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.