CHRIS FOY: England CAN shock the Boks! We all wrote off Steve Borthwick’s team, but Owen Farrell and Co have earned a free hit at the best team in the world and 2019’s World Cup champions

• South Africa come into the World Cup semi-final with the weight of expectation
• England have a superior record in semi-finals to South Africa – four wins, one loss
• Steve Borthwick has somehow instilled optimism in his own understated way 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

After enduring a year of trouble and strife, criticism and apathy, England have earned a once-in-a-lifetime free hit, unburdened by pressure going into their World Cup semi-final.

The weight is all on South Africa — the champions who are predicted to take another step towards retaining their title at the end of this month. They are the ones with a target on their backs, against rising opponents who can take a massive shot at them knowing that if it goes wrong, there will be no savage inquest.

Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks’ director of rugby, can play all the mind-games he likes. The reality is that his team are the ones carrying expectation with them, while England have the rare chance to play like a liberated team.

Never before has there been such a scenario. Even the written-off 2007 side who climbed off the canvas to reach the final were reigning champions, with all the baggage which goes with that status. 

England won a semi-final that year in the same stadium where they will pursue a glorious repeat now. They have played in five semis and won four, compared to South Africa’s record of three from five.

England haven’t set pulses racing but have emerged from dire pre-tournament form to be the standard-bearers for Europe and the north

South Africa beat England 15-6 in the 2007 World Cup final and have the weight of expectation on them 

Only a feeble surrender would attract real scorn and that won’t happen. There has been a tangible mood shift in the England camp this week. After spending much of their campaign trying not to say anything which could be construed as even remotely confident, they have come out of their shells. The underdogs intend to prove they have a bark and a bite.

Who would have thought it: England as standard-bearers for Europe and the north? Maybe some neighbours will get behind them, but historical animosity makes that unlikely and they won’t care anyway, despite a noticeable easing of the collective siege mentality this week.

What England crave is the backing of their own people and perhaps this is the moment when that will come, on a grand scale. While the nation’s cricketers face a battle to reach the last-four stage of their global showpiece, the rugby team have made it, in adversity, so that is worthy of public engagement. 

They haven’t set pulses racing, but having emerged from the rubble of a dire Six Nations and warm-up series, they have kept winning and are gaining greater fluency by the week.

In the build-up here, England have been at pains to dodge the revenge angle, having lost the 2019 final heavily against these rivals. But with so many of the same players still involved on both sides, that is bound to be in the motivational pot, as the Boks duly noted. Handre Pollard said: ‘There’s going to be beef,’ — and he was talking about the English desire for vengeance rather than the post-match meal.

At the same stage in Tokyo four years ago, Eddie Jones vowed England would ‘chase New Zealand down the street’ and they duly won. Borthwick has not come up with any stunts like kiwi fruit-slicing with a samurai sword which his predecessor did to set the tone for an epic feat in the Far East, but he has instilled optimism in his own, understated way. The clear message about the favourites is that they are good, but mortal and beatable.

There is only one unbeaten team left at this World Cup and that is unheralded England. South Africa have taken the far harder route to reach this point, having beaten hosts France in an epic quarter-final, lost a pool-stage classic against Ireland and won a tricky opener against Scotland.

England have had a helpful route, and have needed it to continue their fast-forward development process. Ordinarily, no team would be trying to build core elements of their game during the biggest event in the sport, but that has been the by-product of all the upheaval which led to Borthwick being asked to mount a late salvage operation. The full management team have only been in place for four months.

Steve Borthwick’s men have overcome adversity; only a feeble surrender would bring scorn

There is a sense that South Africa, top of the world rankings, are peaking at the right time

What awaits now requires a giant leap in standards. If Owen Farrell and Co are a fraction short of their very best, this could be messy. Even if England rise to the grand occasion, it still may not be enough. The Boks were sensational against France; powerful, savvy and lethal when chances arose. It was the same when they smashed New Zealand at Twickenham at the end of August, the day before England were upset by Fiji.

There is a sense of South Africa peaking at the right time. They have returned to the top of the world rankings — four places above England — ahead of this momentous fixture. 

They have more than just a muscular Bomb Squad and an effective kicking game these days. With Manie Libbok at fly-half and Damian Willemse at full back, they have playmakers capable of creative brilliance. In Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, they have two of the deadliest finishers in the tournament.

And yet… England have areas they can target. Borthwick’s side have a high-class line-out and their defence has become aggressively resilient at this World Cup. They will also hope for a breakdown edge, as Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry and Ben Earl arguably pose a greater jackal threat than their Springbok counterparts.

With George Ford among the replacements, the Sale fly-half can join Farrell to steer their team through the business end of the match with supreme control. His shrewd distribution, tactical kicking and drop-goal prowess could come in handy if this turns into a tight contest. Expect Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler to offer explosive impact from the bench too.

But the primary lesson from Yokohama four years ago is that no game against South Africa is ever going to end well if the scrum is dismantled. There is no ‘Beast’ this time but the Springboks still have fearsome set-piece clout.

Cheslin Kolbe is one of the deadliest finishers in the tournament and England should be wary

England have areas they can target and the likes of Courtney Lawes pose a great jackal threat

The bookies have England as 5-1 outsiders but Borthwick’s side believe they can shock

So much onus is on England’s front row to repel an overwhelming force. This is why Joe Marler was brought back, after various retirements. This is a redemption shot for Dan Cole.

The bookies have Borthwick’s men as 5-1 outsiders which is a fair reflection of the balance of power. The consensus view is that there is a gulf in class which will be exposed and all the evidence supports that theory.

But the mood music this week has been interesting. England really seem to have conviction that they can deliver a shock.

They can take their big shot as liberated, unburdened men. No pressure. No jeopardy. No fear.

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