Former England flyhalf Toby Flood expressed concern over England’s upcoming Nations Championship match against South Africa, highlighting the Springboks’ formidable power and strategic line-up tweaks aimed at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Seen here: Flood during his playing days. Picture: MARTIN BUREAU / AFP
Image: MARTIN BUREAU / AFP
With England and South Africa set to open their Nations Championship campaign at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on July 4, the men from up north will face a daunting challenge according to former flyhalf Toby Flood.
Now aged 40, Flood played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final for England against South Africa, which the Springboks won 15-6.
Since retiring in 2021, Flood has been involved with the Newcastle Falcons as a kicking coach.
Looking ahead to the rapidly approaching inaugural edition of the Nations Championship, which pits the Northern Hemisphere teams against the Southern Hemisphere sides, it was not with optimism about England’s chances.
“You have to worry for them. England won't have faced power like South Africa's in a while, even in the Six Nations. Given South Africa's physicality, scrum, and lineout— areas where England have been hit-and-miss— it's hard to look past a big home win,” Flood told BettingLounge.
“The Springboks' "bomb squad" is serious, and England will struggle to contain it. They can hold out for 40 minutes, but once those bench changes happen around the 50- or 60-minute mark, it will be a massive challenge.”
This year there will be no Rugby Championship, but instead the Nations Championship. The Nations Championship will feature 12 nations split into two groups, with the Springboks drawn alongside the big Southern Hemisphere nations.
However, the Northern Hemisphere teams will travel to their Southern counterparts in July for three matches, and vice versa in November.
It means South Africa will host England, Scotland, and Wales in July. Then in November, South Africa will travel to Italy, France, and Ireland to complete their fixtures.
While there will be heavy emphasis on producing results in the new competition, there’s a good chance Erasmus would like to tinker with his line-ups as much as possible on this new stage.