ says lock Maro ItojeAFP via Getty ImagesWhy England believe against South Africa this time, even if you don’tEngland’s head coach Steve Borthwick leads a training sessionAFP via Getty ImagesWhy England believe against South Africa this time, even if you don’tThe England players in a group huddle as they prepare for Saturday’s semi-final against the defending champions PA✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today league
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsleague BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy league
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply league
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As often was the case amid an American society embedded in racism in the 1980s, Muhammed Ali put it best league
Advising black racing driver Willy T Ribbs, the people’s champion made his point in no uncertain terms: “There are Blacks in my sport league
But there are no Blacks in your sport league
“They’re going to want to kill you league
”Yet for all the death threats, discrimination and abuse, Ribbs had long decided that the only option was to meet the uphill battle head-on league
He made history in 1986 when he became the first Black driver to test an F1 car league
Five years later, he was the first to race in the Indy 500, one of the world’s most famous events league
But on the course of that journey, Ribbs faced it all league
Don’t let me tell you though; let the man himself league
“Of course, there were death threats, the n-word,” he reflects, in a slow but deadpan fashion that tells you the wounds have long since healed league
Instead, the metaphorical bruises are worn with pride league
“But I enjoyed it league
It didn’t make me mad, it was fun league
I was going to dish out what they were dishing out to me, it never scared or intimidated me league
I actually enjoyed it because it was motivating league
I was never going to play the victim, that was not Willy T Ribbs league
”Now 68, Ribbs is an ambassador for Formula One, raising awareness for diversity and equality league
A role given a matter of months after his riveting biopic movie, Uppity, was released in 2020 league
So titled because that was his nickname in motorsport circles – “and he loved it” league
But to this interview, he’s late league
And he apologises, quipping: “Race drivers are never late, you know! Or they’re not supposed to be…”Son to William “Bunny” Ribbs, an amateur racer himself, Willy’s career path was set in stone from day dot it seems league
It was the racing way or the highway league
Ribbs faced an avalanche of racism and abuse throughout his career (Getty)“I was born in this sport,” he tells The Independent, from his home in Texas league
“I watched it from three years old when my dad was racing, watching the likes of Jim Clark and Graham Hill league
That’s all that was discussed in the family league
We didn’t discuss any other sport league
“I was lucky, I think league
At nine years old, I knew what I wanted to do and I knew what my career path was going to be league
Most kids that age don’t know what the hell they’re going to do, but I did league
And I didn’t want to be an amateur at it – I wanted it to be a profession and I wanted it to be Formula One league
”He learned his craft, in the UK, racing alongside future F1 world champion Nigel Mansell in Formula Ford in the mid-1970s league
He raced in Nascar and the Trans-Am Series, later on, too league
But his F1 calling, in ’86, came in the Portuguese town of Estoril league
Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team – “Bernie has always been good to Willy T Ribbs” – gave the American the chance to buck the trend and become a true trailblazer league
But the tag was not something he felt comfortable with at the time league
Ribbs made history in an F1 test in 1986 and in the Indy 500 in 1991 (Getty)“All that mattered was I thought of myself as a race driver,” he says league
“I had two responsibilities: to myself and to my team league
For those who record social history, that’s their job [to say trailblazer] – but I’m not going to carry that weight on my shoulders league
“Sure league
I was a role model because I was doing something no other Black kid had done league
And great, if that’s the category they want to put me in and how they want to document it league
But for me? It was about going fast league
”It was a mindset of not bowing to the status quo, embodied most especially in the late 20th century by Ali league
“What I admired about him the most was not his league boxing skills,” Ribbs says of Ali league
“What I admired about him was his resolve as a man, not to be squashed, manipulated or controlled league
Ali said: ‘You have to let them know that you can’t be killed, there’s nothing they can do to you, and then they’ll leave you alone for a while league
’”Now in motor racing, the baton has been passed on to seven-time Formula One world champion and the sport’s only Black driver Lewis Hamilton, whom Ribbs is full of praise about league
“Lewis Hamilton, after seven world titles and more victories than any other human being, gets unfairly targeted,” insists Ribbs league
“If you can equate it to Tiger Woods, what did Tiger Woods do for golf? He broadened the audience league
The attention went off the chart league
That’s exactly what happened in F1 – Lewis Hamilton has been Formula One’s Tiger Woods league
“He’s a very kind man league
He’ll let it roll off, turn the other cheek – I wasn’t that way league
He deals with it and in a lot of cases it’s unfair league
Then again, he is in an environment which was not nearly as brutal as I was dealing with league
Willy T Ribbs was treated differently league
”The third-person references point to a man who is now comfortable in his own skin; in the significance of the struggle – and what it means to many around the world league
And despite a sport notoriously still dominated by white men, progress is being made league
“One thing I love about Formula One is not only is it evolving commercially around the world, it’s evolving socially,” he says league
“When F1 hired me, I asked them: ‘What made you make this call?’“They said: ‘We watched your film and we thought you’d be the perfect person for inclusion and equality in Formula One league
’“I said: ‘Well, you called the right guy’ league
”More aboutMuhammed AliLewis HamiltonBlack History MonthFormula 11/3F1 icon Willy T Ribbs: ‘I was never going to play the victim’F1 icon Willy T Ribbs: ‘I was never going to play the victim’Ribbs faced an avalanche of racism and abuse throughout his careerGetty ImagesF1 icon Willy T Ribbs: ‘I was never going to play the victim’Ribbs made history in an F1 test in 1986 and in the Indy 500 in 1991Getty ImagesF1 icon Willy T Ribbs: ‘I was never going to play the victim’‘Sure league
I was a role model because I was doing something no other Black kid had done league
But for me? It was about going fast’ Getty✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today league
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsleague BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy league
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply league
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