So while we are currently on lock down and can only watch reruns of matches i thought what better place to start than with arguably England's greatest rugby victory, maybe not of all time but certainly in the last 10 years. England's performance in the semi final of the 2019 rugby world cup will go down in history as one of the best performances from a English side, not only because of it being against tournament favourites the All Blacks, it was because it was the style and the way the victory was earned.
England bullied New Zealand from start to finish. They where so much more dominate in defence, this was shown all the way though the game with big hits going in all over the field from every player, this commitment to powerful defence was highlighted at 78 minutes when the England defence defended like it was the first minute of the game and they where on their own line but in actual fact they where on their own 10 meter line smashing the New Zealand attack back and back.
England played a game that was not only physical in defence but in attack also, within the first 5 mins of the game England had scored a try and had bullied their way up the field and made the New Zealand defence look weak. England continued this game plan all the way though the game.
New Zealand did offer some signs of danger with some dangerous running when the play was more broken up but England where able to keep them of the score board for the first 40 minutes.
England did not let the pressure stop in the second half with some early attacking opportunities, New Zealand where lucky not to be further behind in the game with two disallowed tries from Ben Youngs and Sam Underhill.
New Zealand managed to get a try in the second half but this did nothing to help them as it just got the English more fired up to attack.
George Ford took over the kicking from Owen Farrell who had been injured in the first half. Ford was world class off the tee and stretched England's lead time and time again.
England's game plan was to dominate the All Blacks in all areas of the field and to force them to make mistakes, give away penalties and kick the ball away.
England executed the game plan perfectly and for that 80 minutes performance there was not a team in the world that could of lived with them.
The reason i believe this was the greatest England Performance was because they played for 80 minutes without giving an inch. England where not favourites going into the game in fact they had been pretty much written off by most of the rugby public.
England for the first time in a long time played for the jersey and not for anything else, they played for the pride of a nation. And it showed they left it all out on the field. They showed that they where a team to fear and could really compete with the best teams in the world.
England also needed to show that they could perform on the highest stage, after the poor showing at the 2015 world cup it was important for England to show they where still a world beater. Eddie Jones had a lot to prove to a number of doubters, not only because of his strange squad selection but because he often put himself in the media for the wrong reason and this was a chance for him to show people he knew what he was doing. And boy did he show us that he was the right man for the job. Love or hate him he knows how to get the best out of the players he has.
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