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Last Updated: Sunday, 3 June 2007, 05:16 GMT 06:16 UK
England verdict
Matt Dawson
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half and BBC Five Live summariser

People would have expected England to be on the wrong end of that 55-22 scoreline in the second Test against South Africa.

However, there is no doubt the England boys could go into the changing room with their heads held high this week.

If you look at the stats and you look at the score they have taken a hammering - as they did in the first Test in Bloemfontein when they lost 58-10.

The players, and certainly the coaches, can walk away from these two matches actually having got something out of them

I can go back nine years when I was fortunate enough to captain England on that "Tour from Hell", as it was labelled.

At the time you think the world has ended. Today, some players will put it well behind them, but others will keep it at the forefront of their mind.

You have to stand up and be counted to play in this type of arena.

Nick Easter, Magnus Lund, Roy Winters, Matt Stevens, Mark Regan and Kevin Yates did just that.

They were in a pack that was fiery from minute one and they gave it absolutely everything they possibly could.

And in a backline of Jamie Noon, Dan Scarborough, Toby Flood and Mathew Tait, guys put their hand up as well.

They're inexperienced and they were tired with 25-30 minutes to go and the tank was empty.

Andy Gomarsall gets the ball away against South Africa
Andy Gomarsall knows what it's all about and knows what he has and had to do

But when it comes to Paris and the World Cup, when we are set to play South Africa in the group stages at the Stade de France on 14 September, England can take a heck of a lot away from these two games.

One thing we do know for that match is that Harry Ellis will not play because of injury.

We're going to miss him as he was by far the favourite to take the number nine shirt, but this tour has shown scrum-half is one position where we've got strength in depth.

It's obviously a position that interests me and it's all about possession of the shirt.

Andy Gomarsall has been around longer than Messrs Richards and Perry, he knows what it's all about and he knows what he had and has to do.

Because of illness he got his chance, grabbed it with both hands and he was great in the first half in Pretoria.

I think he's relishing the opportunity, is glad he's got rid of the likes of Dawson, Bracken and Healey and can concentrate on what's ahead of him.

It's going to be a tough ask for Peter Richards and Shaun Perry now because Andy's had a great end of season with Harlequins, has played well in South Africa and he has the experience.

There were, and are, doubters out there asking whether this tour was worthwhile.

Admittedly, if you look at the scores it looks horribly one-sided.

But I think the players, and certainly the coaches, can walk away from these two matches actually having got something out of them.


Matt Dawson was speaking on BBC Radio Five Live



SEE ALSO
South Africa 55-22 England
02 Jun 07 |  Rugby Union
Ashton slams '50-minute' England
02 Jun 07 |  Rugby Union
White claims psychological edge
02 Jun 07 |  Rugby Union
Andrew blasts South Africa tour
02 Jun 07 |  Rugby Union
South Africa v England photos
02 Jun 07 |  Rugby Union
South Africa 58-10 England
26 May 07 |  English
England verdict
27 May 07 |  Rugby Union


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