If the New Zealand All Blacks represent the soul of Rugby Union, then the Springboks of South Africa are the blood, sweat and tears. They’re big, fast and very dangerous. England could hardly have faced a harder task this coming Saturday, as they try to bounce back from last week’s defeat to the World Champions.
While the ‘Boks’ are very scary, especially their big pack, Ireland managed to pick them off last week, which will give England encouragement. Boy do they need it! You have to go back eight years and 11 games since England last won against South Africa and they will indeed need the chariot to ‘swing low’ if they are to reverse the trend of defeats. Rest assured, this will be a brutal game in which the strongest and most disciplined pack will have a big say on who comes out on top in a match which is quite often decided by the boot.
South Africa 44-21 England, Stade De France, 1999
In this World Cup quarter-final clash, Clive Woodward’s men were undone by the boot of a man with the most apt name in Rugby. Jannie De Beer’s metronome right foot proved decisive and proceeded to knock over - a world record for a test match - five drop goals to ultimately put England to the sword and out of the World Cup. Woodward had said that his team should be judged by the end of the tournament. Luckily for him they weren’t judged too harshly, and went on to win the World Cup four years later.
South Africa 15-6 England, Stade De France, 2007
After a series of uninspired World Cup performances, England had somehow managed to find themselves contesting the ultimate prize, against a team that had wiped the floor with them 36-0 a few weeks earlier in the competition’s group stages. The game was again dominated by penalty kicks but will always be remembered for Mark Cueto’s disallowed try which, if allowed to stand, would have turned the game in England’s favour. The winger’s second-half effort was ruled out after TV replays showed the big toe of his left boot had made contact with the touch line (a very fine line!). The Springboks went on to win the World Cup for the second time.
England 32-16 South Africa, Twickenham, 2004
Saracen’s fly-half and Aviva Premiership’s record points scorer Charlie Hodgson is probably the unluckiest man in rugby. Not only was his England career blighted by serious injury, but he was also competing with a certain Jonny Wilkinson for the fly-half position on the England team. He was certainly king for a day back when England held a hoodoo over the Springboks, with his record-equalling 27-point haul sweeping them to their sixth successive win over the men from South Africa. A try, two conversions, four penalties and one drop goal gave Hodgson a ‘full house’ and England the victory.
While everyone loves to watch free-flowing ball-in-hand rugby, a strategic game built around kicking can be equally fascinating. England v South Africa is always an intense, tight and physical match which is won by the team that makes the fewest mistakes. It’s a must-win game for both sides, which makes it a must-watch game for you.
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