When Chris Robshaw opted to kick for goal, his players’ only choice was to back their captain and say: ‘Let’s get on with it.’
The discussion that followed angered me because it wasted time as the clock ticked down.
Under Martin Johnson, there was never much of a discussion. Robshaw will surely learn from this experience.
Are you sure? Owen Farrell remonstrates with Chris Robshaw
It should also be remembered that England have not scored a try from a driving maul since 2007 and it is doubtful whether South Africa would have folded if Robshaw had opted to kick to the corner to set up an attacking line-out.
Hooker Tom Youngs had struggled all afternoon to hit his jumpers and the Springboks’ forwards had done very well at close quarters.
What England needed to do was stop the debate and kick the penalty as quickly as possible in order to get back at South Africa from the kick-off.
Crunch time: England lost to South Africa by one pointGutted: Robshaw's call was a tough one to make in the dying embers of the game
If Mouritz Botha had caught the kick-off ball, England could have launched an attack from the area where they had gained most success.
Being within one point, they would have put the pressure on South Africa, who would have had to defend with caution so as not to give away a penalty.
The Springboks would also have had to change the way they defended to counter-act the possibility of a drop goal, while the referee would have been put under additional pressure as the awarding of a penalty would be a match-turning decision.
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