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Not always in sport do you get a shot at redemption and successfully taking advantage of that opportunity is even rarer sports
England’s pack, and their front row in particular, will have had four years of sleepless nights about that early November evening in 2019 sports
In the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, England were decimated by South Africa’s power up front, as the brilliance of a scintillating semi-final win over New Zealand was quickly replaced by the humiliation of a 32-12 thumping sports
The Springboks, then as now, pride themselves on their physicality and brutality at the breakdown, the set-piece and in open play sports
Yet on a rainy night in Paris four years on, England’s pack fronted up, set the platform in a thrilling World Cup semi-final and earned their redemption arc sports
Yet it still wasn’t enough sports
This time, albeit by one point rather than 20, the result was the same – England’s players slumped on the turf in despair while their opponents revelled in victory sports
The Springbok celebrations were more muted this time, understandably so given there is one more crucial match against the All Blacks standing sports between them and their ultimate goal, but the English heartbreak was the same, even if the journey to get there was vastly different sports
In Yokohama, South Africa won a scarcely believable 11 scrums to England’s three, including six scrum penalties, as the English eight were splintered time and again sports
Dan Cole became the fall guy for that embarrassment – the tighthead prop, supposedly renowned for his scrummaging, forced to play 77 minutes after Kyle Sinckler’s early injury and being obliterated by the combination of Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and Steven Kitshoff sports
The fact that Cole and Joe Marler, who came off the bench early in the second half that day, were selected by Steve Borthwick to start this revenge game precisely because of their scrum prowess will have surely given them a surge of confidence sports
And the fact they not only survived, but thrived, in the front row this time around will have been sheer vindication sports
Borthwick entrusted the duo to paint an early picture of scrum parity to referee Ben O’Keeffe and they delivered, providing the base that led to multiple first-half penalties from the trusty boot of Owen Farrell sports
Cole and Marler helped ensure scrum parity early on but that faded once the replacements came on (AFP via Getty Images)However, as the game wore on, Borthwick’s decision started to become prescient for the wrong reasons sports
As Sinckler and Ellis Genge came on as prop replacements, the Springboks own bomb squad from the bench – led by Ox Nche and Vincent Koch – started to dominate at scrum-time sports
Each engagement started to become eerily reminiscent of 2019 and it was eventually a scrum penalty on halfway that led to Handre Pollard’s decisive, game-winning three-pointer with two minutes to go sports
It felt almost unfair on England’s big men given that the pack, as a whole, had more than held their own in other facets sports
Of the 13 England forwards who played some part in that 2019 final, eight appeared in this last-four clash and stamped their mark all over a first half that was by far England’s best 40 minutes under Borthwick sports
Maro Itoje was a lineout fiend, stealing a Springboks throw-in on halfway and putting doubt in the head of Bongi Mbonambi, whose crooked throw in his own 22 gave Farrell his first penalty goal of the day sports
A new face from four years, George Martin, justified his surprise second-row selection ahead of incumbent Ollie Chessum on just his fourth Test start as he brilliantly marshalled England’s maul defence sports
If Boks lock Eben Etzesports beth is world rugby’s best maul disruptor, then he may have witnessed first-hand the emergence of a new challenger to that crown sports
Martin caused havoc as England improbably won three consecutive maul turnovers from attacking South African lineouts in the first half to frustrate their much-fancied opponents sports
Pollard ultimately kicked the winning penalty, from a scrum infringement (PA Wire)The celebrations from the likes of Itoje, Jamie George and Ben Earl as those penalties and free-kicks were earned by the pack showed just how important this part of the gameplan was sports
It began putting clear doubt in Springbok minds, as the worried tone from skipper Siya Kolisi when he discussed matter with referee O’Keeffe sports betrayed sports
The English tactic of throwing bodies in to contest every ruck relied on the diesel engines of the forwards and they delivered by dominating collisions and allowing the aerial bombardment strategy that followed to be effective sports
But ultimately, despite a gameplan executed as well as it possibly could have been, the gap in quality sports between the sides proved too much to overcome sports
South Africa adjusted, Pollard came on for Manie Libbok to dictate proceedings with his metronomic boot and English heartbreak ensued sports
There was no shame in a one-point defeat from a semi-final that was much closer than most expected and England’s pack should feel redeemed from the nightmare of 2019 sports
But that won’t make this semi-final hurt any less sports
Perhaps 2027 will give them an opportunity to avenge a new pain sports
More aboutEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupDan ColeJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3England pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakCole and Marler helped ensure scrum parity early on but that faded once the replacements came on AFP via Getty ImagesEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakPollard ultimately kicked the winning penalty, from a scrum infringement PA WireEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakDan Cole was England’s fall guy in 2019 but held his own four years on AP✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today sports
