The phrase "After the lord mayor's show" springs to mind!

England will play the underdog card very well and it may well suit them.  Time will tell. 

Highlights

Vermeulen and DuToit both had HIAs and stayed off for the full 10 minutes. Really smart.

To be picky, there was the SA arm waving at a FR penalty as well.....but

But they weren’t that rated 4 years ago and reached the final. So maybe 

I still believe England can win but they need to step up to the challenge.

South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, Reinach; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen. Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Koch, Snyman, Smith, De Klerk, Pollard, Le Roux.

England: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Farrell (capt), Mitchell; Marler, George, Cole, Itoje, Martin, Lawes, Curry, Earl. Replacements: Dan, Genge, Sinckler, Chessum, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence.

England 3-0 Saffas 

Now Eng 6-0 Saffas 

Now Eng 6-3 Saffas

mark that one down to Owen Farrell's mouth

Now Eng 15- 6 Saffas 

Who is the team in green, and where is the real South Africa?

Owen Farrell one of England greats.

Just an opinion 

England were the better team in that game, but the power of the scrum won it in the end.

Completely agree, in the context of this game, it is solely for this reason that England are not now in the final next week. A shame for the players particularly Cole and Marler who set such a solid foundation for the majority of the game, to be let down and realistically not have another chance to play in a RWC final.

What is also worth remembering is that England had two visits to within 5m of the SA line, and came away with nothing - a poor lineout throw by George deemed not straight, and a penalty conceded on our own scrum - not good enough, and in hindsight not good enough for a team bidding to reach a world cup final. In contrast, on the one occasion that SA got close to our try line in the 2nd half, they took 7 points back with them.

Scrummaging is what makes this game not be Rugby league.

England used the conditions well for 60 minutes, but the South African turned up the power

Genge and Sinkler could not cope.

My head hopes the RFU can start to sort the mess that is club rugby out. Losing 4 clubs in the top two tiers, and a top tier Womens team is inexcusable.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67185493" rel="nofollow - South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi accused of racial slur in World Cup win over England

South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi has been accused of using a racial slur towards England flanker Tom Curry during his side's Rugby World Cup semi-final win. Curry approached referee Ben O'Keeffe about half an hour into the match, reported the alleged comment and asked what he should do in response. "Nothing please," replied O'Keeffe. England have 36 hours after the final whistle to refer such incidents to the citing commissioner, who could then call a disciplinary hearing. With Saturday's match kicking off at 20:00 BST, the deadline for England to report back to World Rugby is on Monday morning. Curry was asked after the match whether something untoward had been said to him by Mbonambi. "Yeah," he replied, before adding that "it does not need to be talked about". It appeared that Mbonambi refused to shake Curry's hand at the end of the match as the acrimony between the two sides continued after the final whistle. ... Mbonambi is the only specialist hooker in the South Africa squad after the Springbok management opted to replace the injured Malcolm Marx with fly-half Handre Pollard earlier in the tournament. Deon Fourie, a converted back row, has been covering the position off the replacements bench.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67185493" rel="nofollow - South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi accused of racial slur in World Cup win over England

[quote]

Apparently kant is afrikaans for "side"

"White kant" being White side (of the ruck or scrum).

Mbonambi should explain this if it is the case.

Takes away from a good contest.

Mbonambi should explain this if it is the case.

Takes away from a good contest.

And hopefully (but hugely unlikely) some of our petulant scowling captain's team mates will explain to him that when you lose a game by one point giving away three points by behaving like a six-year old is not leadership.

The irony of them engaging in that sort of disgusting behaviour, given what they came out of 31 years ago.

Or brought DC back on - you bet your life SA would have manufactured an injury or HIA for Sinckler once the lead had been cut from 9 to 2pts.

Where is the 50 point drubbing you predicted ?

I think it got washed away by the rain.

Always a great leveller.

But South Africa did not look half as dynamic as the previous week.

And our tackling and turnover work was excellent.

