Poms pasted in Paris
14 Sep 2007
The prophecy of an England pummeling came to pass when South Africa secured a 36-0 whitewash in St Denis.
With only two pool matches remaining against the USA and Tonga, the Boks are certain to top Pool A. By beating England, they have secured an easier path to the semi-finals.
The way South Africa began it appeared as if a 50-pointer was on the cards. After the initial exchanges, JP Pietersen broke down the blindside off a line-out and found Fourie du Preez in good support. The Bok scrumhalf lost his footing but was still able to set up flanker Juan Smith for a well worked try.
What followed was an all out assault on the England back three. South Africa dominated the line-outs and the ball never went further than first-receiver, where one of Butch James, Frans Steyn or Du Preez would send it into orbit. Their accuracy was telling, with the likes of Jason Robinson often caught out by the Bok chasers. Du Preez also showed some great vision when kicking infield off a penalty, finding space and Jaque Fourie collecting off the run. Unfortunately, the centre lost the ball just before he tried to place the ball over the line.
England were rudderless without Jonny Wilkinson, with Andy Farrell and Mike Catt producing poor efforts in clearing from the flyhalf channel. The number of mistakes the duo made in this position was also unacceptable, be it through a misdirected kick or spilled ball, it just served to heap more pressure on an already battered English defence.
Victor Matfield provided the platform from the line-out, while his second row partner Bakkies Botha got through an exemplary amount of work around the park. The South African scrum were also strong at scrumtime even though they received little opportunity to attack.
Wikus van Heerden was a worthy understudy to Schalk Burger, carrying the ball up strongly and pilfering a few balls off the deck. His cleaning around the rucks was also integral to quick ball, as this enabled the South African kickers to drive the English back into their own half.
Du Preez was in masterful form from the base, be it with ball in hand or with his formidable boot. He created the first try for Smith and then sparked the second just before half-time, stepping past a rushing defender and surging upfield. He drew the last man superbly before freeing up Pietersen, who raced in unopposed and ensured the Boks went to the break with a 20-0 advantage.
England persisted with their tight tactics but the poor attack evident in the World Cup warm ups was once again the inhibitor. Catt never challenged the Bok defence and Farrell was equally impotent. Anybody who expected a surprise in the department would have been bitterly disappointed. But conventional wisdom would suggest this group wasn’t numerous.
England scrapped, but South Africa never allowed the play to become scrappy. They continued to pin the Poms back in their own half, and the killer blow was delivered in the 64th minute through Pietersen’s second try. Du Preez was the orchestrator once again, benefitting from a great forward platform to race round the blindside and direct a simple run in for the South African right winger.
The gap between the two sides was gigantic, but South Afirca never shifted from third gear. They cruised to this win and at the same time ensured England suffered the ultimate humiliation by never securing a point.
For all his magic, Du Preez will be a concern for the Boks after clutching his troublesome shoulder late in the second half. He was duly substituted and the South Africans will hope there is not further damage.
England may not be so lucky, with Robinson pulling up with looked to be a serious hamstring injury. Although Wilkinson and Olly Barkley should be fit for the playoffs, the loss of the veteran should hit England just as hard. Jamie Noon was also stretchered from the field in the dying minutes and could also miss the deciding game against Samoa.
If this game confirmed anything it was that the Webb Ellis Trophy will change hands by the end of this tournament. The big question for England is whether they can surpass Samoa and qualify for the playoffs. On this sort of effort, even the most ardent English fan may be in doubt.
South Africa – Tries: Juan Smith, JP Pietersen (2). Conversions: Percy Montgomery (3). Penalties: Francois Steyn, Montgomery (4).
England – None.
By Jon Cardinelli
601 Comments
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14 Sep 2007, 20:50 pm
BOKKE
14 Sep 2007, 20:50 pm
Piledrive those English gits
14 Sep 2007, 20:51 pm
Go Bokke. Supporting you on Live scoring from the Ukraine. Damn Sports coverage sucks here !! Give me the details guys !!
14 Sep 2007, 20:52 pm
WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
14 Sep 2007, 21:01 pm
ENGLAND its time to taste the PAIN !
14 Sep 2007, 21:06 pm
#3
Go to newstalk.ie and you will get radio commentary
14 Sep 2007, 21:09 pm
Try!
Told u all jpp is not so bad
14 Sep 2007, 21:20 pm
oh ****!! hope vic matfield is ok
14 Sep 2007, 21:21 pm
hello mense, flamedolla here flametoppie se vrou, go bokke!!!, flamebaba slaap lekker in sy bok babygrow en ons drink n bietjie meerlust in die bok honour.
14 Sep 2007, 21:28 pm
Penalty Try red card
14 Sep 2007, 21:29 pm
Cite the *******!
14 Sep 2007, 21:36 pm
Variety, Hands on the ball. Territory.
14 Sep 2007, 21:40 pm
Butch having a great game.
14 Sep 2007, 21:41 pm
I feel alone?
