The first real contest of the tournament was a real eye opener.



A game for the purists perhaps, but the game effectively underlined the weaknesses of both sides.

Starting with England, the seemingly invulnerable championship favourites were exposed for the first time in over a year.

And suprisingly, it was up front that they struggled against an 'in yer face' Springbok pack. With the Boks competing and disrupting England possession, they were able to slow the delivery to Wilkinson down. Wilkinson, with less time on the ball than he is accustomed to suddenly revealed that under pressure he is as error prone as any other outside half when given poor quality ball.

His kicking out of hand was pretty weak and his composure evaporated, he became quite an ordinary asset.

There was further trouble. When he did pass the ball wide, those outside him were also under pressure and the unforced error tally began to mount. It's easy to play well when youget good quality, quick possession and see a lot of the ball. But when that supply dries up cold fingers can fumble the best of deliveries and this is exactly what we saw as each back in turn spilled the ball forwards, backwards and sideways.

For South Africa, it was a chance to salvage some pride following last autumns disgraceful thuggery and prove to the world that they can compete with the ball and not just the fist or boot on somebodie's head.

And compete they did. Time and again they turned England possession, pushed them back in the scrum and disrupted the English set piece.But winning such important ball only served to expose a huge weakness in the Sprinboks arsenal. They have absolutely nothing behind the scrum.With the luxury and quantity of possession that most other sides that play against England can only dream about, they never once really threatened Englands line from deep. They did come close once or twice, but to be fair they were really only half chances.

The second half started much as the first ended.

The same old story of fumbling and spilled ball started people thinking, hang on, the Boks can win this. And then, just as the thought that mighty England might be humbled, a poor kick out hand in their own twenty two was charged down, the ball bounced kindly and England crossed for an undesereved though well taken try.

That was the truning point. Thanks to Wilkinsons trusty boot, they were now two scores clear of the Sprinkboks very much against the run of play.

England relaxed a little, and suddenly the favourites were playing the same impressive all-round rugby that has characterised their world dominance over the last twleve months or so.

Game over.

A gripping contest then, but what does it tell us?

That England can be beaten by taking them on up front with the agression and pugnacious tenacity the the Boks demonstrated.But there's one snag, and it's a pretty big one.

Who in the competition can play up front like the Boks? Certainly not the Kiwis, nor I feel the Wallabies. There is just one team that is complete enough to challenge England in every compartment.

France.

But we all know about the French. If they can be bothered to play then boy everyone should watch out. Remember the semis four years ago when no hope France turned on the magic and destroyed the hapless and bewildered Kiwis in a devastating and breathtaking display of running rugby? It was the finest dsiplay in a world cup game ever.

Not that we should write of the Kiwis. They intend to run faster and stronger than England, I doubt that they will change their approach simply because they cannot compete up front in the way that that South Africa did on Saturday.

The Australians are difficult to read at the moment. Dull, competitive, they haven't really yet taken off, but one is mindful of their stodgy performances in the last world cup when they yawned their way to win the competition. My hunch is that if they meet England they will lose, but that will not be until the final asssuming both teams survive. You can never write the Wallabies off, especially on their home turf.

And as for the others?

I cannot see any major upsets ahead, though one should keep an eye on the Irish. They've beaten England, France and Australia recently, but I don't feel that they quite have the confidence yet to mount a serious challenge.So the last four in according to the book. France, Australia, New Zealand and England for the semis.

For tjhe dark horse perm one from South Africa or Ireland.

yechydda,