Can Boks end 8-year England drought?
DURBAN — Let’s cut to the chase, folks. This weekend’s tour finale at Twickenham is the one the Springboks really want, despite the merits of Ireland, France and even Italy.
While it is true that the All Blacks are the Boks’ traditional foe, and always will be, England are a close second, and over the last few years this fixture has ratcheted up a few notches in terms of needle — probably since the infamous Owen Farrell armless charge on Andre Esterhuizen in 2018.
Bok fans will not in a hurry forget Farrell’s fist pump when ref- eree Angus Gardner failed to pe- nalise him — costing the Boks an easy shot at goal to win the game — and those same fans will recall with glee Farrell’s dismay in the World Cup final when Cheslin Kolbe gave him the slip for the match-winning try.
The Boks lost that 2018 game 1211 and then last year also lost by a single point, 27-26.
They also lost at Twickers in 2016 (37-21), which means they last won in the England capital in 2014.
Eight years is a long time between drinks for a win at Twickenham and you can be sure Siya Kolsi’s merry men will empty the tank onto the hallowed turf in a bid to end the drought.
England showed they are made of stern stuff by coming back from the dead to draw with the All Blacks at the weekend, the Bok machine is now well-oiled and primed for one last blast for the year.
England had looked terrible for 71 minutes but then scored a flurry of points as the 14-man All Blacks choked, and maybe that result is the right one for the Boks because England probably think they are better than they actually are.
Farrell’s men would have been more dangerous if the score had stayed lopsided in favour of the Kiwis.
This match falls outside the World Rugby international window and so the Boks lose their players based in France and England but keep that Japan-based contingent.
For this reason, coach Jacques Nienaber has called up South Africa ‘A’ props Thomas du Toit and Ntuthuko Mchunu after losing the services of Vincent Koch and Trevor Nyakane.