FARRELL: THIS IS NO TIME TO PANIC
ENGLAND have put their World Cup plans on hold as they embark on a high-altitude rescue mission today. They must save the series and their season in Bloemfontein. Five defeats in a row — four of them in Tests — signifies a real crisis. The overall record for the 2017-18 campaign to date is played 10, won five, lost five against a backdrop of clashes with clubs and redundancies within the English RFU. Eddie Jones’ side can stabilise the situation today. Victory against the reviving Springboks would set up an epic decider in Cape Town in a week’s time and that trumps World Cup concerns, for now. English frustration has been evident, as has exasperation at the repeat offences, especially at the breakdown, which have contributed to their defeats to Scotland, France, Ireland, the Barbarians and South Africa. But the tourists have not developed an inferiority complex or any loss of conviction about the quality of their personnel, their preparations or game-plan. ‘The last thing we should do now is panic,’ said captain Owen Farrell. ‘The last thing we should do is worry. I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t believe we can win this Test.’ Rassie Erasmus’s side were vulnerable at Ellis Park under a new coaching team but their fightback to victory from 21 points down will have galvanised the squad. The Free State Stadium is a stronghold of Afrikaner rugby and will be loud and hostile but England have the firepower and reserves of confidence to set up a decider next weekend.
SOUTH AFRICA: Le Roux; Nkosi, Am, De Allende, Dyantyi; Pollard, De Klerk; Mtawarira, Mbonambi, Malherbe; Snyman, Mostert; Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermuelen. Reps: Van der Merwe, Kitshoff, Du Toit, Du Preez, Notshe, Van Zyl, Kriel, Gelant
ENGLAND: Daly; May, Slade, Farrell (capt), Brown; Ford, Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler; Launchbury, Itoje; Shields, Curry, B Vunipola. Reps: Cowan-Dickie, Marler, Wilson, Hughes, Spencer, Cipriani, Solomona. Referee: Romain Poite (France). TV: LIVE Sky Sports Main Event, kick-off 4.05pm