SA Rugbymag

South African rugby news, fixtures, results, video, interviews, and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers/Western Province, Sharks, Cheetahs, Kings and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Super Rugby
  • Springboks
    • Fixtures and Logs
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Opinion
    • Nick Mallett
    • Jon Cardinelli
    • Craig Lewis
    • Dylan Jack
    • Simnikiwe Xabanisa
    • Mariette Adams
    • Omar Mouneimne
    • James Dalton
    • Stefan Terblanche
    • Jean de Villiers
    • Superbru
  • Tournaments
    • Rugby Championship
    • Currie Cup
    • European Champions Cup
    • English Premiership
    • French Top 14
    • Super Rugby
    • Pro14
    • Varsity Cup
    • Test Rugby
    • Six Nations
    • Sevens
    • Rugby Challenge
    • U20 Championship
    • Gold Cup
    • World Cup
    • Women’s World Cup
    • Lions Tour
    • Olympic Games
  • More
    • Fixtures & Results
      • Super Rugby
      • World Rugby Sevens Series
        • Fixtures
        • Log
      • European Champions Cup
        • Fixtures
        • Results
        • Log
      • English Premiership
        • Fixtures
        • Results
        • Log
      • French Top 14
        • Fixtures
        • Results
        • Log
    • Logs
    • Schools
    • Features
    • Teams
      • Kings
      • Bulls
      • Lions
      • Sharks
      • Stormers
    • Terms and conditions
  • COVID-19 Portal
  • You are here: Home ∼ Itoje: RWC final was painful

    Itoje: RWC final was painful

    Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola dejected after the World Cup final Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola/David Rogers/Getty Images
    Published on May 27, 2020

    Lock Maro Itoje says it took him a long time to get over England’s painful 32-12 defeat in the World Cup final by the Springboks last November.

    Itoje was arguably England’s only standout performer in the unexpectedly one-sided final where South Africa powered powered to victory.

    Appearing on All Black great Dan Carter’s Instagram interview series, Kickin’ It, Itoje revealed that it took the lockdown suspension of rugby for him to finally sit down and review the Test match because it hurt too much to watch it before then.

    ‘The final was extremely disappointing and it took me a long while to be able to watch the final. It was too painful,’ he explained.

    ‘The first time I watched it back was during the lockdown and I wanted to take lessons from it. There are always lessons in victory and defeat and allowing my emotions to watch the game will make me a better player. It was still painful to watch, but I’m more optimistic about the future than the past and we have a lot of good years left in us.’

    ALSO WATCH: Different look at Boks’ resurgence

    Itoje believes the Covid-19 lockdown could be a blessing in disguise for him and England because it allowed him to overcome a few niggling injuries he had been carrying. 

    ‘The lockdown has shown that rugby can be quite fragile, not only on an individual level but also on a global level. You do need to have other strings to your bow.’

    Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

    Posted in English Premiership, News, Six Nations, Springboks, Test Rugby, Top headlines, World Cup Tagged 2019 Rugby World Cup, 2019 World Cup, 2019 World Cup final, england, Maro Itoje, World Cup

    Post by SA Rugby magazine

    SA Rugby magazine




    ← Previous Next →

    Youngsters need Varsity Cup platform

    The lost opportunities caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 makes holding...

    Goosen, Hougaard to boost Bulls

    Johan Goosen and Francois Hougaard’s impending moves to the Vodacom Bulls will...

    Column: SA must court sleeping giant of American rugby

    At a time when finances are tightly squeezed, South Africa cannot be...

    Saffas Abroad: Hall, Grobler star for resurgent Stade

    SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the South African players who featured for their...

    Terblanche’s fond farewell

    It’s been an honour to serve as CEO of the South African...

    Northern exposure should be welcomed

    Playing in the northern hemisphere will provide benefits on and off the...

    Column: All shapes and sizes

    It’s time to stop judging a player such as Frans Malherbe by...

    Column: When context is needed

    As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

    Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

    The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

    From the mag: Foreign Favourites

    As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

    Bulls rookies to watch

    After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

    Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

    For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

    VIEW MORE


    COVID-19 Corona Virus
    South African Resource Portal

    ABOUT

    • Contact us
    • Competitions
    • Videos
    • Player Features
    • Subscribe
    • Terms and conditions

    TOURNAMENTS

      • Rugby Championship
      • Super Rugby
      • Currie Cup
      • Varsity Cup
      • Gold Cup
      • Schools
      • Six Nations
      • Champions Cup
      • World Cup

    OPINION

    • Mallett on SuperSport
    • Cardinelli column
    • Lewis column
    • Xabanisa column
    • Borchardt column
    • Superbru

    Primary Menu

    • Home
    • Super Rugby
    • Springboks
      • Fixtures and Logs
    • British & Irish Lions
    • Videos
    • Opinion
      • Nick Mallett
      • Jon Cardinelli
      • Craig Lewis
      • Dylan Jack
      • Simnikiwe Xabanisa
      • Mariette Adams
      • Omar Mouneimne
      • James Dalton
      • Stefan Terblanche
      • Jean de Villiers
      • Superbru
    • Tournaments
      • Rugby Championship
      • Currie Cup
      • European Champions Cup
      • English Premiership
      • French Top 14
      • Super Rugby
      • Pro14
      • Varsity Cup
      • Test Rugby
      • Six Nations
      • Sevens
      • Rugby Challenge
      • U20 Championship
      • Gold Cup
      • World Cup
      • Women’s World Cup
      • Lions Tour
      • Olympic Games
    • More
      • Fixtures & Results
        • Super Rugby
        • World Rugby Sevens Series
          • Fixtures
          • Log
        • European Champions Cup
          • Fixtures
          • Results
          • Log
        • English Premiership
          • Fixtures
          • Results
          • Log
        • French Top 14
          • Fixtures
          • Results
          • Log
      • Logs
      • Schools
      • Features
      • Teams
        • Kings
        • Bulls
        • Lions
        • Sharks
        • Stormers
      • Terms and conditions
    • COVID-19 Portal



    Subscribe
    ×