Now for the big one
Brad Morgan
14 October 2003
It was business as usual at the weekend, even though the setting was the Rugby World Cup, as South Africa and England swept aside their Pool C opposition ahead of a hugely anticipated clash in Perth on Saturday.
The Springboks crushed minnows Uruguay 72-6, while England brushed aside Georgia 84-6. Even before those two games, though, most eyes were already being cast towards the showdown on 18 October.
The memory of a 53-3 thrashing at Twickenham in November last year is still fresh in the minds of South African rugby players and fans alike. Immediately after that annihilation, Bok skipper Corné Krige began making noises about the World Cup clash, warning England to wait for the battle on the biggest stage in rugby. That time has now come.
In the run-up to Saturday's match there have rumblings from both teams to indicate that they are far from friends. Krige went so far as to label
England skipper Martin Johnson a dirty player. Those words are somewhat ironic, given that Krige's unsportsmanlike efforts in the record humbling at Twickenham were spotlighted by England.
He has since argued that his actions were out of character; one must give him the benefit of the doubt.
Discipline
Krige has made it clear that discipline is the key to the Springboks' chances of victory over England, who hold the number one ranking in world rugby. He says South Africa has improved on the number of penalties it has conceded in the past year, and has no intention of gifting England kicker Johnny Wilkinson too many easy three-pointers.
Nonetheless, Krige has promised England a very physical game. That is a trademark of South African rugby, but the English boast a veteran, powerful pack, well equipped to deal with the big Springbok forwards.
The point is, Krige's assertion that discipline is the key to victory is valid.
Against England, South Africa cannot afford to turn over ball willy-nilly, because Martin Johnson's side is one of the best at keeping possession once they get their hands on the ball.
One of the quotes of the tournament thus far was produced by Bok manager Gideon Sam, who said: "It will not be a Korean war, nor a Boer war, nor any other war. It will be 15 men against 15, it will be professionals against professionals."
Focus
England coach Clive Woodward, who backed up Australian coach Eddie Jones – famous for his constant whinging – when he called the Springboks a dirty team, has chosen to keep quiet in the lead-up to the Perth contest. He reckons he doesn't want to talk about the events of last year at Twickenham, but rather chooses to focus on the task at hand.
The English certainly do have some concerns for the Springbok match, not least of which is a rash of injuries that have struck the side. Injuries to both Matt Dawson and
Kyren Bracken have had coach Woodward worried enough to send for Bath number-nine Martyn Wood. Andy Gomarsall is the only fully fit scrumhalf.
Number one choice Dawson, though, is eager to face the Boks, saying it is the match that the whole English team wants to play. He has been given a 50/50 chance of taking to the field.
The experienced lock Danny Grewcock will be missing from the England line-up due to a broken toe, while Richard Hill, the ever-present yet still very underrated loose forward, has a hamstring problem.
Another man to keep an eye on is powerful centre Mike Tindall. He left the Georgia game with a calf injury. If he doesn't play, his place would ironically likely go to one of two former South Africans, Mike Catt or Stuart Abbott.
Kicking
South Africa, meanwhile, will be a little worried by the kicking form of its two flyhalves, Louis Koen and Derick Hougaard. While they tried mostly drop-kicks to convert tries
against Uruguay, the usually spot-on Koen was sadly off target with a few place kick conversions.
There was some nice rugby played against the South Americans, with Joe van Niekerk especially playing like a man possessed.
But when trying to assess Saturday's contestants, based on their form in their opening games, it appeared that England played a more controlled game than South Africa, with the Springboks relying more on passion and pace to see them through. One wonders whether that will be enough to stop the battle-hardened English.
There has been some talk that Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli might open the game up against England, as unlikely as that may seem. And I agree: that is very unlikely. Firstly, it would be extremely difficult to do against a team that is very good at exerting pressure on the opposition when it is on defence, and secondly, one needs ball to be able to throw it around, and England is very good at preventing the opposition from getting
its hands on the ball for long periods of time.
Tighter
Coach Rudolf Straeuli seems to concur. He says the England game will be "totally different" from the Uruguay match. He believes it will be much tighter and will require rigid defence from the Springboks. The former Bok eighthman also says his charges will have to play a tactically smart game.
England are rightfully favoured to win Saturday’s confrontation, which would help the team avoid a quarterfinal encounter against the winner of Pool D, which is expected to be New Zealand, who are World Cup favourites along with the English.
Neither South Africa nor England would want to face the All Blacks in the last eight stage, so there is much at stake on Saturday when the whistle is blown for the kickoff of what will be the biggest match of Rugby World Cup 2003 up to that point.
| 
