South Africa 36 England 0

ENGLAND confirmed they are the worst defending champions in the 20-year history of the World Cup when they were humiliated 36-0 by South Africa in Paris.

While England's Red Roses were justifiably booed off Stade de France after an abominable display and their biggest World Cup defeat, the Springboks showed they will push New Zealand all the way for the right to hold up the William Webb Ellis trophy in the final on October 20.

South Africa played most of the game in second gear, showing up England as a second-rate embarrassment, and indicating they have so much more to offer when it gets serious in the knockout stages.

Yet what chance did England have? They selected a has-been in Mike Catt at five-eighth, they were led by Martin Corry, who has no idea about leadership and is as slow as a wet Sunday, and their starting halfback Shaun Perry was a disaster. Perry's second-half replacement, Andy Gomarsall, wasn't much better. England's league import, centre Andy Farrell, had little idea.

Little wonder, then, that Springboks halfback Fourie du Preez completely dominated the game, masterminding the three-tries-to-nil victory with a spectacular and faultless performance. But Du Preez was helped by the ineptitude of his opponents.

Before the match, England coach Brian Ashton, concerned that his team had been struck by injury and suspensions that had seen Jonny Wilkinson and Phil Vickery, among others, sidelined, said: "I woke up this morning, saw the blue sky above and thought to myself: there's bound to be a bloody great piano up there somewhere, waiting to fall on us."

It wasn't a great piano that fell on England: it was more like a symphony orchestra.

For most of the night, England were basically a one-man team. While their kicking game resembled Australia's - all over the place - South Africa used the boot wisely. Throughout the match the Springboks punted the ball back into the England quarter, most often towards fullback Jason Robinson.

Time and again Robinson safely took the high ball, despite relentless pressure from marauding Springboks, and often was able to rebound. Robinson's zeal in wanting to immediately attack was admirable - and in the end his enterprise was the only redeeming feature of the England game.

Eventually, however, Robinson hobbled off after pulling his left hamstring in the 56th minute during one of his midfield runs. The injury will almost certainly end the long football career of Robinson, who had intended to retire after the World Cup.

Robinson's demise was overshadowed by the complete domination by the Springboks. They played as if they had all the time in the world, their game had an excellent structure and du Preez was majestic in determining exactly where the match was played.

The Springboks team management believe that du Preez has the potential to be the player of the tournament, and the Bulls halfback's man-of-the-match performance ensured he was on track to fulfil that prophecy.

If his and his team's form continues, the Springboks are genuine threats to win the World Cup.

Hapless England could even disappear before the finals. That 2003 World Cup triumph in Sydney now feels so long, long ago.