Lifting cup next time is only way to ease the hurt

LOSING the World Cup final is really going to hurt for the England rugby team – a hurt that will last a long time.

England were tactically outclassed on Saturday when the Springboks manipulated the game into a physical battle they would always dominate.

England were bullied in the scrum and failed to break through the ‘Green Wall’ in open play.

They persisted with their plan, hoping it would lead to a different outcome. It didn’t.

Straight after the game it looked as though the England lads had taken defeat in their stride.

Captain Owen Farrell (right) corralled his troops and had them circle for a post-match speech.

I imagine it was similar to the ones I heard, nothing very insightful or tactically analytical, instead usually something generic with a nod to the future.

“We weren’t good enough today, but remember this feeling, because we will be back,” or something like that.

Some of the team seemed to take solace from this.

But a bit later the speaker system in the Yokohama International Stadium began to pump out the hymn ‘I Vow To Thee, My Country’ on repeat – almost as if the PA announcer had it ready for an England victory. As the line for the runners-up medals began to form, the masks of determination and emotional stability began to slip and it started to dawn on them what defeat meant.

In sport, our entire careers are often broken down to a single TV strapline like ‘Sam Quek – Olympic gold medallist’.

But that doesn’t tell you about the blood, sweat and tears expended during a gruelling 12-year career.

It doesn’t tell you about the other tournaments.

You are defined by your results on the biggest stage you perform on – regardless of whether that summary is fair.

These England players will now be called ‘World Cup finalist’ or ‘World Cup runner-up’ and every time they will be reminded of what could have been.

The only way to eradicate that tag is to win their next tournament.

That is my experience, because no amount of tea and sympathy ever soothed my soul.

I’M delighted and relieved that the men’s and women’s GB Hockey teams have secured their places in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. To have not made it, particularly for the women after the success of Rio, would have been a massive blow to the sport. All that matters now is that they will be there, and they can focus on that.