Woodward plays down brutal Bok encounter

CLIVE WOODWARD last night played down fears that the eagerly-awaited World Cup Pool C showdown between England and South Africa could turn ugly.

For the winners, it's a potential passage to next month's Sydney final without meeting either Australia or New Zealand en route.

But the losers can expect a quarter-final appointment with New Zealand in Melbourne on November 8, and if they get past that daunting encounter, it would probably be defending champions Australia next.

A bad taste still lingers since last November's unsavoury Twickenham clash when England won by a record-breaking 53-3 scoreline.

Several South African players took the law into their own hands, with lock Jannes Labuschagne being red-carded for a reckless late challenge on England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and other off-the-ball incidents going largely unnoticed or unpunished.

The Springboks have already spoken publicly this week of a determination to maintain discipline. England too, cannot afford any misdemeanours, but head coach Woodward does not anticipate a bloodbath.

"I have coached England against South Africa nine times," he said.

"I think England have won five and lost four, and there hasn't been a single game including that Twickenham game when I haven't gone into the opposition dressing room and shaken hands with their management.

"I think that Twickenham last November was a one-off, and I think we need to put it behind us.

"We weren't totally innocent out there either, there were niggles on both sides," he added.

"South Africa believe they can beat England by playing outstanding rugby, which I know they are capable of. We are just expecting a fantastic game on Saturday, and that is how it should be.

"Both sides have got a strength in the physical way that they play the game, and when you get two pretty big sides facing each other, you are going to get a lot of clashes."