BLOOD, SWEAT AND CHEERS
Legend Back insists a gritty England win over South Africa tough guys would prove they’re real World Cup contenders
WORLD CUP winner Neil Back has revealed the high personal cost of a Test win in South Africa.
The England great bled rivers of claret during his career – but never more than when he faced the Springboks.
And he insists it is a price Eddie Jones’ men must be prepared to pay to restore their aura as genuine World Cup contenders.
“One time I broke a cheekbone from a high shot,” said Back, who played in the last England team to beat the Boks in their own backyard.
“Another time I needed 25 stitches above my right eye. I can remember Jonny Wilkinson looking at me and wincing. I thought, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ Then I caught sight of myself in a mirror and could see right through to my skull.”
Back is convinced beating South Africa in Bloemfontein 18 years ago provided the launchpad for his England team to conquer the world.
It was the first time Clive Woodward’s side had won away at a southern hemisphere superpower and it did wonders for their confidence.
“No question for us it was the start of the end game,” he added. “Beating one of the Big Three on the road was massive. From there we beat the best teams on a consistent basis.”
Back believes the series, which kicks off at Ellis Park on Saturday, can give Team Jones the same boost.
“It is a series we need to win,” he said. “Anything less and you give confidence and belief to everybody else out there, particularly NZ and Ireland.”
He takes England to triumph 2-1, but wants them to know that nothing of such magnitude comes easy.
“The toughest opponents physically I came up against were South Africans. Always. Without question,” he said.
“They just have a hard edge about them. They are big physical men who look to smash you at every opportunity. Especially when playing at home. It is relentless, it keeps coming at you for 80 minutes.”
England’s cause is not helped by the fact Joe Launchbury, one of their biggest hitters and carriers, missed training yesterday with a calf injury.
Jones has already lost lock trio Courtney Lawes, George Kruis and Charlie Ewels to injury. And Sam Simmonds trained alone for part of the session.