Boks v England: Big 5 battles

THE Springboks end a roller-coaster year on and off the field with one last almighty blast against arch-rivals England at Twickenham. The last two games between these sides at the home of rugby have been one-point affairs and this one will be similarly close. Mike Greenaway looks at five key match-ups that could decide the game.

Eben Etzebeth v Maro Itoje

These two were not too matey during the Lions series last year and won’t be exchanging Christmas greetings today. Etzebeth knows he was snubbed from World Rugby’s Dream Team and will be keen to state his case. This does not add up to good news for Itoje, and England. Eben the Angry to win this duel.

Faf de Klerk v Jack van Poortvliet

The England scrumhalf had one of the worst games I have ever seen by a 9 at Test level when the All Blacks terrorised him last week. Yet Eddie Jones has picked the Leicester man again, surely believing no man can play so badly two weeks in a row. Faf, against Italy, looked better than he has all year and this is a huge opportunity for him to fully reclaim the No 9 jersey that Jaden Hendrikse has been wearing for most of the year. Faf should shade this one.

Damian Willemse v Marcus Smith

Smith came on the scene last year and deservedly was billed as the Next Big Thing in flyhalf play because he had been magnificent for Harlequins in the English Premiership. He then had some good games for England but this November struggled a little … until the last quarter of last week’s game against the All Blacks when he orchestrated that famous comeback. Willemse, meanwhile, continues to grow at 10 and it has been wise that he has been freed from the pressure of the kicking. This match-up will probably be a draw.

Damian de Allende v Owen Farrell

Please Damian do your country proud and wipe the smirk off this fellow’s face … once and for all. What a pity Andre Esterhuizen had to return to club rugby because he surely would have been given a crack at Farrell, who got away with murder a few years ago with a shoulder charge on Esterhuizen. There is an ongoing debate in England as to whether Farrell is out of position at 12. I back De Allende to settle this debate.

Bongi Mbonambi v Jamie George

The last time these two went head to head was in the World Cup final of 2019 and George was in the middle of a front row that saw their heads introduced to their backsides. George is an interesting case in that he was schooled in hooker play by the great Bok John Smit when the latter was finishing at Saracens and George was beginning his career. Perhaps his familiarity with South African front-row play is why he has been recalled to replace Luke Cowan-Dickie. George is a fiery customer but expect Mbonambi to extinguish the flames.

PORTUGAL captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the highest goal scorer in football history, thought he had broken yet another record by becoming the first player to ever score at five Fifa World Cup editions. However, this was not the case.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner became the first men’s football player to achieve this magnificent feat. It is Brazilian women’s footballer Marta Vieira da Silva who is the first player to score in five World Cups and she now shares this record with the Portuguese star. Da Silva remains the first to have achieved this milestone.

Canada's Christine Sinclair comes in second as another individual to achieve it, and Ronaldo is now the third – and the first man to do it.

Ronaldo is probably not going to break the record of 16 goals scored at the World Cup, which is held by

Miroslav Klose, but his eight goals spanning across five editions is an impressive tally.

Ronaldo and long time foe Lionel Messi are both bidding to claim their first ever World Cup title at this tournament, which could be their last, to crown outstanding careers.

The mercurial Ronaldo has never had a better chance at lifting the trophy, with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandez and Joao Felix as his support structure up front.