After Argentina received an absolute thrashing by 44-6 at the hands of the All Blacks on Friday evening, the World Cup semi finals appeared to be a farcical affair. It was expected that an England team who had been underperforming for the best part of two years and had yet to play a top five team at the World Cup would fair no better than Los Pumas. However, Steve Borthwick's side employed a game plan that left the Springboks looking hapless for 65 minutes as Owen Farrell drilled four penalty goals and a monster drop kick to give themselves a 9 point lead with 15 minutes to go. South Africa's come back led by Ox Nche, RG Snyman and the imperious boot of Handre Pollard.
Ex-All Blacks player on England play style
It was largely viewed by the rugby watching public as the kind of semi final we have come to expect in the Rugby World Cup. While there wasn't free flowing rugby, both sides battled physically and in the end it was a last minute penalty that saw England suffer the most bitter of defeats. For the neutral it was a game that would struggle to take your eyes off.
However a former All Black disagrees with the common consensus. Stevie Devine, who earned 10 caps for New Zealand, did not hold back as he described what he viewed as a terrible game of rugby, dictated by England's negative play style:
Devine made the declaration that he "hates England" and aside from being kiwi there is also the matter of his international record against the Red Rose.
I hate England. Their whole game,” said the ten cap All Black. “I honestly would have rather gone down to my local dog park and picked up s***.
“That’s how exciting I found that. If that wasn’t the World Cup semi-final, that would have been the worst game of rugby ever played,
In his 10 internationals, Devine played against England twice and lost both times. With the third place play off between Los Pumas and England this Friday I think it would be safe to say that Devine won't be tuning in from back in New Zealand.
England kick off their third place playoff against Argentina on Friday at 20:00 in Stade de France. The final between the two most successful sides in the history of the sport, the All Blacks and South Africa will take place on Saturday night at 20:00, also in the Stade de France.
