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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15 Sep 2007, 00:12 am
Loved the TV commentary. “Jake White sitting next to his new buddy, Eddie van Jones.”
Priceless!
15 Sep 2007, 00:14 am
# 300
Re the penalty count. Do you think the boys slipped the ref a few Kruger rands.
15 Sep 2007, 00:14 am
Poms are a Big Hit–hahahahahahaha!
15 Sep 2007, 00:15 am
294, I suppose I agree but I’m struggling to think of the changes they could make to the personal to lift their game. All the possiblities are a bit iffy.
Poor old england, they are at a real low. A very sorry display by the chumps. Boks just need to maintain their discipline and concentration and we are on our way to the final.
I can’t wait to go to work on Monday!!!!!
15 Sep 2007, 00:15 am
EJ masterminded that performance whether we will acknowledge it or not without his input I doubt very much if Steyn would have been at 12 tonight, or whether our guys would have opted to run it out of second phase play like they did. Steyn, FdP, Butch, Bakkies, Wickus, Percy even JP all played out their socks, Schalk wouldn’t have made a difference, in fact it worked more cohesively like a polished all for one, one for all, team effort.
15 Sep 2007, 00:18 am
Kingpaul, why is it nice to be a boer?? Didnt english speaking south africans contribute to the victory or are we still considered useless rugby players. Think Christie, Mallet, Teichman, Smit and White. Dont know where SA Rugby would be witout non – boers. Get over your laager mentality mate
15 Sep 2007, 00:18 am
Tight head is a pretty serious problem though with Hayman and Woodcock looming
15 Sep 2007, 00:19 am
#33 Dave-o as much as you maybe a kiwi I cant understand how you get such conviction over the Boks performance? A good win for sure, but all that happened was they held out a side who were in danger of losing to the USA. The poms backline was a disaster, the scrum was all over the shop(frontline fitness was about 75%), no play profile, no good set pieces, no structure really and no idea. I am sure that all Bokkies will agree that this was a win over a trumped up minnow side and if they were to take it seriously then they are really in a bad way as well.
15 Sep 2007, 00:20 am
Great to have the win, but collectively we should try to be a little more magnanimous. Referring to the defeated English players as “wankers”, “gits” and “chumps” doesn’t really reflect well on us.
15 Sep 2007, 00:21 am
#257 – Yes, but why were we getting wheeled – the first tighthead was definitely legitimate? I’m a die hard Os man but he didn’t look like an “immobile piece of granite” to me – because that’s where we were going backwards.
15 Sep 2007, 00:21 am
…I am sure the Boks would have been holding alot back for their sake.
15 Sep 2007, 00:21 am
Ja Skopie, our scrum was k*k. Needs work big time!
15 Sep 2007, 00:21 am
285# yea 2 heels against the head
Smit aint no Bismarck
15 Sep 2007, 00:22 am
Kaiveld @ 302 – Die manne was disciplined (jammer vir die engels).
Hulle het presies geweet wat om te doen.
15 Sep 2007, 00:23 am
I watched the game here in NZ with commentary by All Blacks legends Grant Fox and AJ Whetton.
They were full of praise for the Boks’ performance and consider your halfback Fourie du Preez as the best in the world.
Good on you South African supporters for keeping the faith through thick and thin.
15 Sep 2007, 00:24 am
# 314
Ja, die Bokke het baie slim gespeel (verskoon my swak Afrikaans).
15 Sep 2007, 00:25 am
308# it was a great win stop talking nonsense
15 Sep 2007, 00:25 am
Momentum is key during a WC
England are not a good side but few teams in the world would deny them even three points.
I’m sure that SA could have fired the ball about a bit more but they played tactically as if they were in the final, ie test rugby not S14.
Argentina showed that in test rugby you have to come away from the opposition half with at least three points on every visit. There’s no point in domination possession/territory if you don’t dominate the scoreboard.
SA did likewise tonight and that created the pressure on the opposition.
kicks win World Cup’s whether they lay the platform at the start of a game or a last minute drop goal.
