{"id":296907,"date":"2023-10-23T19:25:40","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=296907"},"modified":"2023-10-23T19:25:40","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T19:25:40","slug":"5-things-we-learned-from-englands-progress-through-the-rugby-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-union\/5-things-we-learned-from-englands-progress-through-the-rugby-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things we learned from England\u2019s progress through the Rugby World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
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England will sign off an encouraging Rugby World Cup with Friday\u2019s bronze final against Argentina at the Stade de France having lost 16-15 to South Africa in the last four.<\/p>\n
Here, the PA news agency examines five things we learned from their progress through the tournament.<\/p>\n
The rancour of the latter stages of the Eddie Jones era saw the bond between England and their fans fray, but the act of defiance produced on a sodden Paris night has the capacity to reconnect team and supporters. Although it ended in heartbreak, there was much to admire as the Springboks were out-Bokked by a wet-weather masterclass devised by Steve Borthwick. Expectations heading into the World Cup were at an all-time low, yet Borthwick drove them to the brink of a World Cup final and the head coach described as a rugby \u201cgenius\u201d by wing Jonny May has proved he is the right man to lead England forward.<\/p>\n
Supporters might have to show patience as tricky waters lie ahead in the form of the inevitable rebuild for Australia 2027. Stalwarts such as Courtney Lawes, Jonny May, Dan Cole and Joe Marler are likely to have played their last Tests and while there is an impressive core of players who are in the early phase of their career \u2013 Ben Earl, Freddie Steward, Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell among them \u2013 it could be some time before Borthwick\u2019s vision for England really takes shape.<\/p>\n
Under Jones everything was sacrificed at the alter of the World Cup, repeated poor Six Nations performances explained away by their place in the bigger picture. But the gut-wrenching defeat to South Africa, which was won by a 79th-minute Handre Pollard penalty, was an indicator of just how hard the tournament is to win. The Webb Ellis Trophy remains the ultimate prize, but it is just part of the sport\u2019s landscape and should not be prioritised at the expense of other competitions.<\/p>\n
It did not need a strong World Cup to confirm Lawes as an all-time England great, but over the last two months, he provided emphatic confirmation nonetheless. The second row-turned blindside flanker retires from Test rugby after the tournament, a 34-year-old veteran of 105 caps, who saved his best performances for the biggest games. As a back-row warrior with sharp rugby instincts, he leaves giant boots to fill.<\/p>\n
While the English game says farewell to one ultra-physical back-five forward, Saturday hinted at the birth of another. George Martin was making only his fourth start, yet the 22-year-old rookie was the dominant second row on a pitch also roamed by Eben Etzebeth and Maro Itoje, making thunderous tackles and offering close-quarter muscle, particularly in mauls. The type of brutish presence every pack needs, he should become a fixture in England\u2019s 23 for years to come.<\/p>\n