Rugby World Cup: England’s Ellis Genge using critics as 'fuel' for South Africa semi-final - ‘Everyone wants us to lose’
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Published 17/10/2023 at 09:51 GMT+1
Ellis Genge hit out at England's critics for making them out to be "villains" ahead of their World Cup semi-final against South Africa. England beat Fiji 30-24 in the quarter-finals to remain unbeaten and set up a mouth-watering final-four showdown with the defending champions. Steve Borthwick's side are underdogs but Genge insists he'll be using all the negativity as motivation on Saturday night.
Highlights: England fend off Fiji fightback, heartbreak for France against South Africa
Video credit: SNTV
Ellis Genge has admitted that “everyone wanting us to lose” motivates him to silence the doubters ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa.
Steve Borthwick’s side survived a late scare to beat Fiji in the quarter-finals and book a last-four date with the much-fancied defending champions, who dumped hosts France out in an epic encounter in Paris.
That leaves England as the only undefeated nation left in the tournament, although few are giving them a chance to go on and repeat their 2003 World Cup heroics.
But rather than fester doubt, Genge enjoys listening to the critics and says he will be using that as “fuel” against the Springboks on Saturday night.
“I quite like the noise and having our backs up against the wall, with everyone wanting us to lose,” Genge said. “That probably fuels me a bit. Others are probably better off blocking it out.
“You look around and we have people like Courts [Courtney Lawes] and people with 300 caps across three players, which is mental, and some of the best players of their generation.
“Right now, they are probably the villains because everyone hates on them. Faz [Owen Farrell] gets a lot of grief, but you are happy to have him in the team every single time.”
Farrell was instrumental in guiding his side to victory against Fiji, kicking 20 points as England eventually prevailed 30-24.
There were eyebrows raised when Borthwick picked Farrell ahead of the in-form George Ford for the last-eight showdown, but England’s top points-scorer responded emphatically with his best performance of the competition.
“Knowing Owen like I do, he doesn’t care about other people’s opinions,” Jamie George, Farrell’s team-mate at Saracens, said.
“It didn’t surprise me the way he played. He plays like that every week. I’m lucky enough to play with him every week at Sarries. He does it every time he plays.”
England’s attack coach Richard Wigglesworth also leapt to Farrell’s defence, adding: “He definitely doesn't have to prove anything. We are lucky to have Owen. As ever, the tallest trees catch the most wind and he seems to catch a fair bit.”
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