Preview: Boks v England

The Springboks take on England in the second round of pool matches of Rugby World Cup 2007 on Friday 14th September.

The Match Details

Event: Rugby World Cup Pool A Round 2
Date: Friday 14 September 2007
Venue: Stade de France, Saint Denis
Kickoff: 21.00 SA (20:00 BST, 19.00 GMT)
Referee: Joël Jutge
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker, Carlo Damasco
TMO: Simon McDowell

The Teams
[TABLE=38]

The Selection Details

South Africa
- Francois Steyn replaces the injured Jean de Villiers at inside centre.
- JP Pietersen remains on the right wing
- Ruan Pienaar is picked on the bench as a right wing option should the Boks require a kicker in that position (JP Pietersen’s kicking is woeful)
- Bismarck du Plessis again starts on the bench ahead of Gary Botha
- BJ Botha starts at tighthead prop ahead of CJ van der Linde
– Wynand Olivier warms the bench
– Wikus van Heerden starts ahead of the banned Schalk Burger
– Bobby Skinstad moves to the bench

England
- Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson is injured and is not selected to play
- Wilkinson’s replacement Olly Barkley was injured in training and will not play
– Third choice flyhalf Andy Farrell starts at No. 10.
- Nick Easter comes in for Lawrence Dallaglio at No 8
- Martin Corry replaces Joe Worsley at flank
- Paul Sackey starts on the left wing
- Jason Robinson moves to fullback
- Matt Stevens replaces banned England captain Phil Vickery at prop.

Player Profiles

  
 
 
  
 
  

The Previous Results

Played: 28
Springboks: 15
England: 12
Draws: 01

[TABLE=37]

The Talk

Jake White (Springbok Coach):

Bok coach Jake White confirmed that Pienaar would start on the right wing should Jonny Wilkinson be declared fit to play.

“It really would be a horses for courses selection,” explained White in the Independent Newspapers.

“We have a lot of respect for Wilkinson’s kicking game and his ability to control a match at No. 10 and we will only get one crack at England.

“I won’t be conservative in my selection thinking. I am comfortable with JP on the wing if Wilkinson doesn’t play, but I will be prepared to make the change should he be passed fit.”

The original plan was for Steyn to play on the right wing, but the injury to Jean de Villiers has called for a minor reshuffle.

“Losing Jean is a massive blow, but the moment we knew he was out we had to look forward to what our available options were,” said White.

“It is cruel luck for Jean, but it offers the next guy an opportunity to do something special at this World Cup. We said goodbye to Jean today and it was very emotional as he has been such an integral part of the Bok squad.

“We told him we would want him back here to watch us play in the final, so we have a commitment to keep. He has also been very brave and mature about the injury, preferring to offer encouragement to those who remain as opposed to reflecting on the fact that he is out of the tournament.”

White has a high regard for the abilities of young Francois Steyn.

“Some players are simply good enough, regardless of their age or lack of experience.
“When I picked Bryan Habana from the under 21s I was accused by some people of merely appeasing politicians. But I knew how good he was and I selected him at the first opportunity.

“The same is applicable of Steyn. They are special players and to win a World Cup you need some special players to make an impact.”

“I keep on reminding myself about England at the 1999 World Cup when Clive didn’t select Wilkinson to start against South Africa in that quarter-final. You don’t get back those games.

“I have to trust my instincts as a coach and Frans is a player with the ability to adapt to every position in the backline. Ruan Pienaar is another player with that capacity and we’re very fortunate to have both of them in our squad.

“This tournament was never going to be about regrets for the players, management or myself. We’ve come to Paris to win the tournament, but also to experience a fantastic culture and enjoy ourselves.”

The Boks were given Monday off by the coach to recover from the bumps and bruises picked up in the Samoa game on Sunday.

“They boys are sore and anyone who watched that match would know it. We had the class to win well, but we had to work for the win and there were some big hits put in by our boys and the Samoans.

