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Not always in sport do you get a shot at redemption and successfully taking advantage of that opportunity is even rarer sports
England’s pack, and their front row in particular, will have had four years of sleepless nights about that early November evening in 2019 sports
In the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, England were decimated by South Africa’s power up front, as the brilliance of a scintillating semi-final win over New Zealand was quickly replaced by the humiliation of a 32-12 thumping sports
The Springboks, then as now, pride themselves on their physicality and brutality at the breakdown, the set-piece and in open play sports
Yet on a rainy night in Paris four years on, England’s pack fronted up, set the platform in a thrilling World Cup semi-final and earned their redemption arc sports
Yet it still wasn’t enough sports
This time, albeit by one point rather than 20, the result was the same – England’s players slumped on the turf in despair while their opponents revelled in victory sports
The Springbok celebrations were more muted this time, understandably so given there is one more crucial match against the All Blacks standing sports between them and their ultimate goal, but the English heartbreak was the same, even if the journey to get there was vastly different sports
In Yokohama, South Africa won a scarcely believable 11 scrums to England’s three, including six scrum penalties, as the English eight were splintered time and again sports
Dan Cole became the fall guy for that embarrassment – the tighthead prop, supposedly renowned for his scrummaging, forced to play 77 minutes after Kyle Sinckler’s early injury and being obliterated by the combination of Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and Steven Kitshoff sports
The fact that Cole and Joe Marler, who came off the bench early in the second half that day, were selected by Steve Borthwick to start this revenge game precisely because of their scrum prowess will have surely given them a surge of confidence sports
And the fact they not only survived, but thrived, in the front row this time around will have been sheer vindication sports
Borthwick entrusted the duo to paint an early picture of scrum parity to referee Ben O’Keeffe and they delivered, providing the base that led to multiple first-half penalties from the trusty boot of Owen Farrell sports
Cole and Marler helped ensure scrum parity early on but that faded once the replacements came on (AFP via Getty Images)However, as the game wore on, Borthwick’s decision started to become prescient for the wrong reasons sports
As Sinckler and Ellis Genge came on as prop replacements, the Springboks own bomb squad from the bench – led by Ox Nche and Vincent Koch – started to dominate at scrum-time sports
Each engagement started to become eerily reminiscent of 2019 and it was eventually a scrum penalty on halfway that led to Handre Pollard’s decisive, game-winning three-pointer with two minutes to go sports
It felt almost unfair on England’s big men given that the pack, as a whole, had more than held their own in other facets sports
Of the 13 England forwards who played some part in that 2019 final, eight appeared in this last-four clash and stamped their mark all over a first half that was by far England’s best 40 minutes under Borthwick sports
Maro Itoje was a lineout fiend, stealing a Springboks throw-in on halfway and putting doubt in the head of Bongi Mbonambi, whose crooked throw in his own 22 gave Farrell his first penalty goal of the day sports
A new face from four years, George Martin, justified his surprise second-row selection ahead of incumbent Ollie Chessum on just his fourth Test start as he brilliantly marshalled England’s maul defence sports
If Boks lock Eben Etzesports beth is world rugby’s best maul disruptor, then he may have witnessed first-hand the emergence of a new challenger to that crown sports
Martin caused havoc as England improbably won three consecutive maul turnovers from attacking South African lineouts in the first half to frustrate their much-fancied opponents sports
Pollard ultimately kicked the winning penalty, from a scrum infringement (PA Wire)The celebrations from the likes of Itoje, Jamie George and Ben Earl as those penalties and free-kicks were earned by the pack showed just how important this part of the gameplan was sports
It began putting clear doubt in Springbok minds, as the worried tone from skipper Siya Kolisi when he discussed matter with referee O’Keeffe sports betrayed sports
The English tactic of throwing bodies in to contest every ruck relied on the diesel engines of the forwards and they delivered by dominating collisions and allowing the aerial bombardment strategy that followed to be effective sports
But ultimately, despite a gameplan executed as well as it possibly could have been, the gap in quality sports between the sides proved too much to overcome sports
South Africa adjusted, Pollard came on for Manie Libbok to dictate proceedings with his metronomic boot and English heartbreak ensued sports
There was no shame in a one-point defeat from a semi-final that was much closer than most expected and England’s pack should feel redeemed from the nightmare of 2019 sports
But that won’t make this semi-final hurt any less sports
Perhaps 2027 will give them an opportunity to avenge a new pain sports
More aboutEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupDan ColeJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3England pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakCole and Marler helped ensure scrum parity early on but that faded once the replacements came on AFP via Getty ImagesEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakPollard ultimately kicked the winning penalty, from a scrum infringement PA WireEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakDan Cole was England’s fall guy in 2019 but held his own four years on AP✕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 sports
