[A38]

I was not able to watch the game against SA on Saturday - and have not seen the recording.

The papers this morning are talking about pride returned and such like.

Are they right? Has a corner indeed been turned?

[TeflonTed]

England came out with fire in their bellies. The effort was undoubted.

Much is being made of the close finish, less of the fact that SA were way off their best. The selection policy seemed wrong, but was swiftly corrected early in the second half, and the bench was much more effective than England’s . Pollard in particular was a game-changer.

England’s scrum fell apart after Marler and Cole were changed, and if the game had gone on longer the score difference would have been larger.

Faz must learn some manners around Sir, but I wouldn’t see that as a problem, because like a good half of the squad he’s surely due to quietly stand aside. Eddie and those in the RFU who supported him have a lot to answer for, and Borthwick will surely now be making fundamental changes to the squad.

The bronze play off could be close, and frustrations could be evident. Probably well worth a watch.

As to the final, it looks to me to be a cracker. The AB’s have found something from somewhere, and look good in all departments. Can SA overcome match weariness and regain their mojo, will Mbonambi be sanctioned (I doubt it, but the press are not going to let it go) and is Tom Curry really that bad a bloke?

The major lesson for World Rugby is to sort out the timing of pool allocations and draws for next time. The quarter finals shouldn’t have been the highlight of the tournament.

[patgadd]

I'm not normally a Marler fan, but loved this:https://twitter.com/i/status/1716076847190966609

[SimonG]

I was not able to watch the game against SA on Saturday - and have not seen the recording.

The papers this morning are talking about pride returned and such like.

Are they right? Has a corner indeed been turned?

For me if a corner has been turned it is onto an equally dreary path of negative boring uninspiring rugby where we may be able to achieve the odd result by stifling the game and removing all joy flair and excitement. I'd rather we actually tried to win games by being positive and backing ourselves rather than by trying to bore everyone into submission.