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Handré Pollard kicked the winning penalty. James Crombie/INPHO

South Africa survive huge scare as Pollard kick edges them past England

Steve Borthwick’s men nearly pulled off a shock but the Boks are into the World Cup final.

England 15

South Africa 16

WITH THE RAIN pouring down and the pressure on, Handré Pollard held his nerve.

His 78th-minute penalty saw the Springboks come through a monumental scare in a World Cup semi-final for which England were 14-point underdogs.

Steve Borthwick’s men largely nailed their plan, though, kicking brilliantly and repeatedly winning the ball back, bringing might up front, pestering the South African lineout, and defending ferociously. 

Captain Owen Farrell led their impressive effort, nailing a long-range drop goal at one point, but they couldn’t cling on as the might of the Springboks’ Bomb Squad told once again.

It was their scrum that saved them, with Ox Nche and co. winning a string of penalties at the set-piece to help Rassie Erasmus’ men avoid a huge shock defeat. Pollard was part of the bench impact too, sent on after just 31 minutes as Erasmus hooked starting out-half Manie Libbok when the tide was against his side.

England were so close to a remarkable World Cup win in Paris but they agonisingly fell to defeat in front of 78,098 people at Stade de France.

Instead, it’s the Springboks who advance to meet New Zealand in next weekend’s decider. As they go in search of back-to-back titles and their country’s fourth World Cup trophy, they will need to be much improved on this semi-final. 

It ended in acrimonious fashion as the two teams tangled after the final whistle but the Boks have survived.

owen-farrell-kicks-a-penalty Owen Farrell kicks a penalty. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

With the rain coming down steadily, it was always likely to be a kick-heavy battle and England started strongly in that regard, with an early aerial win by wing Elliot Daly under an Alex Mitchell box kick leading to Franco Mostert being pinged for going off his feet at the breakdown. Farrell happily slotted three points in just the third minute.

The English lineout applied pressure too, with Maro Itoje making a steal at the very first lineout of the game and then Boks hooker Bongi Mbonambi uncharacteristically throwing crooked, one of two such errors in the opening half.

The first of them resulted in England adding another three points, with captain Kolisi penalised under this team’s posts for hands in the ruck. Farrell tapped over the penalty for a 6-0 lead in the 10th minute.

The English pack muscled up in impressive fashion in the 10 minutes that followed, winning three maul turnovers in quick succession as the Boks looked to their traditional weapon to get them into the game.

22-year-old George Martin was key to the defensive destruction, with the third maul turnover coming just metres out from the English line. The men in white followed it up immediately with a scrum penalty.

Manie Libbok was able to get the Boks onto the scoreboard just after the quarter mark when England skipper Farrell was punished for not dropping the ball after a penalty went against his side. O’Keeffe marched England a further 10 metres and the Boks finally opted for the posts after the unsuccessful string of maul attempts.

manie-libbok-leaves-the-field-after-being-substituted Manie Libbok was replaced in the 31st minute. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

But more kick pressure from England gave Farrell another chance to kick at goal soon after. Boks fullback Damian Willemse threw a loose offload as opposite number Freddie Steward harried him, Courtney Lawes dove on the scraps, and the South Africans failed to roll away. 9-3.

The Boks nearly broke through with a clever lineout play that saw Kurt-Lee Arendse bursting into space right through the set-piece, but Mitchell made a superb tap tackle and Lawes pounced for the breakdown turnover.

Unhappy with the relative lack of control, Erasmus and Nienaber hooked Libbok in the 31st minute. But really it was a case of England losing some control in the next few minutes. Daly fumbled a high ball, then Billy Vunipola – just on as a blood sub for Tom Curry – knocked on in his own 22. Joe Marler was caught offside and Pollard took the three.

However, England finished the first half on a high as Pieter-Steph du Toit was done for obstruction under another English kick and Farrell smashed over the penalty for a 12-6 lead at the break.

Borthwick’s men had a big chance early in the second half after Farrell won back a Mitchell kick, then rolled a clever grubber in behind Willemse in the left corner, with the Boks fullback spilling the ball into touch. But having earned a five-metre lineout, hooker Jamie George threw in crooked. He followed up with another one just minutes later as the rain continued to pour.

duane-vermeulen-wins-a-high-ball-ahead-of-courtney-lawes Duane Vermeulen claims a high ball. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

The Boks had sent on experienced scrum-half Faf de Klerk and fullback Willie le Roux in the opening minutes of the second half, but England who continued to win moments.