15 Sep 2007, 00:28 am
#308 – they’re defending world champions with everything to play for, old son.
They’re not a second tier team – along with France they represent the best of Europe.
To beat them by 36 and keep them scoreless is a magnificent result.
I rest my case.
15 Sep 2007, 00:29 am
Dave-O @ 315 – who the hell is Grant Fox????
15 Sep 2007, 00:29 am
#317 joeboy- whatever- a win is a win I guess. I would be concerned if it counted for anything thats all.
15 Sep 2007, 00:29 am
Sjoe, die Bokke het goed gespeel. Die laaste 15 minute was nie te goed nie, maar die game was klaar gewen, die reserwes het opgekom, en ek dink hulle wou nie te veel wys nie.
Volgende spelers het my baie beindruk:
- Percy
- Steyn
- Butch
- Fourie
- Wicus
- Bakkies
Ek was veral beindruk met Butch se wedstryd. Koel en kalm gespeel, en vir die eerste keer in jare gelyk asof hy nou rustig geword het, en die wedstryd begin lees het. Hoop hy hou so aan.
Bietjie teleurgesteld met Jacques Fourie en JP se wedstryde. JP se hande is nie te veilig nie.
Verder het ons in die skrums gesukkel. Sal vir CJ speel.
15 Sep 2007, 00:29 am
BJ Botha is not a killer Tight-Head. Very average. I know I will annoy Sharks fans but he’s had a few games this season and has not really delivered. There is a big weakness there.
15 Sep 2007, 00:30 am
the Boks beat England 36-0 and a few of you idiots complain
15 Sep 2007, 00:30 am
Man of the Match Fourie du Preez in one of the greatest exhibitions of scrumhalf play in the history of the game. It seems that there is nothing he cannot do.
15 Sep 2007, 00:31 am
Dave o
They’re nowhere near the best in Europe.
Watch some Six Nations games over the past few years?
15 Sep 2007, 00:33 am
Joeboy # 324
I’m not complaing…I’m elated… but do see trouble in that area. It’s been a problem that has not been totally rectified.
15 Sep 2007, 00:33 am
Vossie @ 320, you’re having your old mate Dave-0 on, aren’t you?
You know who Foxie is, one of the best first fives the world has ever seen.
World Cup gold medalist in ’87 if I’m not mistaked.
Please tell me you’re just teasing, mate.
15 Sep 2007, 00:34 am
325# yes the greatest scrumhalf performance i have ever seen
Great great win
We have to do something about our scrums ***
the ABs
15 Sep 2007, 00:35 am
Dave-o thats no case old son its a joke. They are not the defending WC’s of 4 years ago. This mob (with the exception of a couple)have done zip to show or claim the part. The standard they played at last nite clearly demonstrated they are not a top tier team. Porugal had more answers against Italy than these chumps.
15 Sep 2007, 00:37 am
#285 Agreed, can’t believe anyone who watched the game could be please with our scrum.
But I’ve moved on from the old “our scrum will crush them” myth that comes out of SA rugby before every big game but seldom materialises.
We’ve got Oom Gert to thank for that. Useless.
But hey, this it celebration time. Still a few flaws but overall a very good performance. FDP absolutely brilliant, Percy’s best ever Bok performance, Wickus a more-than-adequate understudy and Frans Steyn immense. Jean’s injury will be a blessing in disguise…this kid has it all, in truckloads.
Great stuff, Springboks.
Yes, it is a mediocre England but it’s still England, in a WC, away from home.
I’ll happily take 36-0, thank you.
15 Sep 2007, 00:38 am
327# Jinx i was definitely not talking about you
I agree 100% our scrum was very weak
and our lineouts were average at times.
But our backline was awesome.
Steyn is just f*cking fantastic
DuPreez is king.
Bakkies is a legend
and with Burger back who knows what we can do.
15 Sep 2007, 00:38 am
Mark my words – SAMOA ARE GOING TO END ENGLAND’S WC MISERY!
