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PARIS - South Africa's pool stage thrashing of England will count for nothing when the two teams meet again in Saturday's World Cup final, Springboks coach Jake White said on Sunday.
"We must not write England off," White said after his team outplayed Argentina 37-13 with a mix of power and speed to advance to Saturday's title match (1900 GMT) on the same Stade de France pitch.
White said the fact that Jonny Wilkinson, who missed the 36-0 drubbing in the pool stage with an ankle injury, was back would make a huge difference.
"They're a different team when they have Jonny Wilkinson at number 10," he said. "They also have several players with the experience of winning the World Cup in 2003 and that's a bonus.
"What happened in the pool stage is not relevant. It will be a totally different ball game next Saturday."
White, whose team clinically took their chances against the Pumas, naturally praised Bryan Habana, who touched down twice to match Jonah Lomu's record eight tries from a single World Cup set in 1999.
"We know what we have in him and he must be quite thankful for what the team did for him tonight," said the South Africa coach, who singled out another player, Percy Montgomery.
"Percy gave a lot of composure and direction to those around him," White said of his seasoned fullback, who kicked 17 points and was outstanding throughout. "He's a special player."
Captain John Smit said his team would turn to their 1995 triumph on home soil for inspiration.
"I was a 17-year-old boy then and that victory created a huge amount of energy amongst the nation, that needed energy at that time," he said.
"Twelve years later, it's a huge privilege to be able to play another final. We are all aware of how much responsibility we will have in six days' time."
To make that even more obvious, South African president Thabo Mbeki will be at the game and former president Nelson Mandela, who appeared on the pitch wearing a Springbok shirt before the 1995 final, might be there as well, White said.
The coach added he was full of admiration for his team.
"They're the most experienced Springbok side in the history of South African rugby," he said. "Those guys have played together for years, they understand each other, they feel for each other, and they're a team of winners."
- REUTERS