Maro Itoje stripped Steven Kitshoff of the ball, while Daly’s aerial pressure forced a knock-on from Duane Vermeulen, who he had already emptied with a big tackle in the first half.

Yet from that scrum, the Boks’ Bomb Squad bench forwards made their presence felt with a huge turnover against the head, from which Pollard and Cheslin Kolbe kicked beautifully to give le Roux a chance. The sub fullback nudged ahead on the ground but his second touch was just too heavy and the ball beat him to the deadball line.

England responded brilliantly, with Farrell restarting long and Daly hammering Arendse in the tackle, sparking a counter-ruck turnover. Off the back of that, England carried into the Boks half, replacement scrum-half found Farrell in the pocket and he hammered over a quite brilliant 45-metre drop-goal.

England lead 15-6 with 25 minutes left and their kicking game continued to cause havoc. Right wing Jonny May won back yet another box kick, Farrell grubbered into the left corner again, and this time Arendse knocked on to have them a five-metre scrum.

The Boks needed a big moment and replacement loosehead prop Ox Nche came up with the goods as he won a penalty against English sub tighthead Kyle Sinckler.

faf-de-klerk-and-elliot-daly Faf de Klerk under pressure from Elliot Daly. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

With the game now into its final quarter, the Boks pack delivered another penalty a few minutes later but Lawes got up for a steal at the ensuing lineout.

England continued to defend aggressively, with wing May earning a superb breakdown turnover in the next passage of play when Kolbe ran straight into him.

But the scrum was now a huge issue for the English, with sub loosehead Ellis Genge pinged in the 69th minute, allowing the Boks to kick down into England’s 22. 

It felt like a huge moment and it proved to be. This time, the Boks broke off a dummy maul, replacement back row Kwagga Smith bursting off the back of it in remarkable fashion, getting stopped only a metre out. From there, sub lock RG Snyman used his size and strength to finish the job. 

Pollard’s conversion left the Boks trailing by two points with 10 minutes remaining.

owen-farrell-is-congratulated-on-kicking-a-drop-goal-by-joe-marchant Owen Farrell after smashing over a drop goal. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

England continued to kick into Boks territory and the South Africans responded by calling for a scrum when le Roux marked the ball, as they had done against France last weekend. 

There was no penalty that time but when O’Keeffe called for a scrum upfield just moments later, you sense that it was the Springboks moment.

The penalty duly arrived and Pollard blasted them into the World Cup final.

England scorers:

Tries:

Conversions: Owen Farrell 

Penalties: Owen Farrell [4 from 4]

Drop goal: Owen Farrell

South Africa scorers:

Tries: RG Snyman

Conversions: Handré Pollard [1 from 1]

Penalties: Manie Libbok [1 from 1], Handré Pollard [2 from 2]

ENGLAND: Freddie Steward; Jonny May (George Ford ’78), Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi (Ollie Lawrence ’74), Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell (captain), Alex Mitchell (Danny Care ’53); Joe Marler (Ellis Genge ’53), Jamie George (Theo Dan ‘), Dan Cole (Kyle Sinckler ’56); Maro Itoje, George Martin (Ollie Chessum ’53); Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry (blood – Billy Vunipola ’32 to ’40, permanent ’69), Ben Earl.

SOUTH AFRICA: Damian Willemse (Willie le Roux ’44); Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe; Manie Libbok (Handré Pollard ’31), Cobus Reinach (Faf de Klerk ’43); Steven Kitshoff (Ox Nche ’49), Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe (Vincent Koch ’56); Eben Etzebeth (RG Snyman ’46), Franco Mostert; Siya Kolisi (captain) (Deon Fourie ’51), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen (Kwagga Smith ’51).

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe [New Zealand].

Written by Murray Kinsella and posted on the42.ie

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    Mute Peter
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:03 PM

    Better team lost but that’s rugby. We had the same. But we can now enjoy the final.

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    Mute Eoin Jackson
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:12 PM

    @Peter: I disagree that we had the same? The All blacks were a better side than us on the night and were value for their win.

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    Mute Patrick O'Leary
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:27 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: ABs were absolutely worth their win last week.

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    Mute Horsebox
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:37 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: yeah, ireland could learn from both teams tonight – take the points when they are on offer

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    Mute Emmet Murphy
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:07 PM

    @Peter: Doesn’t matter who won, NZ will destroy SA in final and England if they won? Argentina game will be interesting though and their love of the English.