World Rugby has confirmed it will formally review the alleged use of a racial slur by South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi towards England's Tom Curry. Curry approached referee Ben O'Keeffe to report the comment half an hour into the Springboks' Rugby World Cup semi-final victory. If banned, Mbonambi could miss the final against New Zealand on Saturday. World Rugby said it will take the allegation "extremely seriously". The governing body confirmed it will make no further comment on the incident until the conclusion of its review process. England flanker Curry was asked after the match whether something untoward had been said to him by Mbonambi. "Yeah," he replied, before adding that "it does not need to be talked about". It appeared that Mbonambi refused to shake Curry's hand as the acrimony between the two sides continued following the final whistle. Teams are given up to 36 hours after the culmination of matches to refer incidents to the citing commissioner. Mbonambi is the only specialist hooker in the South Africa squad, with the team's management having opted to replace the injured Malcolm Marx with fly-half Handre Pollard earlier in the tournament. SA Rugby - the South African rugby union - had already started its own investigation into Curry's claim. "We are aware of the allegation, which we take very seriously, and are reviewing the available evidence," it said. "We will engage with Bongi if anything is found to substantiate the claim."

Everyone lauding Farrell performance but if he hadn't insisted on "gobbing off" and gifting SA 3 points we could be having a totally different conversation

I do not approve of, or like, the amount of substitutions now allowed as, to my mind, it is changing the nature of the game and not rewarding the players with greater stamina (especially in the front row). Rugby is a game played over 80 minutes and natural fatigue should be allowed to run its course. The game is slowly moving towards the type of American NFL game - multiple changes allowed throughout the game to reflect offensive and defensive situations. 

Yes Mark.

This is particularly frustrating when Dallaglio or Woodward can't be bothered to keep up to date with laws or do basic research on opposition players.

It is much more of a talking point when Dallaglio actually says something sensible although I'm not quite sure when that last happened. Pre-covid maybe?  

Flanker Tom Curry starts England's Rugby World Cup third-place play-off against Argentina after a week of controversy.

Curry's claim that he was abused by South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi in England's semi-final defeat is being investigated by World Rugby.

Elsewhere Marcus Smith comes in at full-back and Henry Arundell is on the wing as two of eight new starters.

Scrum-half Ben Youngs makes his first start of the tournament.

Courtney Lawes, who announced he will retire from international rugby at the end of the tournament, has played his final England match after being left out of the 23-man matchday squad.

Sam Underhill makes his first appearance of the tournament after being called up to the squad as a replacement for Jack Willis during the pool stages.

Freddie Steward shifts from full-back to wing to accommodate Smith's inclusion, meaning there is no room for Johnny May as he contemplates ending his own international career.

Owen Farrell continues at fly-half, while coach Steve Borthwick opts for an all-new front row of Ellis Genge, Theo Dan and Will Stuart.

Ollie Chessum displaces George Martin in the second row to pack down alongside Maro Itoje.

"After the disappointment of last weekend's game against South Africa, it is important that this Friday we once again play with the determination and dedication that so nearly earned the team the result we wanted," said Borthwick.

"The Bronze Final gives us a great opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note, continue to build for the future, and to give our supporters one last chance to get behind the squad out here in Paris.

"The players are looking forward to the challenge against what will be a strong Argentina side. "

England beat the Pumas in the teams' opening match of the tournament in September, making light of Curry's third-minute red card to record a 27-10 victory.

England are playing in the third-place play-off for only the second time in their history, having previously lost to France in the 1995 bronze-medal game.

England: Smith; Steward, Marchant, Tuilagi, Arundell; Farrell (capt), Youngs; Genge, Dan, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, Curry, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: George, Rodd, Cole, Ribbans, Ludlam, Care, Ford, Lawrence.

All that said I'm sure they would rather be back home having a breather anyway.  I don't know why they persist with this game.

because it earns revenue from ticket sales + TV - that is why it's unlikely ever to be scrapped. I guess it adds a further incentive not to lose a semi-final...