Challenge for English to back up great test

The tit-for-tat between Eddie Jones and Warren Gatland has provided an amusing backdrop to the build-up to Saturday’s World Cup final.

But the truth is that Gatland is right. When the Wales coach noted on Sunday that teams “sometimes play their final in the semifinals and don’t always turn up for a final”, it was a timely statement of fact.

You only need to look back through the World Cup archives. France in 1987 and 1999, New Zealand in 1995 and 2011 — both struggled in those finals after producing outstanding displays in their semifinals.

So how do England try to make sure they peak when it matters?

Andy Lane, professor of sports psychology at the Centre for Health and Human Performance, says it is about building South Africa up to the same extent as they did New Zealand.

“It’s definitely not easy maintaining the emotional pitch they found last weekend.

“England would have built that game up for years. They always knew they were going to face the All Blacks in the semis if things went according to plan. They had their response to the haka planned, they entered the game with an emotional intensity and they maintained those levels throughout. Can they get as up for South Africa, even though they are, on paper, inferior?

“I would keep reinforcing the message to England’s players that they haven’t won anything yet. South Africa are one game away from winning the World Cup and are likely to produce their best game in the final.

“I would consider showing England’s players some of the big upsets of this or any previous World Cup, to remind them how dangerous this match is. They need to realise last weekend’s success is no guarantee of future success. The Springboks are still a massive threat.”

South Africa are building up England. After scraping home against Wales, their players all queued up to sing England’s praises.

“They left some tries out there and there are still a lot of things they could be better at,” observed first five-eighths Handre Pollard.

“They could have put a few more points on the All Blacks. They were unbelievable.”

Forward Lood de Jager agreed: “England are the favourites. If you look at their performance last weekend, they deserve to be favourites.”

England must beware of this flattery. They must stay motivated and hungry.

“Their goal at the start of the tournament was to win the World Cup,” Lane said. “They have not won anything yet. They need to re-establish their goal and build South Africa up.”