England v South Africa

England's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew has described Friday's crunch World Cup pool clash against South Africa as "the biggest challenge these players have faced, individually and collectively".

The world champions' preparations have been rocked by the loss of captain Phil Vickery to suspension, injury to their two specialist fly-halves Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley, and a dismal opening display against the USA.

By contrast the Springboks, despite missing star flanker Schalk Burger through suspension, are in buoyant mood with a settled team and a confidence-boosting bonus-point victory over Samoa in their locker.

So what will be the key battlegrounds at the Stade de France? We highlight the areas where the game will be won and lost, with input from those at the heart of the action.

AT THE COALFACE - THE SCRUM

The Springboks' relish for scrummaging is well known, and their front row are highly experienced, with 156 caps between Brendon Botha, captain John Smit and the veteran Os du Randt, a survivor from South Africa's 1995 World Cup winning team.

"In terms of front-row battles, it doesn't get much higher," says England's technical coach Graham Rowntree, the former Leicester prop.

"Os is one of the finest props to grace this planet, and if we don't scrummage well, we will lose, full stop."

England's voluble hooker Mark Regan, 35, will attempt to niggle the Boks as he did on England's summer tour to South Africa, after which Smit remarked that Regan had "said more to me in two games than my wife has in 10 years".

Despite losing Vickery, England have plenty of beef in Andrew Sheridan and Durban-born Matt Stevens, who will confront Du Randt - a player he grew up watching in South Africa - for the first time.

"I have a huge amount of respect for the man," said Stevens.

UP IN THE AIR - THE LINE-OUT

The Springboks' line-out, as England captain Martin Corry acknowledges, is "probably the best in the world". They won not only all their own ball, but most of Samoa's as well in their opening match.

The formidable Victor Matfield directs operations and is the go-to man in the middle, but they also have the teak-tough Bakkies Botha at the front, and back-rows Juan Smith and Danie Rossouw at the tail, to call upon.

England's line-out technician Ben Kay has his work cut out, but Simon Shaw, at 6ft 9in, should provide a reliable source at the front, while Martin Corry's prowess towards the back was a big factor in his return to the starting line-up.

"We have worked very hard in training on stopping their line-out," said Corry.

"We have worked on our own as well (which malfunctioned in the second half against the USA) and hopefully we are going to put a lot of wrongs right."

ON THE FLOOR - THE BREAKDOWN

"The physicality of the southern hemisphere teams in the last couple of years has moved away from northern hemisphere sides at the breakdown," noted Nick Easter, who will be one of England's main ball carriers from number eight.

The absence of Burger is a considerable bonus for England. "He is a world-class player so obviously it will weaken them," said Corry. "But Wikus van Heerden is a very solid player and his strength around the ball is not to be under-estimated."

England will need the slighter but speedy Tom Rees to reach the loose ball quicker than Springboks open-side Juan Smith, who showed against Samoa that he can get frustrated and concede penalties when things go against him

"There has to be controlled aggression; we want to take it to the physical edge within the limits of the law, but not beyond it," Corry added.

"At times there will be a bit of mayhem. We have to guarantee we win our own ball, and try to mess theirs up."

ON THE GAIN LINE - MAKING TACKLES

"Our biggest challenge is our defence," says England wing Josh Lewsey, who will be up against the world's most dangerous wing in Bryan Habana, who scored four tries in two Tests against England in June, and four in one game against Samoa on Sunday.

"It faces the ultimate test, whether you are tackling one of their humungous forwards or Habana. You can't give him time and space or he will cut you up.

"We have to play a pressure game because we can't afford to give South Africa momentum."

Habana is especially lethal from turnover ball, when defences are disorientated, and interceptions, with his ability to run in tries from any distance.

As England defence coach Mike Ford noted, the primary objective is to restrict his supply of possession.

England will need Corry, Rees and Easter to stop the Boks forwards in their tracks and Mike Catt, Andy Farrell and especially Jamie Noon, with the dangerous Jaque Fourie in his channel, to make their first-up tackles in midfield.

BETWEEN THE POSTS - GOALKICKING

If, as Ford believes, "there won't be many tries on Friday night", the outcome could be decided by the prowess of the respective kickers on both sides, where the Springboks would appear to have a major advantage.

South Africa have their record points-scorer Percy Montgomery, who landed eight from 11 attempts at goal against Samoa, fly-half Butch James as back-up and the considerable drop-goal threat of Francois Steyn, who starts at inside centre.

England, in the absence of both Wilkinson and Barkley, have Andy Farrell and, er, reserve scrum-half Andy Gomarsall on the bench if required, with Catt out of practice at goal-kicking because of the pressure it puts on his fragile back.

Farrell's last kick at goal in a Test was for Great Britain's rugby league team in 2004. Incidentally, he missed with his conversion of Stuart Reardon's try in the Lions' 44-4 defeat by Australia.

Nevertheless, Farrell says anything up to halfway will be in his range. "If you miss, you're a villain. If you kick them, you're a hero," he said.

"You just have to take the rough with the smooth."

Source: BBC Sport