English to feel Boks backlash, says Smit

SOUTH AFRICA captain John Smit is on a mission to increase the pressure on under-fire England boss Andy Robinson.

Calls for Robinson’s head reached a crescendo last weekend following England’s humiliating 25-18 defeat to unfancied Argentina.

However, with Springboks coach Jake White also under intense pressure after a record-breaking defeat to Ireland last time out, Smit knows a South African win at Twickenham today is vital.

The Blue Bulls Rugby Union – South Africa’s most powerful province – passed a motion of no confidence in White this week, while legendary Springbok fly-half Naas Botha was also scathing about team selection in the side which lost 32-15 in Dublin.

And Smit insists England will feel the backlash.

He said: “We have to put things right, starting with what went wrong at Lansdowne Road.

“We have got a relatively new side playing, but that is no excuse for what happened in Ireland.

“Both sides are under a tremendous amount of pressure to get a result.

“England will be hurting after Argentina and will be desperate not to lose, but we are equally desperate to get a result.

“This game is different to any other I have played in. Neither side can afford to lose.

“We were under a hell of a lot of pressure earlier this year in the Tri-Nations after losing our first few matches.

“But we came back to beat the All Blacks and Australia and that is what we have to do again.”

Smit, 28, will break the record for most tests as Springbok captain when he leads out South Africa for the 37th time this weekend, passing Gary Teichmann’s current benchmark of 36.

And the hooker will create even more history if he powers the Springboks to victory.

Defeat for England would result in their longest ever losing streak of eight games.

However, Twickenham has not been a happy hunting ground for the Boks, with their last victory coming back in 1997.

And despite a run of results which has seen England lose at home this year to Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland, Smit refuses to underestimate his opponents.

“There are no easy games away from home in world rugby and that includes this England side,” he added.

“Apart from New Zealand there is no team who can consistently win on the road.

“Very good sides do win at Twickenham and we know how long it has been since we have done it there.

“England may be struggling at the moment and, as we know, it can be very difficult to get that winning momentum back.

“They had a winning culture for a long time and now it has been replaced by a losing culture.”

He added: “The game will be won up front. We know how hard and strong their pack can be.

“There are several key clashes but the one between the tight five could decide the outcome.

“We are entirely focused on our own game. Last weekend we did not play our natural game and we got punished. We have to go back to basics.

“People might be looking ahead to the World Cup but for us the main thing is this test match.

“Still, it is in the back of our minds that we need to get in form for it, and that starts here.”

England captain Martin Corry has set the tone for the make-or-break showdown by declaring: “It is the biggest challenge of my career.”

They must beat South Africa to avoid a record eighth successive Test match defeat that would condemn Corry and company as officially the worst England side in 135 years of international rugby.

England last tasted victory nine months ago and jobs are on the line, with Robinson’s two-year reign possibly only two games away from reaching an inglorious end.

Realistically England need back-to-back wins against the Springboks today and next Saturday, otherwise heads will surely roll.

“You become desperate to get out there again,” said Corry, who leads his country for the 13th time.

“Twickenham remains that very special place for all of us. We recognise that everyone – the public, the players, coaches and officials – demand success from England, and that is how it should be.

“We let a lot of people down last Saturday, and the crowd’s reaction reflected that.

“Please judge us on this performance. We know the fans hurt last week, but no one hurt as much at Twickenham as we did in the changing room.