With three consecutive victories, the England team displays impressive dominance at the Rugby World Cup. Their last match against Chile ended in a crushing score of 71-0. One of the heroes of the match was winger Henry Arundell, who scored five tries, becoming only the third player in World Cup history to score a quintuple. This exceptional performance contributed greatly to England’s crushing victory.
Although the return from suspension of captain Owen Farrell attracted considerable media attention, it was the relative weakness of the Chilean team against a British team made up mainly of substitutes which was the determining factor in this result. Indeed, Chile is currently ranked 22nd in the world and has struggled to resist the English offensive.
The young prodigy Marcus Smith was also in the spotlight during this match. Lined up as a full-back, for the first time both for club and national team, the Harlequins fly-half demonstrated all his talent by scoring two tries and playing brilliantly. Despite his small size, Smith was able to be strong and showed impressive acceleration and decision-making qualities.
This resounding victory for England puts the team in a prime position to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Only an improbable scenario of a tie with Samoa and Argentina could change the situation. In the meantime, manager Steve Borthwick will have to decide whether Marcus Smith has a future at full-back or whether he should continue to play as a fly-half, a position currently held by George Ford.
Overall, England’s dazzling performance against Chile confirms their status as favorites to win the Rugby World Cup. Their dominance on the pitch, coupled with the individual talent of players such as Henry Arundell and Marcus Smith, makes them a formidable team. The opponents who stand in their way will have to show great resistance to hope to beat them.