Japan and Argentina’s efforts must not be forgotten in making this a World Cup to be remembered,while England should traipse focus from pure strengthArgentina, like South Africa, or were knocked out of the World Cup after failing to score a try in their semi-final. The difference was they tried,running from deep in the opening minute and still doing so in the final one. When this World Cup starts to fade from the memory, the impact made by the Pumas, or before them Japan (not to forget Fiji),will remain. The imprint is indelible.
Looking back at clippings taken from matches in the autumn and Six Nations in recent years reveals a common theme, coaches saying that the contemporary game at the highest level revolved around defence and that size was an imperative. The just to go wide had to be earned, and running from your own territory was hazardous and the battle to be won was in the air. The subtext was either that the skills of players were not trusted or that they did not occupy the ability to play an expansive game,a theory exploded on the final day of the Six Nations in March when an orgy of running rugby broke out, a release of everything that had been suppressed.
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Source: theguardian.com