Its only a game

 

Subject: It’s only a game but having committed so much blood sweat and tears  it seems so much more.


I’m sitting bruised by South Africa’s last minute victory by one point having been behind England and outplayed by ferocious forward play from an English side which led and outplayed South Africa for 90% of the game but who gained a penalty in the scrum from one of those technical infringements which are beyond the layman to comprehend. England deserved to win but then that’s team sport particularly one which has developed a complicated rule structure to prevent injury but which can take away the endeavour in a tough physical contact sport.
Englands forwards tackled their hearts out as they harassed the Boks throughout the game. They chased every loose ball and harried the Springbok keeping most of the play in the South African half. If it hadn’t been for the the recalled 2019 world cup winning side of Afrikaner, Handre Pollard whose penalty and territorial placement kicking was crucial in their win.
So close yet so far. England, even by their own supporters account hadn’t been given much of a chance, given their poor play in the domestic 6 Nations Cup and whilst seeded in the easiest group knockout leading to this quarter final they had only managed to squeeze out tightly won results and hadn’t shown the skill of the Southern Hemisphere nations. Suddenly England turned up and took the game to the World Champions, we suddenly hoped to win a place in the final and to lose in the last minute against the run of the game it will be a bitter pill to swallow having left so much effort out on the pitch.