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, 22:30 pm
quote from Planet Rugby hahahahah “It’s getting stupid now – Corry takes a quick tap-penalty and breaks completely alone. He is brought down and mugged by Pietersen of all people. It’s hard to believe the English are professional rugby players. What has happened to them?
14 Sep 2007, 22:31 pm
Steyn always in the thick of the action stopping every midfield drive. FdP man of the match, Wickus, Steyn, Bakkies, JPP all having games like never before. This is the team to go to the final.
14 Sep 2007, 22:31 pm
Going on this performance,will England make it out of the pool.
Tonga must be a threat to England now,lol
14 Sep 2007, 22:32 pm
Great bit of commentary from Hugh Bladen . . .. “Sackie is sacked”!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:32 pm
Great bit of commentary from Hugh Bladen . . .. “Sackie is sacked”!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:32 pm
Percy having a Stormer
14 Sep 2007, 22:33 pm
one more frm PR “England were on the ropes, now they are on the canvas”
14 Sep 2007, 22:34 pm
Ref having a good game.
14 Sep 2007, 22:35 pm
Percy was once a stormer . . . . . if only he played as well those days!!
And Bobby the biscuit is now on!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:35 pm
revenge for the 53-3 Go Bokke push them past the fifty pointer
14 Sep 2007, 22:35 pm
The last Englishman to run with the ball was William Web Ellis!!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:37 pm
#110, that’s exactly what I was thinking . . . .
:-d
14 Sep 2007, 22:39 pm
**** these bloody smileys!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:40 pm
Too much malt scotch!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:40 pm
Modawg..this one’s for you.
14 Sep 2007, 22:40 pm
C’mon Boks let’s get the bonus point try!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:41 pm
Steyn off , great game by the youngster
14 Sep 2007, 22:41 pm
This English teams are a bunch of clowns – bring on the real oppostition. SA just toying with them to pass the time LOL
14 Sep 2007, 22:41 pm
Flametop . . .
U R my HERO!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:42 pm
Guys, get a room.
14 Sep 2007, 22:43 pm
Nog ‘n englesman wat seer gekry ——- he le en kreun hahah – commentary is brilliant
14 Sep 2007, 22:43 pm
Lewswey for Liverpool
14 Sep 2007, 22:45 pm
Awesome effort SA, very comprehensive, looking good, see you later.
Is the rest of tournament worth watching now?
Hope you havent peaked too soon, haha,
great stuff
14 Sep 2007, 22:45 pm
Why bring AP on, he just cost us a try with a shockingly stupid pass.
14 Sep 2007, 22:45 pm
Yo mama
Hardly, steady on.
Anyway what time does the game start.
(Are Eng still on Grenwich Mean Time?)
14 Sep 2007, 22:46 pm
Thumped – out of sight
14 Sep 2007, 22:46 pm
well done bokke – good nite all from India
14 Sep 2007, 22:46 pm
36-0 who would have guessed that, certainly not me.
14 Sep 2007, 22:47 pm
Englands biggest spanking in RWC history
14 Sep 2007, 22:47 pm
World Champions = 0 points
Couple of Kiwis will be reaching for the prozac round about now.
14 Sep 2007, 22:47 pm
Beauty where is Big Hit and St Mich HA HA HA
14 Sep 2007, 22:47 pm
Well done Bokke from the Blarney Bokke Supporters
14 Sep 2007, 22:47 pm
Cheers buggers, till next time.
14 Sep 2007, 22:47 pm
36-0 superb!!! Well done Bokke!! England could do nothing, they are so weak, they will lose to Samoa at this rate
14 Sep 2007, 22:47 pm
Game over, one consolation for England is that they stopped us from scoring a bonus point try.
Where is that Big(doos) Hit?
FYI a doos is a box . . . he he he ha bwah hmph!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:48 pm
For the next four years everytime St Mich opens that trap. Just say 36-0
14 Sep 2007, 22:48 pm
England were lucky to score ZERO . . . . HA HA HA!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:48 pm
Well done to the Boks!
Did not need a bonus point as they have already beaten the two strongest sides in their pool.
Now we can just hope Du Preez does not get sited so that we can prepare for the Welsh Boys Choir in peace…
14 Sep 2007, 22:50 pm
Today the world champs, tomorrow the Zimbabwean Pound.
14 Sep 2007, 22:50 pm
Well done Bokke but PLEASE!!!!!! dont get carried away. This is the worst English team, ever.
14 Sep 2007, 22:51 pm
England now still have to play Samoa . . . .OUCH!!”
14 Sep 2007, 22:51 pm
Bokke Bokke Bokke !
14 Sep 2007, 22:51 pm
Hanne op al die profete wat gese het Eng gaan wen!
14 Sep 2007, 22:52 pm
I think that Connaught would have beaten England today!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:53 pm
Du Preez was going for the ball, it would be a travesty if he was cited.
14 Sep 2007, 22:54 pm
That’s what happens when you pick an ex EP flyhalf.Great day for the Poms.Whipped in the cricket and drilled in the rugby.
14 Sep 2007, 22:54 pm
England were lucky to score ZERO . . . . HA HA HA!!
14 Sep 2007, 22:54 pm
Stunned! Now I believe we can go all the way. Well done EJ (sorry but you can see the transformation with EJ’s input).
JS came out looking like a man on a mission. An omen I dare-say.
Id there was a weak link it was JF. Why didn’y he pop pass to Habbana?
Did we miss Skalk? Naw. Steyn was absoultely brilliant and made more tackles/turnovers than Skalk (abely supported by Wikus).
FdP was excellent also. As was Percy.
Butch was totally solid and who wants to complain about his kicking now?
Also JPP showed he doesn’t deserve the bad press he has had. Obviously SA used him rather than Habbana and foiled England plans of watching Habbana like a hawk.
Everybody played well and hell I’m so proud! Just wondering what the neighbours (mainly Americans) are thinking of one person’s noise from a flat!
14 Sep 2007, 22:55 pm
yomama – no worries here mate, you keep the prozac to yourself.
Well done SA, and England, you were awful, a disgrace as current holders actually
14 Sep 2007, 22:55 pm
What time is the Eng SA game?
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