“It would have made no sense to run our boys on Monday. They know what Friday is about. They’ll respect the occasion and we have to ensure they’re as fresh as is possible after a Sunday test.

“The turnaround time is not great, but we’ve known that all along. We’ll have a light week and most of the preparation will be around the mental approach to the game.

“Physically we have no doubt we’re good enough to beat England and mentally we have to make sure the boys are as confident – something I am sure won’t be too much of a problem after our recent form against England,” said White.

He talked about the four week ban imposed on Schalk Burger for a high tackle against Samoa.

“We are not happy about the decision, we will appeal it.

“Of course I was shocked. You lose a player like Schalk Burger, you get told at one o’clock in the morning after the hearing, and it is not something that you take without being shocked about it.

“We will concentrate on the rugby aspects, and the legal team will concentrate on the legal aspects.

“Hopefully, we can get some more clarity before the kick-off on Friday.

“To be fair, I don’t think they can (get an appeal result) before Friday. That would be a real blessing, but it is in their hands.

“Schalk is not happy, I mean the guy is still relatively young, and he wants to play as much as he can.

“I want to make it quite clear though, that we are a squad of 30 players.

“The one thing I am totally confident of is that this group of players have been through enough adversity within the last four years to be able to rise to another challenge.”

BJ Botha (Springbok Prop):

“I have played England now four times, and one thing I do know is that their big effort comes from the forwards, and there is certainly nothing wrong with their pack. I would put them right up near the top of my ranking list of international packs.

“Obviously it is because of the conditions they usually have to play in. Wet, heavy fields are not conducive to an expansive, running game, so they place a massive emphasis on winning clean lineout possession, their scrumming and their driving.”

He talked about the Schalk Burger banning controversy and it’s effect on the Bok team during the buildup to the England game.

“We are a 30-man squad and we have to be prepared for these eventualities, but Schalk was an important member of the team and he is a great team man so we all feel for him and we are all a bit confused about what has happened.

“It hasn’t really been properly absorbed by the team yet. We expected him to get off and then this morning we woke up to hear that he had been suspended for four weeks. There hasn’t been a team meeting on the issue yet, but I am sure we will use this as an additional motivation to go out and beat England.

“Schalk is due to come back and play for us later in the competition, so it is up to us to go out and play our hearts out for him so that he can come back to a good platform to play off.”

Mike Ford (England Defence Coach):

Mike Ford, England’s defence coach, revealed that they would be focused on limiting the impact of Bok star winger Bryan Habana.

“You can’t man-mark him,” said Ford

“What you can do is stop his source, and try to stop the ball going towards him. It is going to be a tough day but not one we are frightened of.

“Eddie Jones has got him popping up here, there and everywhere.

“Probably a year ago he stayed on the left wing, but now he can be in the middle of the field or even on the right wing.”

Schalk Burger (Springbok Flank):

Schalk knows the importance of Friday’s match.

“It is going to be a tough one against England, but all that matters is to win,” said the Bok star.

He talked about the game against Samoa which the Boks won comfortably 59-07.

“It was very physical at the beginning of the game, but we expected that because Samoa always play that way.

“We were not in doubt though, and in the second half it was much easier. The Samoans were tired after a fantastic beginning.

“Now, we’ve got to look past this game and get prepared for the next one.

“We didn’t start the Samoa game well. We made a lot of errors and conceded many turnovers.

“It was quite a difficult game to approach. We didn’t think about England, but it was in the back of our minds.”

John Smit (Springbok Captain):

“We can take almost nothing out of what happened in South Africa. There is a different side that is here, and there is a hell of a lot more at stake.

“I have played England too many times to know there is no English side that doesn’t come out firing 100 per cent.

“It is going to be a massive encounter on Friday.”

Victor Matfield (Springbok Lock):

“We’ve been working towards this one since the draw was announced. It is a mini-final because with a win comes a more comfortable road into the final.

“They’re a quality pack and we know it will be tough. But as I said we’ve prepared well, but all the talk will be meaningless if we don’t play well. I know we’ll be in good shape on Friday night.”