Sat 09 Sep 2007Dreadful England hosed in whitewashSouth Africa 36 England 0: It was a script
many outside the England camp had penned in the build-up to this
World Cup Pool A clash and so it came to pass. The English were
thumped horribly, reduced to a disorganised husk of a team.The Springboks, galvanised by a wonderful display from scrumhalf
Fourie du Preez and the faultless place-kicking of Percy
Montgomery, produced a performance, hallmarked by intelligence,
application and a ruthless exploitation of chances. The gulf in
ability was staggering, though England will have to honestly
appraise their own shortcomings.