England threatens world order
World Cup more than glorified Tri-Nations
Posted: Monday December 07, 1998 04:29 PM
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South Africa's Andre Snyman is tackled by England's Jeremy Guscott AP |
LONDON (Reuters) -- England's defeat of South Africa has added extra intensity and interest to next year's World Cup in Europe although Springbok coach Nick Mallett still believes the tournament will be a Southern Hemisphere affair.
The southern nations -- Australia, New Zealand and South Africa -- have dominated the World Cup since its inaugural tournament in 1987 and a European team has yet to win the event.
Arriving back in Johannesburg on Monday, Mallett said he thought next year's tournament would still be a race between the Southern Hemisphere nations despite his team's 13-7 defeat by England at Twickenham on Saturday, their first loss in 18 tests.
"I still think it will be between New Zealand, Australia and South Africa," Mallett said. "It's a question of stringing wins together, which we've done. Considering the guys are tired after a long season, it was always going to be a difficult match."
Mallett said that a South African team playing to its full potential would still beat any side in the world.
"I don't think a South African team should lose to anyone and especially to England at Twickenham because they really make a big thing of it," he said.
But England did prove that the European teams have caught up the world champions in terms of tight defending, the basis of the Springboks' success. The English are also starting to play an expansive, multi-phase game to rival the South Africans.
Former Australian international Michael Lynagh believes the result, which deprived the Springboks of a world record of 18 consecutive victories, had changed the world of rugby.
"With one win, England have proved that the World Cup will be more than just a glorified Tri-Nations series," he wrote in the London Times.
"The top five positions are probably unchanged -- South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England and France -- but it does mean that, on any given day, any one of these teams can beat the others.
"On home soil, France will be hard to beat while England have a pack to live with anyone."
Despite the Springboks' impressive form for the last year, it is interesting that the South Africans still believe that the All Blacks will be firm favorites next year.
The New Zealand players have had the extra boost of taking a rest during the Southern Hemisphere's summer, which could help their sharpness when it comes to the start of the World Cup next October.
The All Blacks will have taken serious note of England's triumph but it may not have been such a surprise to some.
"A lot of people might have blinked at the result, but in the Southern Hemisphere few will have been surprised with the effort of the home forwards," All Black winger Jonah Lomu wrote in Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"Those people who might feel inclined to suggest England won this test because South Africa were exhausted at the end of their draining season are wrong.
"Few will believe these next words, coming from a Kiwi, but I hope England succeed. It will be good for the sport in both hemispheres."
But Springbok captain Gary Teichmann told his countrymen at home that South Africa's consistency would give them the edge next year.
"We will watch England during the Five Nations and see if they can still perform like that," Teichmann said.
"We have shown over the last 17 tests that we can be consistent and win away from home and the guys must realize that we have still achieved a lot.
"I'm still very positive about next year as long as the guys get in a good rest now."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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