15 Sep 2007, 00:39 am
joeboy wake up and look at what is in front of you. Even Bokkie supporters see the problems with the scrum. Its not about whetheer you won that one or not, its about what will happen if you are to play another “A’team at the top of their game the same way, could you expect the same result. I dont think so.
15 Sep 2007, 00:39 am
309 Kaiveld
very true, I can’t stand the English gloating whenn they win so I will try my best to be humble in victory. Even though I’ll be bursting to get my revenge.
This still doesn’t mean we can’t ridicule the English for their woeful play, they were simply poor tonight and we did pretty well.
15 Sep 2007, 00:42 am
#275. Well said. I also hope SA play the AB’s and what a great game it will be!
England may (have) be(en) the world champions but I still have a R100 on Samoa for a win.
Well done to the Boks, sort out the scrum issue and feed Burger some dog food for the QF, he’s going to go mongrel on them. Woohoo!
15 Sep 2007, 00:44 am
334# captain i was refering to you
Your comment was ridiculous and im being kind.
This was a f*cking great win, how dumb are you???
36-0 .
Ofcourse we have a scrum problem and even our lineouts werent pretty but the Boks were great.
You are fast asleep
15 Sep 2007, 00:45 am
England will beat Somoa one time
15 Sep 2007, 00:48 am
# 335
I’m all for taking the piss when it’s done with humour. But there comes a point where some comments can come across as xenophobic and just plain nasty. We wouldn’t do it as rugby players, so why do it as supporters?
15 Sep 2007, 00:48 am
Burger will end up in the bin faster than you will blink if he ##### up again. He is a marked man now and a player that puts himself and unfortunately others at risk with his reckless manner.
Before you all start retaliating ask yourselves how much noise you would be making if other teams fielded players with his brain/brawn ratio.
15 Sep 2007, 00:51 am
Are England playing soccer this weekend?
The reason I’m asking is that their cricket side lost by plenty,Mclaren lost $100M and all their const. points for the season and their rugby side,well they got a bit of a hiding too.Bafana here’s your chance!!!
15 Sep 2007, 00:55 am
Joeboy # 332
Pardon me guv’ner, I thought you were referring to me.
Steyn is so awsome. It’s changed our whole backline having a 12 that can read a game and also has a big boot. Plays more like a 2nd 5/8ths…al la NZ style. It’s freed up our back tremendously.
Also worth noting that we had probably the least penalties conceded in the modern era. Schalk is a great player but he does give at least 3 to 4 penalties away a game.
He will obviously come back but I was very impressed with Wickus.
Joeboy our entire backline has tremendous boot power when needed. Fourie/Ruan, Butch/AP, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie(ex Full back)JP(ex-Full back), Habana and Percy. All very sound in the line kicking department. Nice to have the ability to pull the trigger when needed.
We need our scrum to fire. I don’t want to go down “if only” road…but Henk Van Der Merwe at 1 and Jannie Dup at 3 were my choices. Be that as it may we need to work very hard in this area of our game.
Fourie Dup is a diamond. Big respect.
15 Sep 2007, 00:57 am
HIER KOMMIE BBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
15 Sep 2007, 00:59 am
Goeienaand Oom Boerboel!!
15 Sep 2007, 00:59 am
Had we scored those two gift tries we could have won 50-0. Facts.
15 Sep 2007, 01:02 am
Goodnight all…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz calls.
15 Sep 2007, 01:03 am
#341 They have darts and snooker to lift trampled spirits, hooker.
That’s about it, really.
15 Sep 2007, 01:03 am
Evening all,great win by the Green machine,bit dissapointed though,reacon 70 would have been a more better option,Percy with his stupid farkin drop goal attempts was an absolute waste of try scoring opportunities.Fourie was an absolute machine and has to be by far the best 9 in the world.Solid pack performance but I feel we could have exerted more dominance over a weak Pomm pack
15 Sep 2007, 01:03 am
BOKKE!!!!
Yip Jinx, we left a handfull of points out there.
15 Sep 2007, 01:06 am
#348
What are you talking about, “exerted more dominance”? Our pack was ordinary, came a distant second to the Poms.
At least that’s what happened in the game I watched.
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