South Africa ring the changes

A vibrant looking South African outfit for Saturday's showdown with England was revealed today - a team which bears no resemblance to the one mauled by a record 53-3 defeat at Twickenham 11 months ago.

Captain Corne Krige and fellow back-row forward Joe van Niekerk are the only survivors from the starting line-up in that loss, while the biggest of the four expected changes from the team which defeated Uruguay is the return of full-back Jaco van der Westhuyzen for Werner Greeff.

Vice-captain Joost van der Westhuizen, picked for his 11th and possibly last match against England, is backing this "united" team to "prove a point" to the army of ex-Springboks who have been brutally critical of them this season. "I have a feeling in my heart we can win. I know exactly what's going on in the camp. There's no racism, no prejudice, nothing like that. The truth is we're a united team," said van der Westhuizen. Coach Rudi Straeuli said the changes from the Uruguay game were tactical. He has replaced prop-forward Lawrence Sephaka with the novice Christo Bezuidenhout, who has played less than a half a game at Test rugby level.

"To topple the best team in the world these guys are going to have to be at their very best," said Straeuli.

Meanwhile, England today hit back at claims from Australian rugby legend John Eales that they have been getting away with illegal tactics at the World Cup.

They believe that the allegations from the former Wallabies skipper that they often execute the rolling maul illegally shows that they have the Australians running scared.