The most anticipated match in the Pool stages of Rugby World Cup 2003 pits England – the favourites to become the Northern hemisphere’s first world champions – against 1995 winners South Africa at Subiaco Oval in Perth on 18 October.
Form guide
South Africa may not have had the best of years on the international scene, but started brightly in the Tournament with 12 tries in their 72-6 defeat of Uruguay, a try count matched by England in their 84-6 victory over Rugby World Cup debutants Georgia.
England go into the game as the number one team in the official IRB world rankings, five places higher than a Springbok outfit they have beaten in their last four meetings and with an impressive record of only one defeat in 17 Tests.
Previous meetings
The two countries have played each other 22 times with South Africa holding the edge with 12 victories to England’s nine, one game having been drawn. The most recent meeting was last November, when England posted a record 53-3 victory at Twickenham.
England and South Africa have met only once before in the Rugby World Cup, the quarter final in 1999 when fly half Jannie de Beer kicked a world record five drop goals to clinch a 44-21 victory for the Springboks.
Ins and Outs
England had initially named an unchanged starting line up, but on Friday head coach Clive Woodward was forced to replace scrum half Matt Dawson and flanker Richard Hill after they failed to recover from minor hamstring strains suffered against Georgia.
Kyran Bracken, who missed the Georgia game after suffering back pain in the warm up, and Lewis Moody are promoted from the bench with Andy Gomarsall and Joe Worsley coming into the 22 man squad.
Concern over Bracken and Dawson had prompted Woodward to call Martyn Wood out to Australia as a precaution. However Wood returned home on Thursday.
South Africa coach Rudolf Straeuli has made four changes to his starting XV with prop Christo Bezuidenhoudt, captain Corné Krige, centre Jorrie Muller and full back Jaco van der Westhuyzen coming in.
Key Players
Universally regarded as the best in the world in his position, fly half Jonny Wilkinson will again be a pivotal player for England against South Africa, a team who have lost only one Rugby World Cup match.
England’s back three of Ben Cohen, Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey will again be a threat with Robinson perhaps one to watch after enjoying a quiet game by his high standards against Georgia.
The return of Corné Krige after a hamstring injury will unquestionably strength the Springbok pack, while scrum half Joost van der Westhuizen is always a danger as his hat trick against Uruguay showed.
What it means
Both teams are expected to progress to the quarter finals, although Samoa cannot be ruled out after their performance against Uruguay, but the loser of this match will have to negotiate by far the harder of the routes to the final.
The loser in this match, and likely Pool C runner up, will have to face expected Pool D winners New Zealand in the quarter final with defending champions Australia likely awaiting the winner.
By contrast the match winner will find Wales, as the likely Pool D runners up, standing between them and an expected semi final against Pool B favourites France.
What they said
“I was impressed with South Africa,” said England head coach Woodward. “It will be a huge match up between two of the best sides in the world. There has been a lot of talk about last November, but I think that’s history now, no one wants to look back. It’ll be a great game.”
South Africa captain Corné Krige said: “It [the England match] is important to us. It’s going to decide who finishes top of the Pool, so yes, it’s a huge game for us. We can’t say it’s just another Pool game.”
Match details
England v South Africa
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick off: 20:00 local time, 22:00 AEST
Match officials: Referee - Peter Marshall (Australia), touch judges – David McHugh and Donal Courtney (both Ireland), television match official – Iain Ramage (Scotland).
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