14.09.2007
South Africa
36, England 0 in Paris (World Cup, Pool A)
South
Africa won by 36 points. I predicted South Africa
by 15.
Reviews
England made all the mistakes. South Africa held the massive
English forward pack and took each opportunity to either score or gain
territory. England
were able to go forwards often enough but a constant flow of errors and an
inability to finish moves saw them zero at the end of the game. England’s
injury woes were added to with Robinson, easily their star player, carried off
with a hamstring injury and Jamie Noon out of the tournament with a knee
injury. Is this the end of England’s
2007 Rugby World Cup campaign?
http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3556_2729681,00.html
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.News_Detail/StoryID/17687
Previews
This is a crunch match for
these teams. England
will need to win if their hopes of retaining the Rugby World Cup are to be
realised. England’s preparations has been disrupted by having selected prop and
captain suspended for two matches and fly half Barkley ruled out with injury. A
reorganised line up sees Freshwater in for Vickery with Corry taking over as
captain, and veteran Mike Catt taking over at fly half with Farrell moving into
the centres.
A good win to South Africa
will firmly place them in the quarter finals. Injuries, suspensions and lack of
form are affecting the English side more than their Southern Hemisphere rivals.
South Africa is a much
improved side since last November whilst England is struggling.
http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=17677
http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=17648
Last Five Encounters
02.06.2007 South Africa 55-22 in Pretoria
26.05.2007 South Africa 58-10 in Bloemfontein
25.11.2006 South Africa 24-14 at Twickenham
18.11.2006 England 23-21 at Twickenham
20.11.2004 England 32-16 at Twickenham
GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-South Africa 6th, England 9th.
Prediction: Too
many old legs in a disorganised and out of form English side. South Africa by 15 points
Match data sheet