Rugby: England storm All Blacks citadel to reach World Cup final

[rooster59]

Rugby: England storm All Blacks citadel to reach World Cup final

By Ossian Shine

 

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Semi Final - England v New Zealand - International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan - October 26, 2019 England's George Ford reacts during the match REUTERS/Edgar Su

 

TOKYO (Reuters) - All Blacks? This Rugby World Cup semi-final was all white.

 

In Yokahama on Saturday, it took just over a minute for England to breach New Zealand's rugby citadel. By the end of 80 minutes they had well and truly sacked it.

 

Eddie Jones’s England players played with breathtaking power and precision to win 19-7, a result that not only puts them within touching distance of a second World Cup crown, but arguably re-calibrates world rugby's pecking order.

 

"New Zealand are the gods of rugby so we had to take it to them and put them on the back foot as much as we could," smiled Jones.

 

New Zealand were battered in possession, taunted by England's superb handling, and kicked to shreds by George Ford.

How they must have wished for the boot of Dan Carter or the Richie McCaw-ness of Richie McCaw.

 

Instead, almost 69,000 rugby fans witnessed that most rare of sporting apparitions: an outfought, outplayed and flustered New Zealand team.

 

"We were beaten by the better team," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said. "Take it on the chin. Hard to stomach but this is what happens in sport sometimes. Sometimes sport isn't fair but tonight it was."

 

DEMOLITION OF AN ICON

 

With more English territory, possession and set pieces won, the statistics of this clash tell their own tale, but this was about much more than figures and scores and percentages; this was the surgical, forensic demolition of a sporting icon.

 

Long the byword for rugby invincibility, the All Blacks had been unbeaten in 19 World Cup matches going back to 2007 - 18 wins and a technical draw after their clash with Italy here was cancelled due to a typhoon.

 

England's record against the three-times World Cup winners had offered no real comfort -- seven wins from 41 games, none at the World Cup and only one victory, in 2012, in their last 16 clashes.

 

Yet for all the pyrotechnics and theatrics with which organisers heralded this semi-final -- thunderous Japanese drumming and flame cannons shooting fire into the darkening skies before kick-off – little could prepare spectators for what would unfold.

 

All day this had felt special. There is something about this England squad.

 

And when they metaphorically embraced the famous haka with a v-shape formation of their own before kick-off, rejecting absolutely the intimidation many nations feel at the sight of the traditional Maori ceremonial challenge, all bets were off.

 

"We knew we had to be in a radius," skipper Owen Farrell said. "We wanted to not stand there and have them come at us. We wanted to have a respectful distance but we didn't want to be just a flat line and have them come at us."

 

Other teams have confronted the haka in novel ways before, but most of them have gone on to lose.

 

HAKA CONFRONTED

 

Not this England side, though, and with less than 100 seconds on the clock, a magnificent flurry of passing ended in centre Manu Tuilagi punching through the All Blacks' defence from close range for a try.

 

Dominant England wasted a handful of chances, but added to their score just before the break through a George Ford penalty.

 

That half must have made for uncomfortable viewing for the whole of New Zealand as their All Blacks went in trailing 10-0, although some might have felt relief that the deficit was so small.

 

Their reputation as one of the greatest teams in any sport has been hard won, however, and it was perhaps inevitable England would be made to pay for some wasted chances.

 

Sure enough, just before the hour flanker Ardie Savea nipped in to touch down when England's otherwise impressive lineout was caught dozing, and Richie Mo'unga converted. So much for all the play and all the pressure.

 

Enter that man Ford. Taking over the kicking from a limping Farrell, he ended up slotting four penalties for 12 points while New Zealand failed to add to their tally, and England eased to the finish line.

 

This New Zealand performance was ultimately characterised by poor discipline, moments of anger and some hot-headed decisions. Understandable, perhaps. The All Blacks are not used to losing.

 

But there was nothing even their inventive play could do to prevent being smothered by England's white blanket.

 

For the All Blacks it will be time for reflection and rebuilding, while England reach their fourth World Cup final and first since 2007.

 

They will meet either Wales or South Africa in the Nov. 2 showpiece, seeking their second victory after 2003 when they became the first, and to date only, northern hemisphere country to claim rugby's biggest prize.

 

(Additional reporting by Jack Tarrant; editing by Tony Lawrence)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-26

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

 

[fasteddie]

Great win against a great team, just one more win boys hopefully against Wales.

[Aforek]

England was very good , I must say; they deserve their victory ( and  I am not English ???? ) 

[Baerboxer]

This is the same England side that demolished Australia and the same All Blacks side that demolished Ireland.

 

Very surprising how England so dominated this match. 

 

Wales v South Africa should be interesting. Wales played woefully against France, never really in control and very lucky to win with a somewhat controversial late score. Bokke lost to All Blacks in their opening match. 

 

That's the great thing about Rugby, unpredictable!

 

 

[Mick501]

Headline should read, "Another Australian coached team makes a World Cup final!"

 

when will England finally learn, and get an Aussie coach for their national football team?

 

in all seriousness though, England have been formidable in the quarter finals and semis, in by far the harder half of the draw.  Likely to face South Africa, who should be easy beats compared to what they've already achieved.  Congrats on an already successful  tournament.

[PETERTHEEATER]

13 hours ago, Aforek said:

England was very good , I must say; they deserve their victory ( and  I am not English ???? ) 

But, are you British?

[Aforek]

1 hour ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

But, are you British?

No, French, and I like to see rugby when it's played at a such level; much more exciting than  football, which can be very boring 

[terminalmadness]

Awesome...must have been a great game to watch.

 

I gotta laugh: if you wrote this in a US newspaper or online:

"All Blacks? This Rugby World Cup semi-final was all white."

 

There would be rioting in the streets protesting racism!