Ref under pressure before high-stakes encounter

By WYNNE GRAY at the World Cup

Australian referee Peter Marshall has come under renewed heat from his own countrymen to penalise England's pack in their tantalising pool match against the Springboks in Perth.

Dad's Army are accused of illegal tactics with their rolling maul, shielding unbound ball-carrier Neil Back at the rear of their famed slow march.

This latest swipe at England's strategies from former Wallaby captain John Eales - and endorsed by coach Eddie Jones and Springbok supremo Rudolf Straeuli - will further inflame this explosive rematch.

It is a renewed attack on England after the All Black coaching staff lamented the way their opponents killed possession at the breakdown during the June test in Wellington, where Back and Lawrence Dallaglio were sinbinned for professional fouls.

The claims came after England coach Clive Woodward accused the Wallabies of illegal midfield obstruction, not decoy running, in their opening win against the Pumas.

Eales demonstrated on national television how Back loitered unbound as the England vanguard rolled on, a situation he said was obstruction. Jones instantly endorsed those sentiments.

All of which will increase the pressure on Marshall, a referee not rated highly by the European teams.

A climate of combustion has always lingered near this test ever since the fractious match between the two sides at Twickenham last November. The stakes are high and there will be no surprise if the citing officers are in business afterwards.

Victory offers a huge World Cup reward if the winner goes on to top the pool. The incentive will be a quarter-final against Wales or Italy while the losers or Samoa (and it would be foolish to discount that prospect) will meet the All Blacks.

The difference between those sudden-death matches is vast and could be fatal for the All Blacks if that opponent is England.

But I cannot see England losing tomorrow.

They are a quality side from Nos 1 to 15, they are confident, organised, experienced and have the world's best marksman in Jonny Wilkinson.

England have learned what it takes to mould a world-class side, they have made Twickenham a fortress and won all round the globe, they have displayed the repeated ruthlessness which marks top-grade teams. Their only enemies are age, weariness, injury and refereeing conflicts.

The Springboks will display their traditional brutish resilience but lack the all-round class to stay with England for an entire test.

The Springboks will be spurred by the subsequent draw and the chance to redress the shame of racism rows, indiscipline problems and selection conflicts.

But England are poised to go a long way towards claiming their first title.

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