RUGBY:MARTIN JOHNSON was barely able to contain his excitement on the eve of England's showdown with South Africa (2.30pm) as he told his men: "This is what you play for." Johnson's mantra since the day he took charge of England was that rugby, despite all the analysis, planning and science, must remain a players' game.
Coaches and managers have to know when to back out. But Johnson has found that hard this week and it is no surprise. Today’s clash at Twickenham is exactly the kind of confrontation in which he revelled as a player and captain.
South Africa, fired up following last week’s shock 21-17 defeat to Scotland, will pose England a physical challenge like no other team on the planet.
“I have tried not to talk too much this week because I get too excited. This is what you play for – there will be 80,000 at Twickenham and we are up against a good South Africa team,” said Johnson.
“It is going to be a big, big game. It is a cracking game to be involved in whenever you play South Africa. It will be very physical, intense and a great Test match.
“Everyone is looking forward to a full-blooded Test match at Twickenham.
“I don’t do this job for the money. To be involved with the England rugby team, you don’t get any better than that.
“You want those days we have had at Twickenham in the last couple of weeks. The players recognise that. It is a hell of a thing to be involved with.
“We are desperate to play as well as we can. We want the England team to be a successful team that people can be proud of and we are on the right track.”
While the Springboks are under growing pressure following the Scotland defeat, England head into the game on the back of a record 35-18 victory over Australia and a tough 26-13 win against Samoa.
When Johnson was a player he could sense the mood in the camp. By his own admission that is harder now he is no longer “in the group”.
But returning captain Lewis Moody has his finger on the pulse and he said: “There is a similar feel to the week of the Australia game. There is the angst in the air, a nervous energy that I like to see in the squad. You know then that people are prepared and ready for the game.”
England could move to second in the world if they beat South Africa, a lofty position they have not occupied since 2004.
After making four changes for the win against Samoa, Johnson has reverted to his strongest side to face South Africa – the same starting XV that beat Australia a fortnight ago.
South Africa have made just two changes from that defeat at Murrayfield last weekend, with Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and number eight Pierre Spies returning to the side.
ENGLAND: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), M Tindall (Gloucester), S Hape (Bath), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Bath, capt), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: S Thompson (Leeds Carnegie), D Wilson (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), H Fourie (Leeds Carnegie), D Care (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), M Banahan (Bath).
SOUTH AFRICA: Z Kirchner; G Aplon, F Steyn, J de Villiers, L Mvovo; M Steyn, R Pienaar; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J du Plessis, B Botha, V Matfield (capt), D Stegmann, J Smith, P Spies. Replacements: A Strauss, CJ van der Linde, F van der Merwe, W Alberts, F Hougaard, P Lambie, A Jacobs.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).
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