England will have too much for the one-dimensional Springboks

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

As Owen Farrell stood watching New Zealand perform the Haka before the World Cup semi-final kicked off in Yokohama, he wasn’t intimidated by the scale of the challenge which lay in store for the England line-up.

Not a word of it. Instead, he smiled as the All Blacks were in full flow and looked around at his team-mates. Farrell wasn’t being disrespectful but nor was he buying into the historical baggage which surrounds Kiwi rugby.

And, of course, once the action started, the RFU’s finest were in the ascendancy for almost the whole 80 minutes.

It was an awesome example of a team reaching its peak exactly when it was required and players such as Farrell, George Ford, Maro Itoje, Manu Tuilagi, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill stamped their authority all over the contest.

It was a dazzling illustration of one of the cardinal rules of sport: don’t allow the opposition to gain momentum or settle into their gameplan, but get in their faces immediately and try to put them on the back foot.

Make no mistake, England are overwhelming favourites to beat

South Africa in Saturday’s final and lift the Webb Ellis Trophy for the second time. Apart from one botched lineout, they comprehensively slammed the door shut on the All Blacks and it’s remarkable to reflect that Leicester City’s soccer team scored two more goals against Southampton at the weekend than New Zealand managed points.

South Africa have earned their place in the denouement with a series of gritty displays in the last few weeks.

They weathered the Japanese storm in the first 40 minutes before overpowering them in the second period. And they were equally indebted to their formidable forwards as the war of attrition with Wales advanced on Sunday.

But they are a one-dimensional outfit and, while they have pace out wide, their coach Rassie Erasmus knows they will have to frustrate England, force mistakes and cross their fingers that Eddie Jones’ men can’t repeat the coruscating brilliance which propelled them to the final.

It’s difficult at this juncture to envisage the Springboks tearing up their template and opting for an expansive approach, but it may be their best hope.

However, there’s a confidence and sense of purpose about the Jones boys.

And with one World Cup – in cricket – already achieved this year, it would be a significant shock if Farrell, Ford and Co fail to double that number.

“It was an awesome example of a team reaching its peak just when required”