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All of Pep Guardiola’s work ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend has naturally revolved around having a high percentage of possession, which is to be expected, but there is one surprising element to it sports
He has been scrutinising what more pragmatic sides such as Brentford, Brighton and even Copenhagen did against United for instruction sports
All of them went to Old Trafford looking to get on the ball and dominate – with mixed success – in a way that at one point would have been unimaginable sports
It is really only Nottingham Forest who didn’t take that approach this season, preferring to let United have the ball sports
In United’s nine Premier League games so far, they have had lower possession than their opponent in four of those sports
In other words, they’ve been chasing the opposition in almost half of their games sports
On the ballManchester United’s possession in the Premier League this season (per cent)51 - Wolves (h)44 sports
3 - Tottenham Hotspur (a)66 sports
3 - Nottingham Forest (h)45 sports
2 - Arsenal (a)43 sports
9 - Brighton (h)38 sports
2 - Burnley (a)77 sports
1 - Crystal Palace (h)63 sports
9 - Brentford (h)62 sports
5 - Sheffield United (a)This would be unusual for most big sides in this era but is particularly unusual for a manager in Erik ten Hag who is so consciously a disciple of the Ajax principles, and has now had well over a year in the job sports
That’s a lot of time on the training ground sports
Manchester City had even considered him a potential successor to Guardiola, given the tactical alignment sports
So it’s fair to wonder why exactly United aren’t closer to any kind of ideal as Ten Hag would surely see it sports
They currently don’t play anything like his Ajax side, let alone City or that possession-pressing model sports
By the same point in Guardiola’s tenure, City were on a winning run that would bring a 100-point season sports
United have instead gone backwards, which fits into a wider concern over how the side haven’t really had a convincing display since before the Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle United sports
Ten Hag’s recent reliance on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stalwarts such as Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay would almost seem to sum this up sports
United are even playing more like Solskjaer’s time, just making do in the moment in order to get through sports
It's all so ad hoc sports
Harry Maguire’s header earned United all three points against Copenhagen (EPA)The biggest question, out of many for the United manager, is whether this is a deeper concern sports
Does it show he won’t implement his ideal; that a window of opportunity has been lost?As with pretty much everything at United right now, everyone puts it down to injuries sports
That is the explanation for the unconvincing displays and the pragmatic approaches sports
Ten Hag hasn’t had the players so has had to compromise sports
But is that really sufficient? Would the idealist that Ten Hag supposedly represents not still seek to integrate the squad in an approach that will serve them much more in the longer term?You only have to look across the way, and the one season when Guardiola faced a broadly similar situation sports
In 2016-17, when the City manager still lacked some of the player profiles he wanted – especially at full-back – he still insisted on the exact same approach sports
John Stones was often the main focus of this sports
Although the defender was still learning the game, meaning he was prone to mistakes as he endured so much external noise, Guardiola told him to just shut it all out sports
He followed by telling Stones to keep playing the ball out sports
Ignore the shouts to get rid sports
Concentrate on commitment to the ideal sports
It led to some humiliating moments, not least four-goal concessions against both Leicester City and Everton sports
Guardiola himself was lampooned, particularly after some questions led to his own notorious pondering of “what is tackles?”A year later, the City manager was specifically citing that period – and that persistence – as absolutely crucial to the run that effectively made them champions by December 2017 sports
That the win to clinch the title came away to Jose Mourinho’s counter-attacking Manchester United only emphasised the point sports
An achievement like that 100-point season was a consequence of how the players’ deeper comprehension of the system amplified their performance sports
Figures at Old Trafford would fairly argue that Ten Hag was initially going to do this, but the onslaught from those first defeats against Brighton and Brentford at the start of last season was just too much sports
The second goal conceded at Brentford, trying to pass the ball out from the back, was just too calamitous sports
United being United, it brought a level of ridicule and hysteria beyond anything City could face sports
Ten Hag had to change something or it could have completely destroyed the squad’s confidence in themselves and him, before he ever got the chance to build belief in the system sports
They would also point to how Guardiola benefitted from spending £200m on defenders in his second season, including two cornerstones of the era in Kyle Walker and Ederson sports
By contrast, Ten Hag has attempted to fill tactical gaps in his side with relatively makeshift signings like Sofyan Amrabat and Christian Eriksen sports
