England's players will believe they can go far at this World Cup after beating Argentina. Photo: Getty Images/Michael Steele < p>Rugby, damn it. Two weeks ago we were all ready to put the England players at risk after they lost to Fiji for the first time at Twickenham.
Talk about arriving at the World Cup in a fog: one win from six, two key players suspended after red cards and a defense that was leakier than an old sieve.
I was just walking around the pitch in Marseille, where those same England players were doing a lap of honor in front of their fans, who had everyone left for another hour to applaud them, jumping up and down half-naked.
I watched as Manu Tuilagi — looking like his old self for the first time in a long time — hugged the entire Tuilagi clan on the sidelines. I even grabbed the hug myself.
Last night was absolutely amazing..@tuilagimanu
Manu does things on the rugby field that very few people can do.
So good for us @EnglandRugby fans will see him fit and shooting..
Forward and upward.. pic.twitter.com/pXoI5HSxsB
— Will Greenwood (@WillGreenwood) September 10, 2023
I witnessed Dan Cole, the old warhorse who received so much criticism after the World Cup finals in Japan four years ago and who has since been written off by the morons, being cheered on like Maximus in Gladiator. Most amazingly, at the end of the magnificent victory over Argentina, I witnessed the England fans at the Stade Velodrome giving a standing ovation to the team's non-playing reserves — Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola and others.
< p>In fact, it was what I love about England fans. We're fickle old people, but damn, what a cool country.
Kevin Sinfield celebrates with the England fans at the full-time whistle. Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
These England players will be very pleased with themselves. They will believe in themselves again.
And I don’t know if this speaks of pink Marseille – I started a little before the game in the Old Port – but I’m also starting to believe.
I know we will have to play much better in attack to beat the best teams in the world. I know we didn't score a try. I know Argentina has completely lost the plot. But if you can't enjoy a performance like that and you're starting to get a little carried away after England have been written off, after they've lost the open side for three minutes, then frankly it's time for you to stop being such a pathetic prat. .
It was one of those days when the ends justify the means. It is impossible to criticize England. Perhaps they could have taken a corner once or twice and tried to convert the goal. But this is a game. They won it by 17 points against a very competitive Argentina team. And there are only so many times you can say that Argentina was poor.
After two or three minutes of pathetic farting, I have to give England credit. Nobody had Borthwick's side winning by 17 points. Nobody. Sport means being in the present moment, having fun here and now. And it was a brilliant victory for England.
Yes, Argentina exploded. No questions about it. The Cougars completely lost their heads, despite having an extra man. They didn't fire until the 79th minute.
But England deserved it. George Ford just killed them with his goals. It was like watching Jenny de Beer in 1999.
Ford's right boot was the star of the show against Argentina Photo: Reuters/Peter Ciborra
And England stood up on the defensive. Curry's red card aside (in my opinion it was never red — in fact, I bet the guy in front of me a bottle of wine that the yellow wouldn't be upgraded to a red… unfortunately he didn't let me down.) it's there was a clinical display of discipline from Steve Borthwick's men. Conceded seven penalties compared to Argentina's 13. And this was with 14 players, and Tuilagi played most of the match as a flanker. Kevin Sinfield will be very happy about this. England never allowed Argentina to gain an advantage.
It's strange how chess pieces move. Tuilagi was not supposed to play as a flanker. Johnny May had no intention of playing at all. Neither was George Ford. But the Sale player will surely continue to play in 10th place with Farrell in 12th and Tuilagi in 13th?
In some ways, winning doesn't change much. In much the same way that France's victory over the All Blacks in the best opening match in World Cup history meant little. Both teams always wanted to go further. And in some ways it's even worse for England because it means we'll have to play France in the semi-finals rather than the final.
But it gives me more confidence that England will get through to the semi-finals. I believe we can win the quarter-finals here in Marseille, be it against Fiji, Australia or Wales, the teams ranked seventh, ninth and 10th in the world respectively. And to reach the semi-finals, and everyone can win it.
The England team players will not think about this now. They will simply enjoy this victory, with the next eight days until the game against Japan is two hours away from Nice. They will feel invincible.
A funny thing is momentum. Yes, it is madness to suggest that England can win the World Cup on the strength of one performance. Like West Ham fans who say they can win the Premier League after a couple of wins at the start of the season. But Marseille were amazing on Saturday night and it's impossible not to get carried away by it. Life is too short.
Ultimately, England fans arrived with hope and left with expectation. That's what 80 minutes of rugby can do.
Свежие комментарии