Why England leave us in their wake

If there is one thing South African rugby fans hate hearing, it is that England are getting something right.

I have been as guilty of that as anyone during the past few years. So much so that after England's win over the Springboks at Twickenham last December, Stephen Jones of the Sunday Times (London) could hardly contain himself when he saw me in his side of the press room.

"Well Gavin, do you think today's result might mean that we northern hemisphere types might just be creating a slight chink in the southern hemisphere dominance of rugby?" asked Jones.

Of course, he knew the answer. So did I. After what had transpired an hour earlier, there was no need for this red faced scribe, who was the sole South African near Jones at that time, to respond.

But trying to get some of my countrymen to agree later that evening was a nigh impossible task. All the South African scribes and fans were interested in talking about afterwards was Percy Montgomery's disallowed try and some admittedly indecipherable refereeing decisions. There was also that old chestnut about this being an away game for the Boks and England should have expected to do better on their home ground.

Well, the last time I looked, Bloemfontein was definitely not part of England.

For those who have chosen to forget, be reminded that England were pretty awesome when they blew the Boks away at the Free State Stadium last June. And they weren't too bad in Pretoria a week earlier, either.

No, England were not that great at Twickenham. But they must have come on some if they can have a bad day and still beat South Africa.

There was a wave of protest from readers of my former newspaper when I ranked England top of the world rugby heap at the end of last year. Yet after watching them destroy the Welsh at the Millennium Stadium in the Six Nations, I remain more convinced than ever that they deserve that ranking.

Alright, Will Carling does have a point when he says that there is not too much to be gained from peaking a year after the World Cup. But I am not so sure that the possible retirement before 2003 of some of the hard men in the England pack will be the train smash many think it will.

For if there is one thing that England have been able to produce with pretty monotonous regularity over the years it has been forwards. Big, hard men who have made a habit of giving as good as they get against the packs of even the finest All Black or Wallaby teams. When Martin Johnson retires, bet on there being a young lock ready to step into his boots.

What makes this England team different, however, is that they possess precisely the thing that South Africa has lacked since the demise of Henry Honiball - namely a world class flyhalf.

Jonny Wilkinson showed again against the Welsh just what a class act he is. In addition to a well honed tactical kicking boot and an ability to read the game that just gets better and better, Wilkinson has running skills previously thought to be extinct among England flyhalves.

It is largely thanks to Wilkinson that players like Will Greenwood and Iain Balshaw are suddenly starting to dazzle opposing defences with their running.

His deft handling skills have even started to make inside centre Mike Catt look good.

When he sees Wilkinson in the sort of form he displayed in Cardiff, how England manager Clive Woodward must rue his decision to prefer Paul Grayson for the 1999 World Cup semi-final against the Boks.

But Woodward can console himself with the thought that Wilkinson, provided he remains free of injury, will be around for a long time to come. Most importantly, he should be there to orchestrate the moves at World Cup 2003.

The thought of what Wilkinson could do given three extra years of experience should be enough to send a shudder down the spines of the big three from the southern hemisphere.