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LONDON - Coach Brian Ashton and stand-in captain Jason Robinson yesterday launched a spirited defence of England's prospects in South Africa as a virtual third-string squad face two daunting tests against the in-form Springboks.
Ashton has been forced to dredge the premiership for some time-served old warhorses together with some promising youngsters after being deprived of more than 30 internationals through club commitments and injuries.
Conversely, the Springboks look set to be at their strongest for years and, with two South African sides through to the final of the Super 14, the game there is on a high.
Ashton, however, dismissed the idea that England were on a hiding to nothing.
"Damage limitation and Brian Ashton don't sit together," he said.
"We are going to approach the tests in the right way, a very positive way, and let's see what happens in Bloemfontein."
Asked what his minimum requirement was from such a difficult assignment, Ashton said that he expected each player to perform to his ability and expectations and some to exceed that.
Robinson, installed as captain for the tour after being lured out of international retirement by Ashton this year, also rejected any negativity.
"There's an extra bit of excitement, it's a great bunch of guys and there is a great opportunity for a lot of them to come back and give Brian a selection headache," he said.
"There is going to be a lot of enthusiasm - the players itching to be going out there and prove themselves - so in that way it could be a good couple of weeks for us."
England, then under Andy Robinson, and South Africa met twice at Twickenham last November when the Springboks - devoid of a host of leading players - won the second test 25-14 after losing the first 23-21.
They meet again in Bloemfontein on May 26 and Pretoria on June 2 and so will know each other pretty well by the time they face off for the fifth time in less than a year in the pool stage of the World Cup in Paris in September.
Ashton insists that the latest tests will have no bearing on the World Cup but accepts that the game is on the up in South Africa after a difficult period.
"From a domestic point of view they've made big improvements this season, although it's difficult to gauge because of the absence of the top-line New Zealand players until halfway through the Super 14," he said.
"South Africa on home soil is always a big challenge at any time with whatever squad you take and I am not in the slightest doubt that they have some really good players.
"I was out there 18 months ago doing some coaching with the Blue Bulls and am well aware of the calibre of the players they've got, and I would think they are going to be knocking about at the top end when the World Cup comes around."
Ashton was part of Clive Woodward's coaching team in 2000 when England beat South Africa 27-22 in Bloemfontein.
That victory set up their unprecedented run of success against the three Southern Hemisphere sides - including seven wins in succession against the Springboks - but the test on May 26 will be the first since then on South African soil.
- REUTERS
