Rugby World Cup 2019: England must use full artillery to defuse ‘Bomb Squad’ – Vickery

Phil Vickery says England must come out all guns blazing to prevent South Africa’s ‘Bomb Squad’ from detonating their dreams of lifting the Rugby World Cup.

England are favourites to be crowned champions for a second time in Yokohama on Saturday after dethroning New Zealand with one of the great World Cup performances last weekend.

Eddie Jones’ side can expect a massive battle against the ferocious Rugby Championship holders, who have the strength in depth to be able to bring fearsome forwards – christened the ‘Bomb Squad’ – off the bench.

Vickery, a World Cup winner 16 years ago before captaining his country in a defeat to South Africa in the 2007 final, warned England must use their full artillery and execute plans to perfection to ensure it is mission accomplished.

The former skipper told Omnisport: “South Africa are not going to do anything that England won’t be expecting from them. They are going to be ultra-physical and confrontational, it’s going to be a massive battle. 

“England are capable of winning that battle, no doubt about it, but if you’d have given me £100 before the tournament to back a winner, I would have put it on South Africa. It can’t really come as a surprise they are in the final, they are the champions of the Southern Hemisphere. 

“Yes, they may not be playing spectacular rugby, but they are playing winning rugby and that is all that matters in a World Cup.

“England have the firepower, we have seen that in their incredible win over the All Blacks, but so do South Africa.

“We have to take them on physically, there is no avoiding that, but it is important we move them around and try to break the game up. Opportunities will come if they can do that and keep their discipline. 

“If England can go out and play with the same intensity they did against the All Blacks, that will be hard for any team to live with.”

This is @englandrugby‘s road to the Rugby World Cup 2019 final#RWCFinal #ENGvRSA pic.twitter.com/j850YOQzPG

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 1, 2019

Vickery believes England’s big-game experience should ensure they can handle the pressure and the former prop urged them to grasp an opportunity that can change their lives forever.

“There are guys who have played in Grand Slam deciders, a Lions Test series, European finals, et cetera. They know all about how to handle the big occasion.” he added.

“The lovely thing they have ahead of them is a life-changing opportunity. Their names can be forever etched in history if they can win on Saturday. 

“They will have millions of people who are with them for every collision, every lineout, every scrum – looking back, it’s amazing to think you are involved in something like that and I’m excited for them.”

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