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    Mute zot
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:12 PM

    @Peter: Score is fair. SA can’t play in the wet but somehow adapted their game in the end. England is just a penalty show, don’t do trys

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    Mute DJ D
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:19 PM

    @Horsebox: exactly. I couldn’t understand why sexton kicked the ball to the line at least twice when the penalty kicks were kickable. We had our chances to win the match last week against NZ but didn’t take them and that is sport. Hopefully Ireland learn, regroup and take the lessons learnt and become a better team in the future

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:22 PM

    @Peter: better team of the two in the tournament, SA were wrecked after last week, England had fresh legs! Wonder how that happened. Nah, the better team overall got through.

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:25 PM

    @DJ D: this argument again? It’s really simple, don’t know why people keep bringing that up, they were down to 14 men at the time, it’s the logical decision, the outcome didn’t happen but statistically it does so if statistically it works against 14 men and is logical, what you’re suggesting is you go for the lesser points on offer. Oh you mean in hindsight it was something you couldn’t understand? In hindsight. Yes, must remember that one.

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    Mute Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh)
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 12:51 AM

    @TheGood Feign: totally agree. The armchair sportsmen, pain in the neck!!!!

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    Mute DJ D
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 2:32 AM

    @Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh): but I’m not an armchair supporter! I’ve supported Irish Rugby all my life which is nearly 50 years so don’t make BS accusations!!! I know what I am talking about unlike you who just clicks a studid comment

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    Mute DJ D
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 2:35 AM

    @TheGood Feign: sometimes logic doesn’t come into it especially when you are playing a Team of NZ character. You take whatever scores that come your way! Simple!!!

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    Mute DJ D
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 2:38 AM

    @DJ D: England in fairness did that tonight ie penalties, a drop goal and also did the same against Argentina. My point is you do whatever beats your opponent

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    Mute DJ D
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 2:55 AM

    @DJ D: obviously England didn’t win but could have won the game which it was looking like towards 70 minutes even if they didn’t score any tries. SA thankfully prevailed which hopefully will make a better final against NZ. N H teams need to learn and hopefully when the next world cup comes around it is the 2 from Europe who ultimately in my view are the best 2 teams in the world who play in the final in Australia

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    Mute Mick Duvanny
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:56 AM

    @TheGood Feign: I don’t think the statistics stack up kicking to the corner, even against 14 men. He did it to try and mentally dominate SA but it failed

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    Mute Luke Bradley
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 8:40 AM

    @DJ D: to be fair the argument of taking points vs going to the corner isn’t a particularly good one. Whatever choice one makes is wrong if the team end up losing. The perfect example was actually last weekend where you had two teams, both 4 points down going into the last 10 minutes. One team took the points on offer, the other tried to go to the corner. One team lost by 1 point and fans said they should’ve gone to the corner as the likelihood of getting a second chance in attack wasn’t in their favour. The other team went to the corner and lost by 4 points, with people claiming they should’ve taken points and tried then to get the chance for another penalty or drop goal. Whatever way you look at it at the end of the day there is no right answer unless you win.

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    Mute Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh)
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 4:24 PM

    @DJ D: I said armchair sportsmen not supporters. Those who know everything, but aren’t actually on the field. I also supported rugby from my mother’s lap, which is also over 50 years.

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    Mute DJ D
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 5:02 PM

    @Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh): you’re the EXPERT so I guess you’ll get a call from Andy Farrell any day now!!! Wow, how could he leave such an EXPERT out of the team is beyond me

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    Mute Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh)
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 6:14 PM

    @DJ D: yeah, great comeback to cover up a silly mistake. I’m not claiming to be an expert, because I’m not on the pitch. That Sir, is my point. Thanking you!!!!!

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 11:35 PM

    @Mick Duvanny: worked a lot of the time for both Ireland and Leinster (who also do this against 14 all the time). Show me these stats you’re referring to and I’ll believe you. You look at the points racked up against 14 men over 2022 and 2023 for Ireland and Leinster. Otherwise I’m afraid you’re not really talking about stats now are you?

