History beckons Singtel TV Ch141/StarHub Ch222, 4.45pm ENGLAND SOUTH AFRICA World ranking: 1st World ranking: 2nd w 1987 ’91 ’95 ’99 Participated 1987 ’91 ’95 ’99 w w Winner w 2003 ’07 ’11 ’15 2003 ’07 ’11 ’15 HEAD-TO-HEAD Overall At RWC England South England South wins Played Africa 1 Africa 15 42 wins 3 25 Draws 2 Last ve meetings 2018 Nov England 12 South Africa 11 POOL STAGE POOL STAGE South Africa 10 England 25 Tonga New 3 35 June South Africa 23 England 12 13 23 Zealand South Africa 42 England 39 USA 7 45 57 3 Namibia Argentina 10 39 2016 Nov England 37 South Africa 21 49 3 Italy Q-FINAL Q-FINAL 66 7 Canada Cancelled – draw 40 S -FINAL S -FINAL 26 France 16 19 FINAL 19 3 Australia 7 16 Japan New Zealand Wales KEY BATTLES Ben Youngs v Faf de Klerk The 30-year-old Youngs has overcome doubts about his tness and seen off competition to De Klerk, 28, is a pocket dynamo whose box-kicking game can frustrate even his own fans. establish himself as rst choice in his 94 Tests. With a sound passing and kicking game, he can But Youngs, who has played against de Klerk in the English Premiership, said: “He’s a busy nine. also make a sniping break as he showed during the semi-nal win over champions New Zealand He likes confrontation in terms of getting in your face in defence. A huge amount goes through where he was unlucky to have a try disallowed. him in terms of his kicking game so he’ll be pretty pivotal to how South Africa play.” LINE-UPS Sam Underhill v Siya Kolisi ENGLAND SOUTH AFRICA Maro Itoje v Eben Etzebeth 11 14 6 1 3 7 May Kolbe Curry M. Vunipola Malherbe du Toit 13 4 5 13 9 10 Tuilagi Itoje de Jager Am 15 Youngs 8 2 2 8 Pollard 15 B. Vunipola Daly George Mbonambi Vermeulen Le Roux 10 9 Farrell 12 Ford 5 4 de Klerk 12 (captain) Lawes Etzebeth 6 de Allende 14 7 3 1 Kolisi 11 (captain) Watson Underhill Sinckler Mtawarira Mapimpi Underhill and fellow anker Tom Curry, dubbed the Kamikaze The dynamic Itoje, 25, already has 33 England caps and played Kids by coach Eddie Jones, are two of the stars of the England 36 times for the British and Irish Lions. The son of Nigerian campaign. Underhill, 23, has been superb at securing vital immigrants, he is a feminist, politics student and poet, turnover ball at the breakdown. Kolisi’s inuence as the TOP PERFORMERS far removed from the likes of the 2.03m Etzebeth, a second Springboks’ rst black captain is signicant, although the row seemingly straight from central casting. The imposing 28-year-old is not quite the same force since a knee injury in Owen Farrell 46 Most points 47 Handre Pollard 28-year-old veteran of 84 Tests has been accused of assault May. Former England y-half Stuart Barnes even suggested Luke Cowan-Dickie, and using racist slurs – charges he denies – but he has 3 Most tries 5 Makazole Mapimpi they would be better off starting with Francois Louw, Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi maintained his form despite the controversy. Underhill’s Bath teammate who made a key steal late Sam Underhill 62 Most tackles 50 Pieter-Steph du Toit in the narrow 19-16 semi-nal win over Wales. Sources: RUGBYWORLDCUP.COM, AFP Anthony Watson 9 Clean breaks 11 Warrick Gelant PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS.