Why the 'traitors' are just fashion victims

I am sure that if you were involved in something like that, the experience would be quite exciting, but it's a rather bizarre feeling when you are accused of being involved in one, especially when it is something that you do not even agree with. It really has been a very strange couple of weeks and I believe that Cotton and Woodward just have to accept that certain people might have an opinion that differs from theirs. That was the case during my captaincy and it has continued long after I retired.

It's also important for Woodward to accept that if he spends all his time talking England up, as he does, then he is merely perpetually building them up for a fall.

As I have made clear in these pages, there is no more passionate supporter of England than this ageing former captain and I want us to beat everyone. I just wish we could read less about how great Woodward says they are and enjoy watching their talent on the pitch - because this is a team capable of incredibly good rugby.

The threat posed to the Springboks on Saturday is even greater now that Martin Johnson is fit and leading the team. Neil Back did an excellent job and the wins over Australia and Romania had all the hallmarks of Backy - committed and ruthlessly efficient.

But what Johnson gives England is an extra edge in terms of confidence and experience and Woodward is able to add these attributes to a pack that was hugely effective against the world champion Australians.

The challenge for England is to sustain the momentum created by recent successive wins over the Springboks who offer a very physical challenge to any team.

Against Australia, England had a desperation to win and the only questions is: can they replicate it for the South Africans?

The Australian game allowed those English Lions who toured Down Under in the summer to prove their class and skills and I am sure that was a huge motivating factor.

There was an element of revenge, which is always a useful motivational tool. Now it's a Springbok side that has suffered successive defeats by England and lost to France in Paris two weeks ago.

There will be doubts following that loss and to compound Springbok problems, along comes Jason Robinson, the England full-back. He poses such a conundrum. Teams view him as small, so want to put the ball above him. But kick inaccurately and he is the most devastating runner in world rugby - Jonah Lomu apart.

Finding out just what kind of game plan the Springboks have devised for Robinson will be one of the highlights of what should be a thunderous encounter.

Australia tried to test him, but were starved of the ball by England's aggressive work at the breakdowns. This is an area the South Africans will fiercely compete at and, as usual, this will be a punishing Test match up front.

This South African side is undergoing a rebuilding process with a new captain and coach combination.

You have to wonder if the Springboks' focus is just on winning at the moment or on development for the 2003 World Cup? I would predict the latter, while England are the former.

So it's England to win on Saturday, but I wouldn't be so sure about 2003