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 11:42 PM

    @DJ D: haha no complaints from the armchair fans when it was working the past 2 years. Really. Logic came into it all through 2022 and 2023 for Ireland v 14 men, just look at that situation in previous games. Yes in hindsight you look like a genius saying this but if we’d lost and we had taken the points you’d be first on here saying why didn’t we go for the corner when we were against 14 men because we usually have success against that. We usually have success doing that statistically we usually score from that situation! Instead of focusing on Sextons kicks (because that logic was sound) the focus ought to be on how great NZ were, what if we’d got that try down but was held up huh?

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    Mute Luka Roche
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:06 PM

    Lovely to see the wheels of the Chariot fall off in Paris….

    Here’s hoping Argentina help too next Friday evening and England leave empty handed again….. I couldn’t even listen to the English people at work with their “it’s coming home”

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    Mute Chris Thaunton
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:11 PM

    @Luka Roche: Take your soccer ball style comments where they belong. Back to your buddies at work.

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    Mute Joseph Fitzgibbon
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:27 PM

    @Luka Roche: You won’t have to listen to ,,,,,,,,?? What about the likes of us that have to put with the likes of you with this, such predictable comment? If you haven’t got anything positive to show (apart from your clearly anti English feelings) then say nothing.

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    Mute biggybald
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:40 PM

    @Luka Roche: Wrong sport but nice try!

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    Mute Gerry Ryan
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:43 PM

    @Chris Thaunton: is this a rugger only page then, can only rugger types comment, not many of us could go through another 80 minutes of Farrell kicking the leather off the ball and serial boring renditions of Swing low sweet chariot.

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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:49 PM

    @Joseph Fitzgibbon: Similar anti Irish feelings on UK news comment section after the NZ game….. Get over it!

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    Mute Tony Peacock
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 12:39 AM

    @Luka Roche: what a boot!

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    Mute Tony Peacock
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 12:40 AM

    @Luka Roche: what a bigot!

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    Mute Mies Valkenburg
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:10 AM

    @Luka Roche: The ‘Big Chip on the Shoulder’ brigade emerges, eh? A heroic performance from England. Pity Ireland didn’t perform with the same intensity after the flukey win againsy the Boks.

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    Mute Mick Duvanny
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:54 AM

    @Mies Valkenburg: Sounds like you may have your own chip on your shoulder

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    Mute Fred Coloe
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 8:17 AM

    @Luka Roche: Are you aware that the year is 2023!?? You appear to be stuck in 1916!

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    Mute Mies Valkenburg
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 11:40 AM

    @Mick Duvanny: Duh! Pearls before swine…

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 5:51 PM

    @Mies Valkenburg: bitch, bitch.

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    Mute honey badger
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:12 PM

    It’s such a shame two incredible world cup final games were played during the quarters.

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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:18 PM

    @honey badger: it doesn’t make a difference. Its knock out. I doubt Ireland or France would want a third place off.

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    Mute Shane O Mac
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:34 PM

    @honey badger: no shame

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:30 PM

    @P. V. Aglue: wow good point, didn’t think about that fiasco. Tortorous game even the players don’t want to play. It’s interesting World Rugby don’t want to pursue a Plate/Bowl off shoot run simultaneously, but persist with the farcical 3rd place run off. Just do like boxing and award both teams a bronze….and proceed with the Plate/Bowl

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    Mute Orla McCabe
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:12 PM

    Never thought I would say this but I am heartbroken for England…

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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:25 PM

    @Orla McCabe: I was kinda hoping they’d do it during the game. Kinda worried myself. Maybe my dislike of England is waning as the years go by.

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    Mute Ian McDonald
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 12:30 AM

    @Orla McCabe: that feeling will pass Orla, rest assured !

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    Mute Tony Peacock
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 12:42 AM

    @: why would you have a dislike for England?

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:47 AM

    @Tony Peacock: read a history book

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    Mute Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh)
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:43 AM

    @Tom Collins: well said. The entitlement and arrogance still reigns supreme. It’s their own fault.

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    Mute Charles Mc Carthy
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:05 PM

    England were the better team. Them are the breaks.

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    Mute Temp Stuff
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 8:02 AM

    @Charles Mc Carthy: not according to the final score

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    Mute John J Barry
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 10:43 AM

    @Charles Mc Carthy: but SA better squad and that’s what won it for them

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    Mute Michael Garvey
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:14 PM

    Thank Christ for that. England were brilliant in fairness but they are also still essentially terrible and the thought of them in the final would turn you off ever watching rugby again. Next match for Ireland and France is against each other in the stade France in the six nations, that is basically the third place match for this World Cup

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    Mute Gerard Smith
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:46 PM

    @Michael Garvey: not its not. Because neither team won their quarter final.

