England bank on master plan to unsettle South Africa in semi-final clash

PARIS : "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face" and with South Africa being rugby's equivalent of a Mike Tyson uppercut, England will need to stay focused amid multiple blows to have any chance of a World Cup semi-final upset on Saturday.

When the teams met in the final four years ago it was England who were favourites but the Springboks who came up with an unexpected approach, along with an unstoppable scrum, as they surged to a dominant 32-12 victory.

England are quietly fuming at the notion they are in the semi-finals by default and their five straight wins are of less value than those achieved in the tougher half of the draw.

However, they also know what was good enough to get past Argentina and Fiji will not be against the world's number one team.

Having seen how South Africa hung in and then outlasted France in their epic 29-28 quarter-final victory, England know the levels they need to reach.

The Springboks are strong favourites to win the game but wily England coach Steve Borthwick presented his players with his master plan to beat them at the start of the week.

"Steve is brilliant with his game plan and it's one that plays to our strengths, but we also need to raise to another level," said number eight Ben Earl, one of England's stand-out performers in their five wins.

Borthwick has recalled fullback Freddie Steward, one of the best in the world at dealing with the high ball - a tactic the Springboks used to great effect against France.

He has also opted to leave props Kyle Sinckler and Ellis Genge on the bench, with the idea that they can bring an injection of energy late in the game to match the impact of South Africa's bomb squad.

Most England fans and neutrals will be delighted if their team is still