Boks have always performed in the World Cup, warns Back

NEIL BACK has warned his England team-mates not to write off controversy-hit South Africa ahead of their crunch World Cup showdown.

Clive Woodward's men clash with the Springboks on October 18; with the winners claim a potentially far easier route to the final, turning the Pool C encounter into a must-win game. The Boks' preparation for Australia has been severely hampered by allegations that Geo Cronje refused to share a room with a black team-mate.

Springbok captain Corne Krige nevertheless insists his squad remains focused and Leicester skipper Back, England's first choice openside going into the tournament, warns history suggests the Boks cannot be under-estimated.