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    Mute Jay
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:20 AM

    @Michael Garvey:It won’t be in Stade De France. Should be cracking game though.

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    Mute Liam Cotter
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:04 PM

    Aaaaannd breathe….

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    Mute Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh)
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:29 PM

    I’m delighted. England didn’t belong in the semi final and south africa played badly. We beat them, and they’re in the final. Anyway, I’m thrilled with that result. Yay.

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    Mute Mark Dunne
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:15 PM

    That was nearly the stuff of nightmares

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:14 PM

    Irish rugby fans are every bit as difficult to listen to as English ones these days. Both would have been unbearable to listen to winning the World Cup. The final for the neutrals to all enjoy happened thank god.

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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:26 PM

    @Dan The Man: and yet here you are in the middle of it dan

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:26 PM

    @Dan The Man: you’re very difficult for rugby fans to listen to

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    Mute Plastic Paddy
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:30 PM

    Typical Engerland, fall at the first difficult hurdle. They always seem to get the easiest draws in football and rugby and when they beat the minnows all the troglodytes think that they are world beaters. It’s glorious to see them fail after all the hype that surrounds Engerlandish sport.

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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:43 PM

    @Plastic Paddy: they done better than Ireland

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    Mute Blue Moon
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:51 PM

    @Plastic Paddy: Well your name says it all…. It was an interesting match as a neutral, South Africa didn’t play good rugby at all …. And now, both finalists should make a great game of it..

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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:27 PM

    No they didn’t, they had an easier draw and got a well jaded SA. they got further than Ireland they didn’t do better!

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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:59 PM

    @TheGood Feign: they went further and much better

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    Mute Aine
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 12:09 AM

    @Blue Moon: All blacks and Ireland are by far the best teams,would have been a great World Cup if they were playing each other.
    The draws unfortunately were just not in our favour,we were better than any other team bar the all blacks who had slight edge on us but not a lot…we actually could have been World Cup winners.
    Sorry for England,good game but nothing as good as ours last week…

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 4:50 PM

    As soon as they met a tier 1 team they lost

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 5:57 PM

    Last rwc England lost the final and refused to put on their medals, this time lost to sa again and started to push the sa team around, and they wonder why people don’t like them.

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    Mute qffaffaf affrafrfraf
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:13 PM

    Always great to see the Brits lose, All Blacks will win next week – Springboks’ legs are gone.

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    Mute Sean Walsh
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:17 PM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: You must have been very happy too last week, when Andy Farrell lost ?

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    Mute Anne Sullivan
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:23 PM

    @Sean Walsh: Andy Farrell didn’t lose, Ireland lost

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    Mute Joseph Fitzgibbon
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:29 PM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: What soccer team do you support?

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    Mute Mies Valkenburg
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:21 AM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: “Brits”? Oh.. you mean England. Duh! Another one with a chip on their shoulder. Sad.

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:49 AM

    @Sean Walsh: Andy Farrell wasn’t playing

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    Mute
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:22 PM

    SA have done well but NZ are getting better and better. Think NZ have it…

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    Mute sean o'keeffe
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:54 PM

    This was a boring game of rugby it was all kicking and scraping very little open play. But saying that England should have won they played their hearts out…

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    Mute Dermot
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:13 PM

    A close scoreline throughout the game made it interesting , otherwise a scrappy (world cup semi final ) lacking WOW

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    Mute Brendan
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:48 PM

    Whilst England were the better team for 75 mins, they never once looked like scoring a try. It’s that lack of ambition and final third attacking prowess that holds them back. The best teams always look to score with ball in hand.Surely New Zealand will have the fresher legs in the final. But will their setpiece hold up against the bomb squad. Intriguing!!

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    Mute EVAN MEADE
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 12:02 AM

    Munster lads came to save South Africa , the bench was the winner for the boks

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 1:48 AM

    @EVAN MEADE: provincial bias in a world Cup that’s sad. I suppose Leinster will be happy to have signed Nienaber for next season but it’s a bit of a yawn fest to go on about it.

