South Africa set up clash of styles against New Zealand

South Africa are through to back to back World Cup finals after a gripping encounter with England in Paris.

England did to South Africa what South Africa do to many other teams. They confronted South Africa in the set piece, while playing a near perfect aerial battle.

It was only last week that we were lauding South Africa for their kicking style, transferring pressure to the opposition in an aerial assault before sparking to life in the transition back to attack. Against France, three of their tries came directly from winning the contest in the air.

This time the kicking game was used against them. England targeted the two South African wingers, who are smaller in stature and England did it to great effect. Elliot Daly started the game brightly, cleverly manoeuvring his way around the South African cover to get a clearer run at the ball.

Jonny May influenced the latter stages of the game compared to Daly, and Freddie Stewart had a huge part to play in terms of securing their own possession in the aerial dual.

South Africa kicked poorly by their own standards, kicking too long to fully contest, while England covered their kickers pretty well in a 'glove' shape that teams are currently using to stop the aerial competition. This ‘glove’ is a shape made by retreating players, forming an arc around the catcher to make sure that the opposition chaser can’t get close enough to challenge in the air.

When retreating players work early to beat the chasers, they then slow down to create a separation of space between any of the opposition players and their own back field player. Of course there are players that are better in the air than others, but it’s crucial to watch the kick chase and protection when analysing any teams aerial