OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Tuesday 3.10pm.
AUSTRALIAN fly-half Steve Larkham — regarded by many experts as the key to the Wallabies’ World Cup armoury — believes he is ready produce his best form against the man who destroyed England: Jannie de Beer.
Australia face defending champions South Africa in the first semi-final at Twickenham on Saturday and Larkham vs De Beer looms as the key duel.
Larkham missed virtually an entire season through injuries and Saturday’s 24-9 quarter-final victory over Wales in Cardiff marked only his third test appearance this year.
Although still a little rusty, his tactical kicking played a major role in the victory and he has vowed to be back at his best by the weekend.
Larkham said the win over Wales in front of a sellout 72000 crowd had helped settle his nerves – and those of his teammates. “I certainly learned a lot from the game,” said the 25-year-old playmaker. “All the players did, in terms of dealing with the stress involved with such a big game.”
Larkham said he was looking forward to matching wits with de Beer, whose world record five drop goals sank England in Paris. “De Beer played very well in defence and attack against England,” Larkham said.
“His kicking game was superb. He hit the corners and hit it downfield really well.
“As five-eighth you like to come out on top of your opposite number, and know that you controlled the game better than your opposition. But we won’t just be singling out any one player as a matchwinner.”
Free State star De Beer has exploded to prominence during the tournament.
Springbok coach Nick Mallett originally named Henry Honiball in his first-choice team to play Scotland in their World Cup opener at Murrayfield in Edinburgh four weeks ago, only for the Natal player to have to withdraw a day before the match with a hamstring injury.
De Beer played his second match of the tournament against Spain as part of Mallett’s second-string side and a week later was to be given a rest against Uruguay after Honiball was declared fit.
Honiball once again withdrew, however, and De Beer came back in to the equation to play his third match. His fourth, against England, proved a sensation but now he has to match wits with Larkham. — AFP