Preview: England vs Springboks
23 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in London, analyses the key match-ups and picks the winner of the Test at Twickenham.
It shouldn’t be this way, but I sense the result of this Test will determine, in the minds of most, whether the Springboks’ season has been a success or failure. If, based on Heyneke Meyer’s standard, the Springboks want to be the best in the world, consistent victories over their benchmark, the All Blacks, represent the standard they must strive towards. And, having lost twice to the world champions this season, the outcome of this match is of relative irrelevance in the broader picture.
What a win will achieve is the stated goal of a tour sweep and indeed a significant step forward for this young and inexperienced team. The injury crisis they are enduring has been played down, but it would be grossly unfair to measure them against a standard they can be expected to achieve with a fully fit squad (as some have done). That said, I believe even the current group are superior to their embattled opponents across most key areas.
The Springboks have shown nothing on this tour to suggest they will replicate the comprehensive win they achieved here under Peter de Villiers a couple of years ago. Their kick-chase method has been lamented but statistics show it to have largely been successful in gaining the territory they seek. The sterility of their attack in the red zone is the real point of concern, with a high error rate further undermining their cause.
Of course the potential exists for something to click and for them to find a level of precision in their attack they’ve only exhibited at Loftus against Australia. However, the greater likelihood is for the Springboks to accumulate points gradually through the boot of Pat Lambie. For this to happen it is imperative that they are dominant at the gainline, forcing penalties in kickable positions. The responsibility will be on their primary strike runners to sustain their efforts through 80 minutes in this regard. They were excellent in patches over the last fortnight and when they’ve buzzed the Springboks have looked a force of note. Furthermore, if they can set up the rolling maul in good positions, England will have no response to the Springboks’ main attacking weapon.
England have shown themselves capable of contesting this facet of play well, stifling their opponents’ momentum. They’ve spoken all week about the level of physicality that will be required to blunt the Springboks, and how the visitors fare in the early exchanges will set the tone for the rest of the match.
They certainly have fronted defensively, conceding two tries on tour despite defending for touching 80 minutes (two halves when the opposition has been completely dominant). England will play a similar pattern to the Springboks, kicking deep and hoping to ‘play’ further up the pitch. The scrum will be an area they target, especially after the Springboks’ struggles in this facet of play against Scotland. If they gain dominance here, it will aid their cause to break down the tourists’ granitic defence. Similarly if they elevate their gainline play from their showing last week to boss the Boks, and create the time and space for Manu Tuilagi that Meyer so fears.
It would be a show of immense mettle if the Springboks produce a telling rebuttal to that examination. Many of the players are at the last hurdle of the longest season of their careers and a clutch of them have been carefully nursed through this week. It is critical that Meyer uses his bench intelligently, being sharp in his decisions in when to hook those who are struggling. I’ve watched from the stands as some of his charges have laboured on well after they’ve been spent, but England has the quality of player to exploit defensive vulnerabilities in a manner none of their previous tour opponents could.
I don’t believe it’ll be comprehensive, but I do think the Springboks will rouse themselves for the win.
VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 6
271 Comments
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24 Nov 2012, 14:38 pm
“Swing Low Sweet Chariot” !!
24 Nov 2012, 14:38 pm
“I think the ambulance will take us home” !!
24 Nov 2012, 14:40 pm
WRS off to see the AB’s annihilate the Welsh in Cardiff !!
24 Nov 2012, 14:41 pm
@carol-252:
Well, there is Eben Etzebeth!
24 Nov 2012, 14:46 pm
@I am a stormer-254:
A man mountain!
24 Nov 2012, 14:52 pm
@carol-255:
Just hope it’s a good game. It is a must win for both teams. I just expect a forward dominated game with the conditions as they are.
But sadly, Wales are up against it today.
24 Nov 2012, 14:56 pm
@I am a stormer-256:
I think frankly we do not stand a chance today, even with a weakened Springbok side!
Although your kickers are missing Percys guiding hand and loosing valuable points!
Wales fans will enjoy some great singing in a fantastic stadium, then it will go downhill!!
24 Nov 2012, 15:05 pm
@carol-257:
Land of our Fathers is a great anthem particularly when sung in Cardiff. But as you say, that has been the highlight of the last 2 weeks. and it ain’t gonna change today.
The Boks are wary of England. It is going to be a humdinger and only a couple of points will separe them. This is the big one for the Boks. The one we really want to win.
24 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
separe = half done.
separate
24 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
If HM is using inexperience as an excuse, he certainly can’t use it against England who have 233 caps against our 431.
24 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@David-260:
Remember what HM has said from the word go. “There are no excuses.”
England, away, is the big one on this tour.
24 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
Awful weather in London today. Grey, cold and it has been raining all morning……and I doubt it will stop until later this evening. So it should be a forward dominated game.
24 Nov 2012, 15:14 pm
@XV-262: In which case it’s ours.
24 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
Glad to see the Italy-Aus test is on at the same time. At least there will be some rugby to switch over to when the Boks start playing their usual rubbish.
24 Nov 2012, 15:23 pm
@Rockn Rolla-83: Cesco’s in Strydom Park Randburg is worth a shout. First port of call for lunch when visiting ebronxi. Peri peri chicken livers will cause a death one day.
24 Nov 2012, 15:24 pm
@XV-262: and that’s something we should be surprised about?
24 Nov 2012, 15:30 pm
@TASSIES-265:
That place is an institution.
24 Nov 2012, 15:31 pm
@XV-262:
London – grey, cold and miserable.
And that’s just the people.
24 Nov 2012, 15:37 pm
@I am a stormer-261:
I don’t see why it should be. This is a new and young England side that shouldn’t be seen as anything to crow about if we win.
24 Nov 2012, 15:42 pm
England v South Africa may be game of the weekend but in terms of road to the WC2015 the main game will be played in Dublin. Vamos Pumas!
24 Nov 2012, 15:43 pm
@David-269:
It’s the old foe. And this is a far from a settled Bok side just yet. Mainly in the backs. England always is the big one on the EOYT.
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