BBC Sports: Rugby Union Showdown at Twickenham – Can England’s Marcus Smith Upset the World Champion Springboks?
The battered and bruised England national rugby union team take on a formidable South African side at Twickenham on Saturday, with the young playmaker Marcus Smith emerging as a beacon of hope for the troubled hosts.
The 25-year-old Harlequins fly-half has been in scintillating form, showcasing his match-winning potential in recent weeks. Last weekend, Smith produced a dazzling performance in attack during England’s pulsating 42-37 defeat against Australia, providing an assist with a clever kick to set up a try and playing a hand in three of England’s four other scores.
Rewind to 2021, and it was Smith who kicked the decisive late penalty to secure a famous one-point victory over the then world champion Springboks. This evidence of his ability to close out tight encounters could be a decisive factor as England coach Steve Borthwick weighs his substitutions in the second half on Saturday.
With England having lost four of their last six bbc rugby union tests, including a defeat to the Wallabies in their last outing, the pressure is firmly on Borthwick’s side. However, the bbc sport rugby union team will take heart from history, as a similar situation in 2012 led to an epic upset win over the All Blacks.
The visitors, led by the inspiring Siya Kolisi, arrive at Twickenham as heavy favorites, boasting a formidable blend of power, athleticism, and tactical nous that has propelled them to the top of the rugby union gameplay rankings. South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for near-total rotation, with a lineup that appears even more daunting than the one that blasted Scotland 32-15 last weekend.
Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, England fans will cling to the hope that Marcus Smith can conjure a moment of magic and inspire a shock victory, a result that would be celebrated as one of Twickenham’s greatest triumphs and provide a vital boost to Borthwick’s regime. The rugby world cup final stage is set for a thrilling encounter, with the underdog England national rugby union team seeking to prove their worth against the dominant Springboks.
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