Springbok clash will be preview of RWC 2023

THE best is saved until the end this month. The final weekend of the autumn series sees a repeat of the 2019 World Cup between England and South Africa and a preview of the opening match in the 2023 tournament between France and New Zealand in Paris.

“I want to be at that game in France,” said Flatman, “England and South Africa promises to be punchy. I don’t care what the job is in Paris, running water on, rigging up the wires or driving a truck. I will do it. There are some fixtures which just excite you.

“If I had not been born in England, I would be desperate for France to win the World Cup. If they can maintain the level of performance they have reached in the last two years, the adrenaline of matches in the tournament might give them the edge and they have the talent to win it.

“You need luck, such as keeping players injury free, but an organised, fit France side is dangerous. We know all about New Zealand: they did not look world beaters in Cardiff last weekend, but they did what they always have done.

“They have periods when they just annihilate the opposition who look at the scoreboard and wonder how they are 30 points down. It is because the All Blacks did the basic stuff really well and they have better players so when opponents get tired and start to miss tackles and become reluctant to be involved in a collision, you are toast.

“When I think of the World Cup, the first question that comes to mind is how do you beat the All Blacks? Ireland and South Africa have shown in recent years that the way to overcome them is to beat them up. South Africa are best placed to do that but as England showed in the 2019 semi-final, if you are better at everything you will win. They had just not managed it for a while before that. It almost takes New Zealand to have an off week. I can see the southern hemisphere guys delivering in France if the right guys stay fit.

“Having Samu Kerevi available will be important for Australia while South Africa have been adding a few attacking layers which will make them better to watch. They certainly have the talent.”

Last year’s Autumn Nations Cup, hastily arranged when the pandemic meant the traditional tours by the major southern hemisphere countries had to be abandoned, provided little in the way of excitement. Japan were unable to accept their invitation while outbreaks of Covid meant Fiji were only able to play at the end.

“It should be better than last year with the big boys in town,” said Flatman. “We did get to see France’s third team in the final at Twickenham, which I enjoyed, but we will learn a lot more this month. The first meeting between England and South Africa since the World Cup final will be special.”

Chris Boyd, Northampton’s director of rugby, knows Australia’s head coach Dave Rennie, below, from their days in New Zealand and expects the match against England to be close.

“Dave is a shrewd, confident coach and the Australian boys are clearly behind him,” said Boyd. “It is disappointing he could not pick the players based in Japan, but that is life as we live it politically.

“When you look at England’s last two Tests this month against Australia and South Africa, you would not feel comfortable putting your house on either of the matches which could both go either way.

“Australia had some disappointing results against New Zealand this year, but otherwise they have done very well. South Africa were rusty going into the Lions series not having played together for well over a year and the Rugby Championship was difficult for them as they pulled in guys from everywhere.

“Preparation is very important and one of the quandaries of the international window is giving the clubs, the employers of players, a fair crack while allowing international coaches an opportunity to develop their charges in what are very, very short windows. It is a tall order when the stakes are high.

“The big games this month might come down to who has the most juice in their legs in the last 25 minutes. Australia and New Zealand are both pretty fit sides:

they might not be as heavy and strong and powerful as some in the north, but they keep running. It will be a test of the lungs.”