GARY NEWBON Eddie’s England a win from triumph after V for victory
TO date this columnist has correctly predicted the outcome of all the stages of the Rugby World Cup apart from one – and I am so happy to be proved wrong when I stated last week that New Zealand would beat England in the semifinals in Japan.
Now as we know England will play South Africa on Saturday at Yokohama (kick-off 9am UK time).
On the evidence of the two semifinals England will win their second World Cup after landing their first triumph back in 2003.
England were magnificent in their 19-7 semi-final in Yokohama.
The All Blacks did not know what hit them from the off.
They need to hit top form again because the Springboks, although just getting home against brave Wales 19-16, are deadly with place kicks through Handre Pollard. Do not give away penalties in your own half.
The Springboks have heavy forwards and speed on the wings.
However, England in top gear will be able to match them as long as they do not miss tackles.
There will be continuing heroes in that England line-up in all positions. This may well be the best-ever England team.
The build-up will be tremendous all week and I am sure many people who do not follow rugby will be tuned to ITV for the breakfast time kick-off
In 2003, ITV attracted more than nine million viewers to see Jonny Wilkinson’s extra-time dropped goal that gave England victory over Australia in Sydney to land the William Webb Ellis Trophy.
Ironically, Australia were coached that day by Eddie Jones, now head coach for England, who had not beaten New Zealand for seven years until Saturday.
The All Blacks and their nation were in a state of shock.
Favourites to land a hat-trick of wins in the tournament, they had not lost a World Cup match since the 2007 quarter-final. They had won 18 consecutive games since then.
The other outstanding stat is that New Zealand were kept scoreless in the first half for only the second time in the World Cup and in any Test Match since England last beat them.
A few columns ago, I compared Eddie Jones with the late Sir Alf Ramsey in the way they appear and their demeanour, although his news conferences can be funny (if sometimes crass).
Jones, like Ramsey, got the semi-final tactics spot on and I am sure he will again.
Even the way his squad lined up in a V sign shape when the All Blacks did their traditional but menacing Haka – a ceremonial Maori challenge in the form of vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouting.
It sent a message, surely, that England were confident, ready and expecting to win against the world’s number one team.
It did not phase them and even drew a smirk from the captain Owen Farrell. This will be Jones’ third
World Cup final. There are so many twists in his story.
The 59-year-old from Tasmania was South Africa’s assistant coach in the winning 2007 final against England in Paris.
He was Japan’s coach in the last World Cup in 2015 when they beat South Africa 34-32 in their first pool match which was described as the “greatest Rugby World Cup shock ever”.
This will be England’s fourth World Cup final which will put them level with New Zealand (three wins) and Australia (won it twice) – South Africa have won both previous finals that they have reached.
So to England v South Africa – the ninth World Cup final since the first back in 1987 won by New Zealand.
Let us hope England’s rugby players emulate our cricketers’ World Cup win in the summer at Lord’s.
I really believe they will.
THEN it was off to the Holte Suite to watch the Midlands Area welterweight title between champion Kaisee Benjamin of Birmingham and Levi Ferguson of Walsall.
It was a hard fight. The referee Shaun Messer from Dudley gave it to Benjamin
(pictured) by a four-round margin.
I made it much closer. One round or two at the most.
I was impressed with the professional debut of 20-year-old lightweight Lewis Coley from Kingstanding. He has an excellent jab and defence and has a great future. He won all four rounds against Swindon’s Joe Beeden. His next contest is at the same venue on November 30.