Before Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final, SA Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus is alleged to have already tried to agitate England.
Only once in the history of the Rugby World Cup has England defeated South Africa. Figure: SABC Sport
By revealing the starting lineup he anticipates England coach Steve Borthwick would use for Saturday’s match at the Stade de France, Erasmus is supposedly kicking off the “mind games.”
The defending Rugby World Cup champions qualified for the semifinals with a thrilling 29-28 victory against France on Sunday, while England had recently defeated Fiji in their quarterfinal.
According to The Express, South Africa has started using sneaky strategies to sabotage England ahead of the Rugby World Cup semifinal.
When Erasmus spoke to the media on Tuesday to preview the match on Saturday, he was carrying a sheet of paper with the name of the England team he thought would win.
As the mind games continue in anticipation of a replay of the 2019 tournament final, Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby, predicted the whole England lineup for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final, according to The Independent.
Erasmus agreed to read it out and then listed a complete matchday 23 with the exception of a replacement hooker.
“Now, we’re guessing, obviously,” Erasmus explained. “We took the basic guys – [Ellis] Genge, [Jamie] George, [Kyle] Sinckler, [Maro] Itoje, [Ollie] Chessum, [Courtney] Lawes, [Tom] Curry, [Ben] Earl, [Alex] Mitchell, [Owen] Farrell, [Elliot] Daly, [Manu] Tuilagi, [Joe] Marchant, [Jonny] May, Marcus Smith or [Freddie] Steward. That’s who we think, but we might be totally wrong.
And then the bench: [Joe] Marler, [Dan] Cole, George [Martin] , Billy [Vunipola] , Ben Youngs or Danny [Care], George Ford, and Ollie [Lawrence],” he added.
The 50-year-old couldn’t decide whether Marcus Smith would keep his place at full-back or whether Borthwick would recall Freddie Steward, while also suggesting that Kyle Sinckler would be promoted to start at tighthead prop.
“They bring energy on the field in all departments, Erasmus said. “They’ve got [Kyle] Sinckler there, Jamie [George] and so many experienced players who played against us last time.
“I think because they played us end of year last year, and they played us at the Rugby World Cup and Rugby World Cup final, I think they’ll have some beef with us.”
