The Springboks verdict on England’s much-vaunted back row
Ben Earl has been one of England’s most impressive players, if not the most spectacular player, at the World Cup. He has worn the No. 8 and No. 7 jerseys thus far.South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber is aware that the British & Irish Lions openside Tom Curry, England’s 104-cap vice-captain Courtney Lawes, and them collectively form a very potent combination.Nienaber praised Earl and Lawes for playing a full match in a two-man back row against Argentina in the tournament’s opening game after Curry’s red card, and he described how England’s back row “complement each other quite well” after naming his Springboks squad to play England in the semi-final this Saturday..
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He remarked, “They have a good back row that complements each other pretty well.” “It was pretty amazing how the other two played and took on Tom Curry’s role, even after he was sent off against Argentina.” We obviously know them from the [English] Premiership, so they are a top-notch team. We watch them as well as our athletes as they perform.
Nienaber did point out that England’s loose forwards will be facing the same three that began the Springboks’ World Cup final triumph over England in 2019. This was before he showered the England players with accolades. Only the 17 occasions that Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, and Vermeulen played together in green have surpassed the record held by the seasoned three of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Duane Vermeulen as they prepare to start together for the 15th time.
It’s going to be a good match-up, Nienaber said, “if you look at our back row, they all started the final in 2019 and they are all on form and playing well.”