England’s top dog, Steve Borthwick, is gearing up for another tactical shake-up after their triumphant victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Fiji.
Owen Farrell’s boot took England to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals with a narrow victory 30-24 victory in Marseille.
With Ireland and Wales taking hits last Saturday, England stands alone as the last standing home nation in the tournament.
The next hurdle? A showdown with reigning champs South Africa, set to replay the electrifying 2019 final.
This time, the Springboks promise a far meatier challenge for England, who finally found their rhythm after a rollercoaster 2023 campaign. Amidst the anticipation, Leicester Tigers’ star, Freddie Steward, is poised for a fullback return, primed to combat the imminent aerial assault from the Springboks.
In an eyebrow-raising twist, intel from RUCK insiders hints at the possibility of Joe Marler leading the charge, potentially benching Ellis Genge. But don’t be fooled – it’s not a downgrade.
Borthwick is banking on his former Tigers skipper to go head-to-head with South Africa’s formidable bomb squad.
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Five players who underperformed in the World Cup quarter-finals
We take a look at five players who failed to perform in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
#1. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
Irish Independent 5/10: “Pinged twice in the opening minutes, once at the breakdown and once in the scrum. Indeed, he drew the whistle from Wayne Barnes in two of the game’s first three scrums. Running dialogue with the ref but seemed frustrated throughout.”
Planet Rugby 3/10: “His illegalities at the scrum finally caught up with him as Wayne Barnes continually penalised Porter for not driving straight. However, it was his needless infringement in the opening minute which set the tone.”
RUCK 5/10: “Penalised in an early scrum, as his hips were too wide in the pack. A big hit on Will Jordan on the 20th phase, as Ireland defended strong. Couldn’t support Doris in time for his carry, as the number eight was isolated, and Porter couldn’t stop Savea’s turnover. Penalised twice more in the scrum for the same offence, in a performance he would want to forget in the pack. “