Springbok scrabble won't baffle England

Just to cloud the issue, the party line on Wednesday night was that Rossouw would definitely play.

By yesterday it was all change, with Montgomery at full back, Japie Mulder at inside centre, Terblanche on the left wing, van Straaten at No.10 and Esterhuizen on the bench.

Mulder, a formidable figure in manning the barricades to stop Jonah Lomu during the 1995 World Cup final, escaped external disciplinary action last week despite Welsh accusations of 'pre-meditated' assaults on their A team fly half, Stephen Jones.

In view of the midweek mis-information, Viljoen clearly intended to pick Mulder all along in the belief that he will rough up England's midfield. This despite fining Mulder £1,000 over the rough stuff in Cardiff nine days ago.

The in-house punishment has not diluted Viljoen's admiration for the player. 'Japie could be an important factor in a game against England,' he said. 'He might induce some uncertainty among their backs.'

If that proves to be a euphemism for unleashing Mulder alongside the hotheaded Robbie Fleck as double agents provocateur, the Springboks must know they will be wasting their time trying to exploit any frailties in Jonny Wilkinson's game. There aren't any. The tactic is more likely to be directed towards Mike Catt, assuming he passes a fitness test today.

The Springboks will start as Montgomery and van Straaten finished against Wales. Both were switched to their customary positions when full back Thinus Delport was concussed in the second half.

England have ample reason to remember Montgomery from their World Cup nightmare in Paris last year. They kept kicking the ball down his throat and the Springbok returned every wasted punt with a huge amount of interest, repeatedly forcing England to concede enough territory for Jannie de Beer to be wheeled into range for his five drop goals.

If Viljoen hoped to leave the opposition flummoxed with his delaying ploy, he would have been dismayed at the casual England reaction. Skipper Martin Johnson played it with a dead bat. 'We half expected those changes,' he said. 'It won't make any difference to our preparation.'

That will include the provision of a sticky spray, designed for use on the thighs of English line out jumpers to ensure a better grip for the support players. Others use it on their hands, although to less than devastating effect against Argentina last week.

'I can catch a ball without it,' said a grinning Johnson. 'Anyway, it's not much use in the wet because it wears off after ten minutes.'