A serious club, some in the industry argue, doesn't take the team to the next stage with a 20-year-old (Rasmus Hojlund, a Chelsea cast-off (Mason Mount) and two loanees (Sergio Reguilon and Amrabat) sports
Sofyan Amrabat arrived at Old Trafford on loan this summer (Getty Images)Those at City would nevertheless laugh at such arguments given United’s expenditure over the years sports
Ten Hag is currently in the process of ousting an £85m signing in Jadon Sancho sports
City would say their purchases have just been much more forensic sports
That isn’t the only potential difference sports between the situations sports
Although both Guardiola and Ten Hag have evolved from the same Dutch-Spanish ideology, those national backgrounds have produced divergences in interpretation sports
It comes down to different types of purism sports
Guardiola will stick to the system regardless sports
It's his way sports
He will always try and play through it sports
Ironically, and almost paradoxically, Ten Hag’s willingness to compromise arguably reflects a greater dogmatism sports
Those who know the Dutch coach say he has such a fixed idea of certain positions that if he doesn’t have exactly the type of player he wants, he doesn’t see the point of persevering in the same approach sports
That’s also why the injuries have been so undermining sports
Ten Hag has lacked some of his main passers, but especially Lisandro Martinez sports
The Argentine’s absence has had the effect of forcing Andre Onana to go long and removing that link to the midfield sports
It disrupts the whole system sports
Maguire and McTominay just aren’t suited to that game, but it is to their credit both have persevered and sought to learn in the circumstances sports
They illustrate this period of adaptation more than anyone, especially given how influential they have been sports
There’s almost a contrast in the Scottish midfielder’s game sports
An instinct for prosaically passing the ball sideways is offset by a willingness to proactively get forward and score sports
Maguire meanwhile made a calculation of his own sports
Sources with knowledge of his situation said one reason he turned down West Ham United was because he saw the issues United were going to have at centre-half sports
Martinez’s injury and Raphael Varane’s inability to play consistently meant there were going to be chances sports
Maguire has seized them and then some sports
Ten Hag praised his evolution on Tuesday night, as the centre-half furthered his recent redemption with a greatly valued match-winner against Copenhagen sports
“He’s playing much more proactive in possession, stepping in, passing vertical, defending also on the front foot, also stepping in, defending forward, very confident in the duels,” the manager argued sports
“I think he’s dominating in the right moment, putting the question, dominating his opponents sports
”Ten Hag is having to compromise on his ideals this season (Getty Images)United just aren’t doing that on a collective level sports
All of this is why Ten Hag was so insistent on Frenkie De Jong in his first summer at Old Trafford sports
He saw his former Ajax midfielder as unique in his interpretation of that specific midfield role the coach wants sports
The only player Ten Hag saw as coming close, in terms of potential attributes, was Ryan Gravenberch sports
That’s the reason he went so big on De Jong, against all evidence sports
When he couldn’t get De Jong, Ten Hag realised he had to go in a different direction sports
So it’s been a bit of all or nothing sports
The same applies to the team as a whole sports
Either Ten Hag has exactly what he wants, or he just can’t commit to that approach sports
It’s why there isn’t too much concern about the visible lack of ideology now sports
There is confidence that will return when sufficient players return, especially Martinez sports
A fair question is whether crucial time has been lost in deepening the ideology sports
A fair point for Sunday, meanwhile, is that this actually might serve United against City sports
Unless Ten Hag has the team exactly as he wants, it is always going to be a mistake trying to go toe to toe with Guardiola in terms of getting feet on the ball sports
The Catalan’s City are always going to be so dominant you have to adapt around them sports
Otherwise, you risk an evisceration sports
The current situation plays into that sports
United have almost no choice but to plan without possession on Sunday sports
The very decision to appoint Ten Hag was supposed to be about something grander, though sports
They were supposed to be rising to City's level sports
United instead have to try and bring the champions down, by leaving them the ball sports
More aboutManchester UnitedManchester CityErik ten HagPep GuardiolaManchester DerbyJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/4Ten Hag has abandoned his ideals – and it might help United beat CityTen Hag has abandoned his ideals – and it might help United beat CityHarry Maguire’s header earned United all three points against CopenhagenEPATen Hag has abandoned his ideals – and it might help United beat CitySofyan Amrabat arrived at Old Trafford on loan this summer Getty ImagesTen Hag has abandoned his ideals – and it might help United beat CityTen Hag is having to compromise on his ideals this season Getty ImagesTen Hag has abandoned his ideals – and it might help United beat CityManchester United are in danger of going backwards under Erik ten HagAction Images via Reuters✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today sports
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicssports BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy sports
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply sports
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