Parling says England are ready to fight 'fire with fire' against the Boks

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UPDATED:

21:54 GMT, 5 June 2012

The last time England faced South Africa, they were pounded into submission by a brutal onslaught from the visiting pack and on Saturday at King’s Park, Heyneke Meyer’s new team will aim to take the same direct route to victory.

Despite the loss of such luminaries as John Smit, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger to retirement and injury, there remains an aura around the Springbok forwards. They expect to crush opponents with sheer ferocity and physicality, particularly at home.

But England also have a proud tradition of imposing, abrasive packs and Geoff Parling believes they can stay true to that heritage by ‘fighting fire with fire’ in the first Test here.

Crunch time: The England team prepare for the first Test against South Africa

The script in these parts dictates that Stuart Lancaster’s tourists will
compete gamely but eventually succumb to the hosts’ power up front.
There is a general assumption that the Boks will prevail in an arm-
wrestle contest which suits them, but the Leicester lock who will plot
their lineout downfall is not so sure.

Not backing down: Geoff Parling says England will take South Africa on head on

‘If that’s what people want to say, that’s fine, it’s up to us to shut
them up,’ said Parling.

‘Over the years, the South
Africans have had a very good pack. But in terms of this Test series,
that doesn’t affect us. The last game we played was against Ireland and
we were pretty good up front then.

‘If people say it’s a Springbok pack we’re facing I just think, “Yeah,
but we’re England and that’s a pretty proud thing to say as well”,’ he
said. ‘So let’s go and make a statement. If we sit back and let the
South Africans get into the game, they will be very difficult to stop.
But we can also be very direct and we want to meet fire with fire and
have a go at them.’

While refusing to be awe-struck by the prospect of taking on a Springbok
pack in South Africa, Parling acknowledged it must be considered among
the most arduous tasks in Test rugby, adding: ‘We want to move on and
improve, and there’s no better opportunity as a pack than to come and
try to do it here.

Full on: Joe Marler runs with the ball during the England training session in Durban

‘South African teams are consistently the most physical. I’m sure if
Scottish players or Welsh or Kiwis heard that they would say, “Hang on,
we’re pretty physical up front too”. But South Africans have been that
way consistently for years.’

England will attempt to nullify the threat posed up front with a
relatively callow set of forwards, certainly in Test terms. They will
need to show great character and play on the line of legal physicality.

If they are at all intimidated, they will be beaten, but Parling was
adamant that the young Red Rose squad will not bend the knee.Asked if
this young pack can handle the onslaught which will surely come their
way, he said: ‘Without doubt. We’re still quite a young pack in terms of
experience of playing together, but you see the character; the way
Chris Robshaw has led this season, someone like Dan Cole and the way he
trains, I’m sure we’ve got more than enough character.’

Ready for action: Dan Cole scrummages during training

South Africa (probable):

Z Kirchner; JP Pietersen, J de Villiers (capt), F Steyn, B Habana; M Steyn, F Hougaard; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J du Plessis; J Kruger, E Etzebeth; M Coetzee, P Spies, W Alberts.

Among the Bok forward unit, hooker Bismarck du Plessis is the sort of
hard-edged figure who typifies his country’s approach to the game. He
will not take a backward step at his home ground on Saturday, but is
bracing himself for an almighty collision. He is sure the tourists will
be true to Parling’s pledge by meeting fire with fire.

‘I would like a street-fight to be honest,’ he quipped, when asked if
that is how the match will pan out. ‘England are a very physical side —
they play a forward-orientated game and set the challenge. We would
like to accept that challenge and give them what they are not
expecting.’

Meyer is expected to include three uncapped forwards in his line-up, to
be announced today: locks Juandre Kruger and Eben Etzebeth, and flanker
Marcell Coetzee. The much-heralded fly-half-cum-full-back Patrick Lambie
is likely to start as a replacement, with Zane Kirchner set to take the
No 15 shirt.