Expectations reversed for 2003 replay

By Mitch Phillips

PARIS (Reuters) - On the surface, Friday's World Cup pool clash between England and South Africa looks remarkably similar to their 2003 meeting. In reality four years has seen an astonishing 180 degree shift in expectations.

As in 2003 the teams meet in the second game of their pool with the dangerous Samoans again in the group.

The winners at the Stade de France will go on to a probable quarter-final against Wales and a possible semi against France, exactly the route England took to the final in 2003.

For the losers there is the prospect of a quarter-final against Australia, with the All Blacks waiting in the semis.

South Africa were forced to take that "low road" in reverse order four years ago and went out at the hands of New Zealand in the last eight.

This time South Africa go into Friday's game looking for a fourth successive English scalp and as remarkable 1-9 ON favourites with the defending champions hoping for a sporting miracle, the complete reverse of 2003.

TOP-RANKED

Then, England arrived in Perth as the world's top-ranked team on the back of an unprecedented 10-game winning streak against southern hemisphere countries.