A preview of Saturday's international rugby clash between England and South Africa including best bets and tryscorer specials with @Olimp_SA
England vs. South Africa, Saturday 20 November 17:15
It’s been a successful end of year tour for the Springboks so far with two wins in two matches and next up they take on England at Twickenham on Saturday. Will they be able to end off their tour on a high, or do the English have other ideas? Also, how will South Africa manage without Rassie as the waterboy?
England
Last week the English hosted Australia and went into the match as clear favourites with the bookies giving them a headstart of around 12.5 points. The Aussies were first on the scoreboard, but the English were able to hit back in the eighth minute with a try by fullback Frankie Steward. This would end up being the only try of the first half and the only other points before half-time were three penalties each from Owen Farrell and James O’Connor. Australia managed to stay within reach as the teams went into the break with the score at 16-12 in favour of England, but the second half would turn out be a different story for Australia.
O’Connor managed to get the first points of the second half with a penalty shortly after half-time, but this would be the only points that the visitors would score for the rest of the match. A 48th minute yellow card for front rower Angus Bell was the beginning of a downward spiral for Australia and the English made sure they maintained control with a further 3 penalties, two from Farrell and one from Marcus Smith. Australia would throw everything at the English in the final moments of the match, but their high-risk attack didn’t pay off and England would get a quick turnover and go more than half the length of the field to dot down in the final minutes of the match. The match ended 32-15, with England covering the handicap thanks to their last minute try.
Prior to last week England hosted Tonga, also at Twickenham, where they smashed their opposition 69-3. They scored 11 tries in the match and covered the pre-match handicap of 52.5 points.
South Africa
The Boks were at Murrayfield last week to take on Scotland for the second match of their end of year tour with the bookies giving them -6.5 points on the handicap. The match got off to a slow start with the first points of the match only coming at the end of the first quarter from the boot of Finn Russell. South Africa hit back with a penalty a few moments later and were able to follow this up with a try by Makazole Mapimpi. Unfortunately the Boks were unable to hold onto their lead for very long and would go onto concede a try before half-time which sent them into the break trailing 10-8.
South Africa emerged from the sheds as a much better team and hit back quickly with another try from Mapimpi just a couple of minutes after the break. There were penalties aplenty from referee Angus Gardner and Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard and Frans Steyn obligingly stepped up and slotted five penalties between the three of them. Scotland could only muster one unconverted try in the second half and the 17 points from the boot for South Africa ensured that they won 30-15, well ahead of the pre-match handicap.
Before taking on Scotland, the Boks faced Wales in the opening match of their tour. The game was considerably tighter than their clash with Scotland, but a much better second half performance which included a try from Malcolm Marx would prove to be the key to their 23-18 victory.
Prediction
The big news from the English camp is that Owen Farrell and Jamie George are out injured and it will be interesting to see what kind of impact this will have on England’s performance. Marcus Smith is more than capable at flyhalf, but this will be his first start against South Africa and I believe he might just be feeling the pressure. The bookies have given a very slight headstart of 1.5 points to England for this game which I think is not enough as I am expecting the Boks to come out on top in this one. For me they are a much more physical team than the English, especially up front, and I think it’s going to be tough for them to crack South Africa’s defense.
It’s probably going to be a slow first half for South Africa as has been the case this tour, but I am expecting things to open up once the Bomb Squad hit the field in the second half. I won’t be surprised if the sides only trade penalties in the first 40 minutes of the match, but I think we will see a try or two after the break and I fancy the breakthrough could come with a pushover try from Malcolm Marx. Cobus Reinach had a massive impact when he came on last week and he deservedly gets a start against England. Despite his age he’s got some serious gas and he could easily catch the English napping with a breakaway try.
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