Springboks' time is now
Brad Morgan
19 October 2007
South Africa face England for the fourth time this year in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris on Saturday, having recorded convincing wins in their three previous clashes - but knowing that this is the match that will count and be remembered.
Predictably, South Africa's selectors didn't tinker much with the squad that did duty in the 37-13 semi-final victory over Argentina, making only one change on the bench, with Wikus van Heerden being preferred to Bob Skinstad.
While Skinstad cracked the nod for the showdown against the Pumas, it was Van Heerden who started at flank when Schalk Burger was suspended earlier in the tournament. He was part of the run-on fifteen that crushed England 36-0 in the pool stage and was, in fact, one of the most impressive players on the
field that night.
Aiming for a second win
Both countries will be aiming for a second World Cup title. South Africa previously lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy on home soil in 1995, while England won Down Under in 2003 and are in with a shout at becoming the first team to successfully defend the World Cup.
The winning team will equal Australia's record of two World Cup titles.
The Springboks will be hoping good things come in three at the Stade de France. It will be their third test against England at the ground, with both the previous matches having been played in World Cups, and South Africa come out on top on both occasions.
In 1999, the Boks eliminated England from the tournament with a 44-21 victory in the quarterfinals, and the big 36-0 victory earlier in this year's World Cup took place at the same ground.
Unique record
If South Africa wins, veteran prop Os du Randt will record a unique
achievement. Only three players – Tim Horan, Jason Little, and John Eales – have previously won the World Cup twice, but Du Randt could become the fouth. What would be unique about his achievement is that it would come 12 years after South Africa's 1995 success; The Australian trio tasted success eight years apart.
England's players and the British press have been talking up their team's chances of victory, with 2003 World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio saying the momentum is with the English after their shocks wins over Australia in the quarterfinals and France in the semi-finals.
Certainly, the English have found some defensive form, but in the playoffs they have scored only one try and conceded one. The Springboks, by contrast, have scored nine and conceded three, one of which, in the match against Argentina, resulted from a shocking decision by the television match official Tony Spreadbury.
Punishing mistakes
Throughout the
tournament, John Smit's men have shown an ability to punish the opposition for the mistakes they make, and this has meant the Boks have scored far more tries than England.
In the pool matches, they ran in 21 five-pointers and conceded five. England, meanwhile, scored only 11 tries and conceded seven.
Taking the playoff matches into account, those figures become 30 tries scored by South Africa and eight scored against them, and 12 tries scored by England, with eight tries against.
Advantage South Africa.
The Springboks have not lacked a cutting edge through the tournament and only once – against England – failed to score at least four tries, and on that occasion they dotted down three times.
Defence
At playoff time, it is often said that it is defence that wins titles. However, that saying is coupled with other wise words which say it is the team that makes the least mistakes that wins. And that is where the Boks have
proved far more efficient than England: capitalising on errors by the opposition to run in tries.
The defending champion's backline has looked decidedly ordinary on attack, but they have certainly had their defensive house in order during their two playoff victories.
While England has a world class flyhalf in Jonny Wilkinson, they don't possess the all-round kicking ability of South Africa. In a match in which territory is likely to be a crucial factor, the Springboks hold the aces.
Kicking
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, flyhalf Butch James, inside centre Francois Steyn, and fullback Percy Montgomery possess the boots to control the game should it become a tactical kicking contest.
Also, Du Preez and Montgomery rate among the best, if not the best, at their respective positions at this World Cup. Having such commanding performers in two crucial positions is a major plus for South Africa.
One needs only to recall the Springbok
team of 1997 that equaled the world record for consecutive test victories to see how important it is to have world class players in the decision-making positions. That side had Joost van der Westhuizen at scrumhalf, Gary Teichmann at eightman, Henry Honiball at flyhalf, and Andre Joubert at fullback.
Scrum concern
If there is one area of concern for South Africa ahead of Saturday's final, it is the tight scrums. Argentina definitely had the upper hand in the set pieces in the semi-final and SA coach Jake White has admitted it is something that needs to be addressed.
Captain John Smit, though, says the Boks had problems with the interpretations of referee Steve Walsh in the first half of that match, and matters were sorted out in the second half.
England's strength lies with their forwards and they performed well as scrum time when the two teams met earlier in the tournament. Phil Vickery's pack is expected to target SA tighthead prop
CJ van der Linde through the highly rated Andrew Sheridan, but the set scrums play a less important role in the modern game than the lineouts, and it is in this feature of the game that South Africa has excelled.
Lineouts
With the man most regard as the number one lineout jumper in the world, Victor Matfield, pulling the strings, the Springboks have caused huge problems for opposing teams on their own throw-ins.
Against Argentina, the Boks stole eight of 19 throw-ins by the Pumas. They also succeeded in disrupting Argentina's ball when the South Americans threw in, resulting in the Pumas' backline playing with poor qualifty ball.
In Matfield, Bakkies Botha, and Juan Smith, South Africa has three players who excel at winning their own lineout ball, while they are also very effective at challenging opposition throw-ins.
Dominating the hits
When the teams met in their pool clash, the Springboks
dominated the hits and rucks, turning over ball on quite a number of occasions, and it is in this area that England will have to lift their game, because, if they don’t the South Africans are going to be very hard to stop.
And speaking of players that are hard to stop, Bryan Habana has lit up the tournament with some dazzling tries. He has proved, as he has so many times before, that he is a game-changing player, able to make something out of nothing, and he already scored eight tries.
Habana's eight tries equals the World Cup record for tries in a single tournament, currently held by All Black legend Jonah Lomu.
In an interview with BBC Radio Five Live, Lomu said should Habana break his record, he would be the first person to stand up and applaud the Springbok flyer.
'A great ambassador'
"He's a great ambassador for South Africa and a great ambassador for the sport, said Lomu. "I'm hoping he will break it on Saturday because
records are there to be broken."
He also offered some words of wisdom about how to defend against Habana, saying, "If you’re defending against him you've got to shut his space down quickly. If he gets it in a dangerous area, nine times out of 10 he will score."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be attending the match, as will South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Former President Nelson Mandela was also invited to attend, but he is unable to make the long trip. Mandela has, however, couriered a special message to the Springboks on a DVD. South African supporters will be hoping it is infused with the famous "Madiba Magic".
Cricket supports rugby
Cricket South Africa also joined in to wish the Boks good luck. A message from Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola read: "The whole cricket community in South Africa sends its best wishes for the World Cup final against England on Saturday.
"We also send our congratulations
on a fantastic effort so far, and we know the team will carry these winning ways into the final match.
"South African cricket, like the entire nation, will be rooting for the guys all the way."
And, echoing the thoughts of the Springboks' many supporters, the message concluded: "Bring the cup home again!"
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