As the wheel turns, so the hunters become the hunted. England chased down New Zealand last weekend, herding the holders into an enclosure, but they know South Africa are coming to round them up on Saturday.
The Springboks’ head coach, Rassie Erasmus, was happy on Tuesday to more than hint at his line-up for the final and point out that England could expect more of the same remorselessly physical, attritional rugby that had taken them to the final day. He is not one given to subterfuge or mind games: the only doubt he looks to put into opponents is whether they are equipped to deal with what they know they will face.
Written by Paul Rees in Tokyo
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/31/unsettling-england-springboks-main-aim-rassie-erasmus under the title “The Breakdown | Defence will be Springboks’ strength against England in World Cup final”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
