The mixed memories of an enchanting Paris evening cut short have swirled in English heads for 13 months. For 60 minutes of a World Cup semi-final, England had shaken the eventual double world champions off their axis; matching rugby’s superheavyweights blow for blow until the Springboks roared off the ropes.
It remains a performance to which Steve Borthwick frequently refers with pride, a gameplan conceived, adhered to and executed to the head coach’s liking. Several senior England players believe they successfully “rattled” South Africa – so much so that head coach Rassie Erasmus hooked his starting fly-half after half an hour.
