North vs. South

World Cup pared down to last eight

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Posted: Thursday October 21, 1999 06:22 PM

Martin Johnson says his players are under no illusions about how difficult it will be to overcome the Springboks. David Rogers/Allsport

LONDON (AP) -- It's make or break for the four survivors from the Northern Hemisphere as they come up against southern opposition in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals this weekend.

A northern side has yet to win the World Cup and the odds are stacked in favor of the trophy yet again heading south. And the co-hosts know that to go all the way they will have to produce their very best.

Wales goes against Australia in Cardiff on Saturday and, on Sunday, it's England-South Africa in Paris, France-Argentina in Dublin and Scotland-New Zealand at Murrayfield.

England skipper Martin Johnson says his players are under no illusions about how difficult it will be to overcome the Springboks, the reigning world champions.

"They'll be very committed and have never lost a World Cup game so it's going to be a very difficult match," the lock forward said. "But we have a good chance of progressing."

The England players insist they are the underdogs, pointing out that the English have only beaten South Africa five times in 16 encounters.

And they'll be hoping they don't suffer from fatigue after their midweek exertions against Fiji.

"We're a bit battered and bruised to be frank, but hopefully we'll be alright for Sunday," England coach Clive Woodward said after his side saw off Fiji, picking up four injuries along the way.

"But at the same time we're also battle-hardened."

The South Africans, who haven't played since Oct. 15, say the extra game may work in England's favor.

"You could argue that England have only three days to recover for the quarterfinal after a game against a physically bruising side," flanker Bobby Skinstad said.

"But they've also had one more game than we have had to play together as a team. Our week of rest may have put us on the back foot in that regard."

South Africa will be looking to avenge the last confrontation between the two sides when England's 13-7 victory at Twickenham ended the Boks' hopes of breaking the All Blacks' world record of 18 wins in a row.

Scotland is faced with the most daunting prospect of all, hosting the All Blacks at Murrayfield having never beaten them in 20 matches.

New Zealand coach John Hart saw his second-string side chalk up a century against Italy in its last match on Oct. 14, and then ominously said his players would go to the south of France to work on their fitness.

Scotland must succeed where most others have failed and stop giant winger Jonah Lomu, who broke the World Cup try-scoring record in the 101-3 mauling of Italy.

"The coaches were discussing them at a meeting this morning and we were talking about Lomu," said assistant coach John Rutherford.

"How do you devise a strategy to stop a 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters), 18 stone man (260 pounds, 118 kilograms), who is very quick and has a side-step? England thought they had worked him out last week but he still scored."

Scotland at least has the advantage of six New Zealand-born players in its camp. All but injured center John Leslie could be involved on Sunday.

But Rutherford says they already know what they're up against.

"We all know how good they are. How much more can the guys tell us?"

The winner of that match will play a semifinal against either France or Argentina.

The South Americans, who will have played three times in a week after Sunday, stunned Ireland to reach the last eight for the first time on Wednesday, and will again look to the deadly boot of flyhalf Gonzalo Quesada.

France knows it must compete pound-for-pound with the South Americans' pack which will benefit from the absence of French prop Christian Califano and lock Fabien Pelous who were both suspended for misconduct during the group match against Fiji.

Former Pumas coach Hector Mendez says Argentina could spring another shock, calling France "the easiest opponents we could have to play against in the quarterfinals."

"It's unthinkable not to imagine victory," he added.

The other quarterfinal, the only one to be played Saturday, is a clash between Wales and Australia at the Millennium Stadium.

The Welsh team, hoping home advantage will give the players the necessary spur to defy the odds and beat the Wallabies, will look to the front row to give it the edge.

And they've been boosted by the return from suspension of flanker Colin Charvis and giant lock Craig Quinell, who is back from injury.

Wales' coach Graham Henry said he's expecting Charvis to produce the goods.

"Charvis owes us one and he knows that," he said.

Henry says the Wallabies are "overwhelming favorites" and that Wales will struggle.

But Australian assistant coach Jeff Miller, a member of Australia's winning campaign in 1991, said the Wallabies were ignoring Henry's "mind games."

 

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