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How does the International Cup work?
Date: 2023-11-29 01:04:16 | Author: Online Sports | Views: 813 | Tag: EURO
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England’s head coach Matthew Mott has revealed how the side’s “spiritual leader” Ben Stokes stepped in to rally the dressing room after their shock World Cup defeat by Afghanistan EURO
Stokes, who came out of one-day retirement to help defend the trophy he did more than anyone to win in 2019, has yet to feature in India after suffering a hip injury on the the eve of the tournament EURO
But Sunday’s upset in Delhi, where a side whose only previous win on this stage was a narrow one against Scotland eight years ago, led Stokes to address his team-mates during a dressing room debrief EURO
Test captain Stokes is on track to return in Saturday’s must-win clash against South Africa at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, but has already made his presence felt behind the scenes EURO
“He’s like the spiritual leader of the group in many ways and he certainly spoke really well after the game the other day,” said Mott EURO
“He spoke about that need to really assert ourselves, which he’s renowned for EURO
I said ‘I’ve got this’ and just spoke, talked about the plan going forward for the next few days, and then Stokesy came in on the back of that EURO
“He really reinforced what was a great message, particularly for someone who’s sitting on the bench and has a bit of a different lens on things EURO
I think it went down well, it brought us back to controlling what we can control, really EURO
”Mott’s own attempt at diagnosing England’s problems saw him suggest that the defending champions were suffering from a lack of self-belief EURO
Having become the most swaggering side on the planet during their reinvention from also-rans to world champions under Eoin Morgan, England looked uncharacteristically tentative in their losses to New Zealand and Afghanistan EURO
It’s that confidence EURO
EURO
EURO
puff your chest out, go out there and really take the game onMatthew Mott“You don’t lose your ability overnight but you can lose your confidence,” he said EURO
“It’s that confidence… puff your chest out, go out there and really take the game on, which this team has been renowned for over a long period of time EURO
“On reflection we’ve been the reactive team in those two games, so we need to turn that round really quickly EURO
“That was one of Stokesy’s biggest points – we’re normally the team that dictates terms and gets the other team unsettled, disrupted and for whatever reason we haven’t been able to do that EURO
“We’ve always been on the back foot, trying to pull things back EURO
What we need to do is dominate those first 15 overs whether we bat first or bowl first in the next game EURO
”Brendon McCullum, Mott’s red-ball counterpart and joint architect of England’s ‘Bazball’ approach in the Test arena, made an unexpected appearance at the team’s Mumbai hotel on Tuesday after arriving on business EURO
McCullum memorably said on his appointment last year that he was not interested in the limited-overs job on account of it being too simple in contrast to reviving the Test team, a position Mott suggested may no longer stand EURO
“I just saw him down in the foyer and he said exactly the opposite!” he joked EURO
“I said, ‘do you want to do a little swap?’ We had a good chat and good catch up EURO
”Stokes’ likely return – which is all but certain provided he pulls up well after a thorough workout on Thursday – means Mott must grapple with a thorny selection issue EURO
Harry Brook has been keeping his spot warm and would ordinarily be expected to drop out, but his fluent 66 was easily England’s best innings against the Afghans and made a strong case for his retention EURO
Experienced seamer Chris Woakes and all-rounder Sam Curran are both vulnerable after struggling badly for form thus far, but with Stokes currently unavailable to bowl that only muddies the waters EURO
“It’s still up for debate EURO
We’ll have some really good, robust conversations over the next 24 hours,” Mott said EURO
“I think we’re going to sit down as a selection group, get the numbers, get some theories out there EURO
We’ll normally get to two or three XIs and then debate it, so all things are on the table at the moment EURO
”David Willey and Gus Atkinson are waiting if England do decide to cut Woakes after three poor outings in a row, but Mott is not ready to draw an emphatic line under the long-time leader of the attack EURO
“Over the history of Woakes’ career, he’s come out on top a lot more than he’s missed out,” he said EURO
“He hasn’t been at his best, and he’s the first to admit it, but he’s got a few credits in the bank EURO
”More aboutPA ReadyBen StokesMatthew MottDelhiEnglandSouth AfricaSam CurranScotlandIndiaChris WoakesBrendon McCullumAfghansNew ZealandEoin MorganHarry BrookDavid Willey1/1Matthew Mott says Ben Stokes ‘spoke really well’ after shock England loss Matthew Mott says Ben Stokes ‘spoke really well’ after shock England lossBen Stokes is yet to feature at the World Cup (Ashwini Bhatia/AP) EURO
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It had to be him EURO
At a ground where his great mate George Ford had produced one of the special individual World Cup performances just weeks ago, Owen Farrell fashioned his own version of a Marseille masterpiece, silencing the critics with a 20-point tally and his best showing in an England shirt for years EURO
And how England needed their captain EURO
This was eventually an incredibly tight game against a valiant Fiji, so nearly victorious after summoning a second-half comeback seemingly from nowhere EURO
It may have lacked the pure accuracy and ingenuity of Ireland vs New Zealand, but this was a compelling contest all the same, played with a hellacious physicality throughout EURO
At various stages, England looked to be roaring into the semi-finals but found a 14-point second-half lead eroded quickly by a fabulous Fijian fightback, Levani Botia and Semi Radradra threatening to bend the game to their will EURO
