Eddie Jones: 'They were too good for us'

Luke Bradshaw
·Sports Writer
Updated
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 02: England Head Coach Eddie Jones looks on during the pre match warm up ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2019 Final between England and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on November 2, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images )
England Head Coach Eddie Jones Credit: Getty Images )

England head coach Eddie Jones admitted his side simply weren’t good enough as they lost to the Springboks in a bruising World Cup final.

The Australian was speaking after South Africa dominated the game, eventually winning 32-12.

Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbie scored brilliant tries towards the end of a game that England were never really in, leading to a historic moment for South African rugby, with flanker Siya Kolisi – raised in a Port Elizabeth township and the first black Springbok captain – lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy.

After his side’s defeat, Jones said: "We just couldn’t get on the front foot. We were dominated in the scrum particularly in the first 50 minutes. When you're in a tight, penalty-driven riven game, its difficult to get any sort of advantage.

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 02: Siya Kolisi of South Africa lifts the Web Ellis cup following his team's victory against England in the Rugby World Cup 2019 Final between England and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on November 02, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Richard Heathcote - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Siya Kolisi of South Africa lifts the Web Ellis cup (Credit: Getty Images)

"We needed to fix up the scrum, little things around the line-out, then get a bit more accurate in how we attacked. We did that for a while, got ourselves back into the game, but in the end we had to force the game and gave away a couple of tries.

"They were too good for us at the breakdown today. That’s the great thing about rugby, one day you're the best team in the world and the next a team knocks you off."

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Captain Owen Farrell echoed his head coach’s feelings. He said: "We weren't good enough. Congratulations to South Africa, I thought they executed their plan brilliantly. We were far too inaccurate in the first half. We always knew they based their game on what they do up front.

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Final - England v South Africa - International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan - November 2, 2019 England's Billy Vunipola with a cut on his face during the match. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra
England's Billy Vunipola (Credit: Getty Images)

"I couldn’t be prouder of the lads, they’ve been brilliant all tournament up front, they just did a job on us today."They played really well you cant take anything away from them. It’s obviously a huge disappointment for our side.

“We wanted to finish it off today but we were nowhere near good enough to do that. We've come a long way and it’s probably the most together squad I’ve ever been a part of. We’ll come back."

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