Saturday, 15th September 2007 at 7:30 am

Can anyone stop the Springboks?

Four years ago England won the World Cup, and returned home to open-topped bus tours and awards from the Queen; the same probably won’t be happening this year, after the Springboks inflicted a 36-0 drubbing on the English that will have the rest of the World Cup in little doubt of the threat posed by Jake White’s side.

Injuries and suspension hadn’t helped England, but the Boks were excellent, with one man in particular quite magnificent. In Ruan Pienaar, South Africa boast a scrumhalf who could well lay claim to the second best number nine in the game; unfortunately for Pienaar, he’s competing for the national jersey with the man who’s comfortably the best in the game. Fourie du Preez created two of the three tries, and almost sparked a third for Jaque Fourie with a visionary kick ahead; add several other sniping breaks, a regal kicking game from the base of the scrum and the ruck, and several important tackles, and Du Preez was simply outstanding.

He wasn’t the only player to shine, though: the loose trio were sublime, Butch James’s kicking game was immaculate, Bryan Habana demonstrated a breadth of skill no other winger can match, and a faultless boot saw Percy Montgomery go past 800 career points. Just another reason to remember a game that the Springboks will take great delight from; while they celebrate, however, the rest of the world will wonder how to deal with a side who look in breathtaking control of their form at the moment.