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England ready for 'Boks challenge 4 views 0 Comments 0 Images 27 November 2012 by Englandfan See all

Sir Clive Woodward asserted rugby at the highest level is a "brutal business" in response to last Saturday's defeat by Australia at Twickenham. If ever England needed a reminder of just how serious the task is ahead of them it comes in the shape of South Africa and they need not look that far back for a wake-up call. The Red Rose lost the first two Tests of their three-match summer series in South Africa but ended a run of nine straight defeats by the Springboks with a 14-14 draw in the final Test. England flanker Tom Wood suggested it will be a "man test" and that the South Africans will look "for your biggest guy and get theirs to run at him as hard as he can". It sounds menacing enough but it is fair to suggest England will have to get nasty to gain the physical edge over their no-nonsense opponents. England are on a 10-game winless run against the Springboks and can expect no sympathy or charity. The last meeting at Twickenham occurred back in 2010 where Willem Alberts and Lwazi Mvovo's scores helped Peter de Villiers' men to a 22-11 win. Gloucester's Ben Morgan and Wasps' James Haskell have been drafted in by coach Stuart Lancaster in an effort to beef up a revamped England attack and his hope will be that his starting XV can force the tempo and take the game to the Boks. If not, in the words of Wood, "you've got a long day at the office". England squad to face South Africa: Forwards: Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath Rugby); David Paice (London Irish), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers); Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Tom Palmer (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers); James Haskell (London Wasps), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints). Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Alex Goode (Saracens), Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers). Don’t’ forget you can use your Betfair Free Bet for the big match this weekend, don’t’ forget to log-on for all the latest England v New Zealand Rugby betting news, odds and opinion.

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