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    Mute Triton
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 3:43 AM

    @TheGood Feign:

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    Mute EVAN MEADE
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:51 AM

    @TheGood Feign: na man just a bit of crack, I’m here for the rugby not the provincial bias, just happy to see him score and be playing

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    Mute hi from heaven
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:42 AM

    Reg Morrissey… because Farrell was afraid to upset sexton by taking him off.. could you imagine the toys he would have thrown out of the pram. heavens above the terrible twos.
    Sexton mentally bottled it on the night and kicked for the corner

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    Mute Lulu
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:07 AM

    @hi from heaven: Correct …. He should have taken him off after 50 minutes. Whining Matt Williams would have Byrne on as he’s a better player than Crowley …. that man is clueless… no wonder Leinster got rid of him.

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    Mute Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh)
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:46 AM

    @hi from heaven: do you support Irish rugby, just go with the winners, or come on here to spout drivel and wind true supporters up

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    Mute Triton
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    Oct 21st 2023, 11:38 PM

    Personally, Eng had an easy route, but what was worse was the UK commentary, as only northern team and.. God they are shocked now the free counts were the difference bad game as the World Cup has gone

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    Mute Sean
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:25 PM

    3 Irish based players making it to the final

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    Mute Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh)
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:31 PM

    @Sean: great point lol. Erin go Brách

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    Mute reg morrisey
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:33 AM

    Fair play to rassie. His team were atrocious so he made wholesale substitutions.i never understood why,when teams are playing terribly that the coach doesn’t take off all the ones playing terribly. Make changes while you can and don’t complain when the game is lost.

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    Mute hi from heaven
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:35 AM

    Sexton bottled it and kicked for the corner…they were not always down to 14 when this decision was made,as above comment suggests( probably watched it in a pub and doesn’t remember), he kicked for corner in opening couple of minutes

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    Mute James K.
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:25 AM

    I celebrated that Handre Pollard penalty late on as much as anything Ireland did in this tournament, what a sense of relief to see the final score

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    Mute Argus Romsworth
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 7:35 AM

    England have cemented their place as the best team in the northern hemisphere. South Africa easily win the final. New Zealand aren’t a good outfit nowadays.

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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 8:35 AM

    @Argus Romsworth: lol

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 4:57 PM

    @Argus Romsworth: dream on, what are you on

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    Mute
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 8:45 AM

    Anti English you’re having a laugh. It’s just a bit of banter between people/countries with a history of rivalry. You think the Scottish and Welsh people are not doing the same. Chill man

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    Mute Fred Coloe
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 8:19 AM

    The anti-English comments are truly pathetic.

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    Mute Lulu
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:08 AM

    @Fred Coloe: The West Brits ( the Pale) are out in force defending the crown !

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    Mute Anna Carr (Morrigan_Dubh)
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:44 AM

    @Fred Coloe: so says you.

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    Mute Mies Valkenburg
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 11:46 AM

    @Lulu: Dumb comment.

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 4:58 PM

    @Fred Coloe: why?

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    Mute uXGdMXx5
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:12 PM

    Ah but what about Israel!! Shocking game plan! See what I did there

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    Mute Alan
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    Oct 21st 2023, 10:29 PM

    @Sinead D: made an eejit of yourself?

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    Mute
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 8:42 AM

    Scrappy game but the stronger team won in the end. NZ will destroy SA in the final by at least 20 points

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    Mute Peter Byrne
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 8:48 AM

    Terrible tournament not one single upset in the whole world cup, winner of each game could have been predicted well before the tournament started. SA must be laughing, most of their squad picking up handy money and coaching with European sides. The game should go back to being amateur

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    Mute Luke Bradley
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 6:08 PM

    @Peter Byrne: so you called fiji beating Australia, Georgia drawing with Portugal and portugal beating Fiji? You must be a very wealthy boy with that sort of foresight

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    Mute Hector turtlehead
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 1:01 PM

    Clever play by a poor england side. Nearly made the final though.
    Ireland could learn a lot here.

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    Mute Ham Hat
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 9:23 AM

    No room for Apartheid. They should carried Palestinian flags.

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 5:00 PM

    @Ham Hat: stupid comment

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    Mute
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    Oct 22nd 2023, 10:04 AM

    It’s just unfortunate that Mr. Ignorant fack Eddie Jones isn’t in charge of them then it would be even sweeter.

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    Mute tabasum mir
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    Oct 23rd 2023, 8:31 AM

    Despite England’s heartbreaking World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of South Africa, coach Steve Borthwick vowed to build on the performance. Full blogs here…
    https://www.sabcsport.com/rugby/news/steve-borthwick-upbeat-about-england-s-future-after-agonising-world-cup-defeat

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