'Sore losers': England slammed over 'childish' act
The English rugby team has been roundly criticised on social media in the wake of their Rugby World Cup final loss to South Africa, after players took off their runners-up medals shortly after they were presented.
Accusations of poor sportsmanship came from all corners as several players removed their medals, with flanker Maro Itoje refusing to put the medal on his neck at all.
Kyle Sinckler, who was ruled out of the game just three minutes into the first half after a sickening collision, allowed the medal to be placed around his neck before immediately removing it.
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English coach Eddie Jones took a more respectful route with his comments after the game, but refused to be drawn on his own coaching future.
“The silver medal is not as good as the gold medal, but it is a silver medal and I am proud of my players,” Jones said.
“We struggled to get on the front foot, they had dominance and it’s hard to play on the backfoot ball.
“South Africa are worthy winners, but I can’t fault the effort of our players, my team are hurting badly.”
Fans were less than impressed with England’s players after the match, with many taking to Twitter to take them to task.
Love these sore losers taking off/refusing their medals.
— Taika Waititi (@TaikaWaititi) November 2, 2019
@EnglandRugby I am England rugby to the core. I am proud of their performance in the World Cup but were outplayed by a team who were much better on the day. Please don’t tell me that it’s professional to tear off medals because you lost. You shamed yourselves and us in Tokyo.
— denis (@cheyneplace) November 2, 2019
Can’t believe most of england have taken off their medal, and people say the All Blacks are sore losers. We rocked our bronze medals with pride, England could learn something from that #ENGvsRSA @EnglandRugby @rugbyworldcup
— grace (@gracevmay) November 2, 2019
Just as I have always suspected
ENGLAND are really ungrateful.
Because they come 2nd in the world Cup to Africa at the medal ceremony they all but took off their Silver medals in discust how childish they are be happy for what you have achieved in life don't be jealous— Andrew Wheeler (@keenor100) November 2, 2019
South Africa overpower England in World Cup final
Wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe scored South Africa's first tries in a World Cup final as the Springboks out-gunned England 32-12 to win the trophy for the third time and reassert the supremacy of the southern hemisphere on Saturday.
Superb game management, set piece dominance, brutal defence and almost flawless place-kicking were enough to see off an England side that had dismantled the double defending champion All Blacks in the semi-finals last week.
Mapimpi has been in prolific form this year, and he showed the South Africans can play a bit with ball in hand too when he finished off a try created by his own chip-through in the 66th minute.
Kolbe added the second try eight minutes later, skipping past the tackle of Owen Farrell on the wing and racing away to touch down to the delight of the South Africans in Yokohama's International Stadium crowd of 70,103.
Flyhalf Handre Pollard had already given the South Africans a clear lead from six penalties and he added the two conversions to take his match tally to 22.
WITH AAP