MITCH PHILLIPS, London | Tuesday 6.45pm.
SPRINGBOK coach Nick Mallett said England and other northern hemisphere teams were always likely to fail at the World Cup because they were not used to playing high-intensity rugby.
Mallett said the Springboks had outplayed England in every area during their 44-21 quarter-final victory on Sunday.
”It was probably only by about five percent but that’s what it takes to have the edge in these sort of matches,” he said.
”England are an excellent team but it was always going to be difficult for them once they lost to New Zealand. They are just not used to this quality of competition.
”A game like England vs South Africa is a regular game for the South African players. They are playing something like 15 Super-12 and Tri-Nations games at the level we have to play now to win the World Cup. England will probably play only three or four at that level each year.”
Mallett said he had been surprised England had relied so much on the kicking game in Paris but said he expected a stiffer challenge from Australia in Saturday’s semi-final.
”It won’t take them 15 minutes to run at us,” he said.
”The return of (Toutai) Kefu at number eight will be a big boost as he is very mobile. George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and the centres are also terrific players and the back three are as good as any in the world.”
Mallett said both teams had improved defensively during the last year and scoring tries is likely to be tough on Saturday.
”It will come down to taking your opportunities and if that means putting Jannie (De Beer) into positions to kick penalties or drop goals then we’ll do that.”
De Beer kicked a world record five drop goals to help the Springboks past England but said he thought it unlikely he would ever repeat the feat — and certainly not against Australia.
”It was one of those days when everything you try worked and I should think it won’t happen again,” said the flyhalf.
”Stephen Larkham is a very good, very fast player,” he said of his Wallaby opposite number. ”And with Kefu so fast to the break it will be very difficult for me.”
De Beer, who only started against England because of injury to Henry Honiball, said he was trying not to get too excited about Saturday’s high-octane clash.
”Of course playing in the semifinal of a World Cup is the highlight of my career but it won’t help me as a player to go out there and tense up. You can blow it by getting too carried away,” he said.
He had received great support from Honiball.
”There’s 30 guys here and we are all here for one thing – to win the World Cup. If it was Henry out there playing and me in the stands I would be giving him all my support,” said De Beer.
There were reports of rifts in the Springbok camp following the omission of former captain Gary Teichmann and of a player rebellion over tactics ahead of the England game, but Mallett described these as ”absolute nonsense”
”All that happened was that the guys were disappointed with the performances against Spain and Uruguay and there’s a hell of a difference between that and being disunited,” he said.
”Since we’ve been together there’s been absolute support from those not picked from those on the pitch and anyone who has been with us will back me up on that.”
France play World Cup favourites New Zealand in the other semi-final on Sunday. — Reuters