14 Sep 2007, 21:42 pm
C’Mon Percy, If you’re going to go for a droppie at least get it right. No one minds the points, but everyone prefers trys
14 Sep 2007, 21:43 pm
How can anyone enjoy Rugby when Hugh Bladen is commentating. Only Errol Tobias can be worse then him. This English team is weak.We will win easily.
14 Sep 2007, 21:44 pm
Matt Stevens doing his bit for the SA cause.
14 Sep 2007, 21:46 pm
The Irish commetary is awesome….John Robbie doing the job.
14 Sep 2007, 21:46 pm
Pieterson, trying to catch Habanero
14 Sep 2007, 21:47 pm
SA 20 – England 0
Go you beautiful things
14 Sep 2007, 21:47 pm
we like it!!! We have no coverage so listening on the radio, feel positively prehistoric.
14 Sep 2007, 21:48 pm
Give that try to Wikus Van Heerden. Feet up Schalk. Drool Richie.
14 Sep 2007, 21:49 pm
Where are you Flametop?
14 Sep 2007, 21:49 pm
Boys, I am loving this…
Could be massive second half.
14 Sep 2007, 21:49 pm
yea me too – no television coverage – listening to it on RSG from deepest Rajasthan in India – go Bokke. My prediction was 54-17 to bokke xxxx gonna have to change that to 60 – nil hahahahahah
14 Sep 2007, 21:50 pm
This Bok side is looking good.
Bok backline beginning to fire.
14 Sep 2007, 21:51 pm
Impressive first half. SA need to close the game out now by scoring next.
Great turnover Wickus.
Gareth
14 Sep 2007, 21:51 pm
The english defensive lines are going to open up in the second half.
There is too much pressure on them to save this game.
Whats up with fourie and his spill??
14 Sep 2007, 21:52 pm
Wickus has been monumental…
14 Sep 2007, 21:52 pm
Should have made my prediction 48-0 instead of 48-11.
14 Sep 2007, 21:52 pm
yomama, in dublin, but no cable tv!! Where you?
Anyone got an internet link to watch live??
14 Sep 2007, 21:53 pm
Wikus is ‘n YSTER!! What you on about wannabe?
14 Sep 2007, 21:54 pm
Chaps,
As much as this hurts (and it does) for a Kiwi bloke – you South Africans must be very proud of this Springbok team.
This is an awesome performance by the Boks.
You are finalists, unquestionably,
You’re halfback Fourie is without a doubt the best in the world.
If the All Blacks underrate this team, I’m afraid it will be ‘four more years, boys’.
14 Sep 2007, 21:54 pm
Butch James had a really good half.
14 Sep 2007, 21:54 pm
Great game so far boks, just keep them pinned in their own half Butch.
Butch james is playing a great game, but the man of the match at half time is Fourie du Preez.
England need a miracle from here!!
20-0 Should end up at about 40-0!!
14 Sep 2007, 21:56 pm
There you go so who has come to the party, all those that were written off, JPP, Frans Steyn, Wickus van Heerden, have all made huge contributions, but then so has FdP, Butch, Juan Smith, Bakkies has been enormous.
Steyn has had a tremendous game in the midfield, Wickus stole that all important ball for the second try, FdP is having a blinder and so is JPP so far.
14 Sep 2007, 21:56 pm
#33 takes a big man to say that.
Looking forward to the final against the mighty ABs
14 Sep 2007, 21:56 pm
What a game!
FDP is simply the best and Schalk may have just lost his place to Wikus
14 Sep 2007, 21:57 pm
Flametop.
I’m sitting in the States, watching the game through the internet on Setanta.
14 Sep 2007, 21:57 pm
Ag te lekker!!!
20:0 half time
)
A nil on the cards
)
Where’s Big-Hit? … I think I saw him jump on the new Eurostar express to Paris … gone to tell the England players the game has actually started.
Percy, hand those drops to Steyn. Could be 30-0 by now!
Go bokke!!!
14 Sep 2007, 21:57 pm
Would like to see Danie Rossouw feature a bit more in the second half and also waiting for CJ!!
14 Sep 2007, 21:58 pm
All I can say is WOW! Keep it up in the 2nd half!
14 Sep 2007, 21:58 pm
Lets hope they keep up the pressure and don’t let up, keep up the intensity and push home the advantage.
14 Sep 2007, 21:58 pm
where is big hit ?
14 Sep 2007, 21:58 pm
I think that the Poms have too much pride to buckle, completely.
Either SA will start doing silly stuff or the Poms will start the niggle. I fear the latter.
14 Sep 2007, 22:00 pm
Yomama is the link subscription, can you post the link.
14 Sep 2007, 22:00 pm
Dave-o
Finalists only due to an easy route to the finals.
A grand final….the boks need stiffer opposition to ascertain their real worth.
Just think the english are not that good today.
One can see that the english players minds have succumbed to defeat before they went on the field.
14 Sep 2007, 22:02 pm
#45 It’s not about pride, the boks have too much class for these poms.
14 Sep 2007, 22:03 pm
Ja, It’s a bloody fortune. I’m glad that my wife loves me.
14 Sep 2007, 22:03 pm
Wallabie u are so right. This English team is useless and a win against them does not mean anything. I just hope the SA team realises it and do not become too arrogant
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