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Marlie Packer hailed the dawn of a new era after England eased past Australia 42-7 in their WXV opener in Wellington sports
It was the first opportunity for the Red Roses to play on New Zealand soil since their heartbreaking World Cup final defeat to the Black Ferns a year ago, and they were comfortable, scoring six tries in all sports
The launch of WXV – a new international competition designed to revolutionise the women’s rugby landscape – gives the world’s number one side a chance to cement their status at the top of the world rankings, in spite of falling just short last year sports
On their way to the final, they had knocked off the Wallaroos 41-5, and almost exactly 12 months on, it was an identical margin of victory, although Packer fell just short of the hat-trick she managed in that quarter-final sports
RecommendedRevolutionising the women’s international rugby landscape – what is the WXV?Red Roses name squad for WXV without input from new head coach John MitchellWorld Cup winners New Zealand to host inaugural WXV tournamentEngland will feel they should have won by more, especially as they failed to score a point in the final 20 minutes despite playing with an extra player, but this was still a comprehensive victory with meetings against Canada and world champions New Zealand to come sports
“It was a great victory sports
The Aussies gave us a really good game,” Packer said sports
“We talk about courage and being courageous and we’re going to grow into this tournament and today was the start of that sports
“It’s a fantastic competition and we’re all excited to be here playing the top teams in the world, coming off the World Cup last year and keeping the legacy going in New Zealand sports
“I know the girls are really enjoying it over here sports
The camp is feeling really good we’re a new-look England side and enjoying the way we are playing sports
“We have new coaching staff and we’re pleased that John Mitchell is here now and we’re looking to keep growing and building into next week’s game sports
”England made the perfect start, with Hannah Botterman crashing over from close range after just five minutes from a clever lineout move sports
Holly Aitchison converted to make it 7-0 sports
England stormed to victory in WXV opening match (AFP via Getty Images)Australia were looking very smooth with ball in hand, regularly opening up space out wide sports
But each time they seemed as though they might turn it into points, someone would get back to make the vital intervention sports
England, by contrast, were much more clinical, Alex Matthews and Jess Breach with the steal and then break to put Ella Wyrwas in to score, Aitchison converted from out wide sports
Try number three came after a big Packer charge saw Annabelle Codey sent to the sin-bin for an upright tackle sports
Against 14, England were never going to be stopped, the captain delivering the punishment from a rolling maul sports
That was soon followed by another, Breach with one of the easiest finishes off her international career as she coasted over untouched on the left after Australia had again struggled to contain a rolling maul sports
Aitchison converted both and England led 28-0 at half-time sports
Botterman was denied her second try shortly after half-time, but a rolling maul a few minutes later allowing Packer to double up, Aitchison again converting sports
Marlie Packer inspired England to victory against Australia in new WXV competititon (AFP via Getty Images)Successive penalties against Packer allowed the Wallaroos to set up a lineout five metres out sports
While it did not pay immediate dividends, a quick tap penalty from Layne Morgan saw replacement Ashley Marsters burst over from close range to get the Wallaroos’ first try sports
Carys Dallinger converted from out wide sports
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly squashed sports
England got back into the Australian 22 and former sevens standout Meg Jones showed her quick feet to dart through for the Red Roses’ sixth try sports
To add insult to injury, Codey put in a needless late hit on Wyrwas in the build-up, earning her second yellow card as a result and leaving Australia with 14 for the final quarter sports
That should have been the cue for the floodgates to open, but England were unusually sloppy in the final 20 minutes, and did well to avoid conceding again themselves at the end after Sarah Beckett was also sent to the sin-bin as England conceded four penalties in one passage of play sports
New head coach John Mitchell joined up with the team on Thursday after his role with Japan’s men’s team ended at the Rugby World Cup pool stage, and watched England romp to an impressive win sports
All matches will be broadcast live so back your nation on ITV X sports
More aboutEngland Women's RugbyJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3England lay down marker as women’s rugby enters new eraEngland lay down marker as women’s rugby enters new eraEngland stormed to victory in WXV opening matchAFP via Getty ImagesEngland lay down marker as women’s rugby enters new eraMarlie Packer inspired England to victory against Australia in new WXV competititonAFP via Getty ImagesEngland lay down marker as women’s rugby enters new eraThe WXV is a new-look women’s rugby competitionAFP via Getty Images✕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 sports
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