South Africa will beat world champions England in their crucial World Cup clash on Friday, Springbok coach Jake White claimed after his side walloped Samoa 59-7.
White said he wasn’t basing his optimism on the poor performance of England in their 28-10 win over the United States or the 1995 world champions’ comprehensive defeat of a tough Samoa side, but on more solid factors.
”I don’t think my confidence is based on what happened on Saturday or on Sunday,” said White.
”I base it on the fact that we have beaten England in three of the last four Tests and we have South Africa’s most-capped captain [Jon Smit], our most-capped lock [Victor Matfield with 66] and our most experienced team ever.
”That is what makes me confident. We have got the firepower and the 22 players to do it on Friday.”
However, White, who coached the South Africans to world under-21 glory, and has since brought in several of those players into the senior squad, insisted there will be no room for over-confidence in the Stade de France clash.
”No way in the world would we turn up thinking we just have to pitch up to win,” said White, who has had an up-and-down career with the Boks having taken them to the Tri-Nations title in 2004 before almost losing his job when recalled from the 2006 autumn northern hemisphere tour.
”You only have to remember [England captain] Phil Vickery’s words that there is no way in the world he would hand the trophy over to anyone else.”
However, White did repeat his anger that England had had an extra day to rest after their unconvincing defeat of the United States.
”It is a huge bonus to have the extra day,” said White.
”Especially as we had to play Samoa, who showed their typical, physically tough approach on Sunday.
”I guess world champions get something out of being that. It is a bonus for them to have the extra day but come Friday it won’t make a difference.”
White said he had no idea whether he would change his game plan against England.
”[England coach Brian Ashton] has an idea in his head and it depends on the side he names.
”A Mike Catt/Mathew Tait or Jamie Noon centre partnership is very different to the one we faced last autumn in Andy Farrell and Mike Tindall [who didn’t make the squad because he had failed to fully recover from injury].”
For Smit, who captained the Springboks for a record 43rd time on Sunday, the England match was not the target.
”Our whole year has not been about the England match,” said Smit, who is one of the survivors from the dire 2003 World Cup where they crashed out in the quarterfinals and were beaten by England in the group stage.
”It has been about lifting the World Cup and England is just the next of those six matches along the way.” — Sapa-AFP