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England have been improving the longer this years Rugby World Cup goes on, somehow making it into the Final of the tournament despite being upstaged hugely in their opening match against South Africa, 36-0.

As they meet the same nation in the final, it will really demonstrate just how far they have come in a few short weeks.

Improvers

England’s preparation for the Rugby World Cup was less than ideal: changing coaches less than a year from the start of the tournament, as Brian Ashton took over in January 07.

This meant the team was far from settled when the tournament began. Even before the RWC got going, England had failed to produce any sort of good form – losing their final prep match to France, despite looking the better side for large periods. This did not bode well.

More was to come as South Africa were allowed a huge head-start in their pool A game, from which England never recovered. Paul Sackey on England’s wing, the most inexperienced player on the side, was exposed by South Africa’s more experienced pacemen out wide.

Experience begins to pay dividends

England knew after that defeat that they would need to win the remainder of the pool games to stay in the group, and the wise old heads – England have an average age of thirty-three – went back to basics, and produced some solid performances.

Few expected them to come through the Quarter-Final with Australia, but come through they did after a monumental forward effort destroyed the Australian scrummage, and the English forwards prevented the Australians from getting much ball out to their dangerous back-line. Jonny Wilkinson kicked all the points.

Great Forwards

The England team is built around its mighty forward pack, who are without doubt the best in the world. The next best pack would struggle even to compete with them, such is their dominance in this area of the game. We’re not talking about a “front 8″ here either, England have 12 or 13 great frowards available to them, and any replacements from the bench do not weaken this aspect whatsoever. They also have the hugely experienced former captain Lawrence Dallaglio to call upon when times are hard.

In Summary

England have not had great preparation or form coming into this years Rugby World Cup, however, not unlike a prize fighter training up and coming good for the big occasion, England seem to have timed it just right – reaching the final with huge momentum behind them. As their experienced team hasn’t youth on its side, perhaps it is for the best that they eased into the tournament somewhat.

England’s forwards in particular are really firing on all cylinders, with their giant prop, Andy Sheridan looking like arguably the best in the world right now. Their team from 1-10 is possibly the best in the world. However, their biggest weakness is the team from 11-14.

The two wings (one of which will be a replacement in the final) and the centre pairing for England is perhaps where they are most likely to come unstuck. Mike Catt and Matthew Tait are both players with great qualities, but defending is not their forte. Andy Farrell, the former rugby league player, was drafted in precisely to bolster this area, but has not been seen since disappointing in the early pool matches. Any side with attacking capabilities will feel the England centres and wings offer a good opportunity to break through.

However, in order to do this, they’ll have to win clean ball from England’s super-experienced best in the world forwards, and prevent Jonny Wilkinson from kicking up a huge stockpile of points in the process. Which is much harder than one might think, particularly so in knockout games (where England are undefeated since 1999!) – just ask the Aussies and the French.

Links:

• Rugby Books
  
• Rugby Wit
• 101 Rugby Training Drills
• The Official England Rugby Miscellany
• The Wales Rugby Miscellany
• Team England Rugby: Rugby World Cup 2007