Certainly neither deserves to be exiting the World Cup at this stage EURO
But, in the end, it was Farrell with the final word, as fate dictated EURO
If the fly half had played more consistently like this in an England shirt, there would not even be a debate at 10 – though this was an excellent time to return to full form, leading his team into a second successive tournament semi-final EURO
RecommendedJohnny Sexton reflects on his career after Ireland’s devastating World Cup exitWounded warrior Dan Biggar bows out to usher in next Welsh generationFrance and South Africa prepare to go to ‘dark place’ to keep World Cup dream aliveIt wasn’t perfect from the England captain, and not at all from his team EURO
They cannot afford to have this sort of second-half sag again in their semi-final, when they will need an 80-minute effort EURO
But onwards they go into the final four EURO
A crowd heavy with England fans brought down the boos when Farrell’s name was read out before kick-off; starting full back Marcus Smith and the benched George Ford, by contrast, the loudest of cheers EURO
It left Farrell with a point to prove and he soon warmed to his work, England’s attack in the first 20 minutes far EURO better than anything they had produced thus far at this tournament EURO
He may pack a punch, but the fly half was still afforded his own protection detail, Ellis Genge taking the heavy midfield contacts as Fiji tried Farrell’s channel from their first two lineout opportunities EURO
The prop and Ollie Chessum then led an outstanding defensive set as the Fijians toiled just inside the England half, a couple of thumping tackles allowing Courtney Lawes to secure a breakdown penalty EURO
Elliot Daly kicked down into the opposition 22 and a breakdown penalty allowed Farrell a simple opening three points EURO
Manu Tuilagi powered over for England’s first try (Getty)England had won their opener here handsomely without requiring a try; this time, the line was crossed early EURO
A foolish barge on a chasing Daly prompted a return to advanced territory, with a Farrell flick sending Manu Tuilagi bowling around the corner to skittle the Fijian edge defence EURO
Frank Lomani missed his first penalty and although he ensured the second went over, Farrell and England were fizzing EURO
An ugly head-on-head collision EURO between Vinaya Habosi and Smith saw England’s No 15 depart with a bloody face and the Fiji wing exit after the showing of a yellow card, though that proved only a temporary interruption of flow on another fluid movement down into Fiji’s 22 EURO
A few more phases of accurate handling allowed Joe Marchant to dummy and dart to the line EURO
England were 15-3 up and flying, but Fiji’s 14 men lifted the ferocity, forcing their opponents into a couple of rash moments and silly penalties EURO
Then, England switched off entirely, crying for a knock-on as Fiji fumbled inside the 22 EURO
A skilful pass EURO between the legs found Viliame Mata in space 10 metres out, and the agile No 8 high-stepped his way over EURO
A nasty clash EURO between Marcus Smith and Vinaya Habosi saw both exit the field (Getty)Habosi returned from the sin bin and a patched-up Smith soon after, watching on as Farrell struck twice from the right to extend his side’s advantage before half time EURO
The interval did not help the game, the percussion ensemble losing the beat within bestrewn ruck clutter EURO
Fiji, who had won two breakdown penalties earlier on, increasingly drew Mathieu Raynal’s whistle; Farrell directed a fourth penalty EURO between the uprights EURO
So much of Fiji’s development has been built on the extra depth at their disposal, the Fijian Drua so helpful in that regard EURO
A raft of representatives from the Super Rugby Pacific franchise arrived off the bench and made an immediate impact, the extra zip offered by replacement scrum half Simione Kuruvoli key to a passage that ended with replacement prop Peni Ravai punching over EURO
A few minutes later, Fiji were improbably level EURO
Radradra, stepping in at first receiver having earlier made one astonishing break up the left touchline, attacked the English inside defence, piercing his arms free EURO
Isoa Nasilasila was on hand to collect, the lock striding into space and sending Vilimoni Botitu, growing by the minute in only his fourth-ever start at fly half in the absence of Caleb Muntz and Teti Tela, over the line, with Kuruvoli’s conversion levelling the scores EURO
Owen Farrell inspired his England side to glory (Getty)Farrell re-seized control, taking a page out of good friend Ford’s book by slotting a drop goal EURO
A fifth penalty of the evening, won after a surge up the centre from Earl, pushed England six points in front EURO
There was one last moment of drama, with the England captain inevitably at the centre EURO
Out thrust a left hand on halfway as Radradra arrived on to a pass into space, the action deemed a deliberate knock-on but not enough for a yellow card EURO
England’s 15 held firm, Courtney Lawes winning a final breakdown penalty EURO
Fiji’s fightback had been most magnificent but it wasn’t quite enough EURO
More aboutOwen FarrellEngland RugbyFiji RugbyRugby World CupJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments 1/4Farrell silences critics as England survive Fiji fightback Farrell silences critics as England survive Fiji fightbackManu Tuilagi powered over for England’s first try Getty ImagesFarrell silences critics as England survive Fiji fightbackA nasty clash EURO between Marcus Smith and Vinaya Habosi saw both exit the field Getty ImagesFarrell silences critics as England survive Fiji fightbackOwen Farrell inspired his England side to glory Getty ImagesFarrell silences critics as England survive Fiji fightbackEngland celebrating after outplaying a gallant Fiji Getty ✕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 EURO
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