England take heart from 2000 triumph in Bloemfontein as they bid to level Springbok series

England
England have travelled to Bloemfontein hoping to level the series with the Springboks Credit: GETTY IMAGES

England have been urged to ‘keep the faith,’ as they look to replicate a Jonny Wilkinson-inspired comeback win over the Springboks in 2000 in order to keep the series alive at the self-same stadium on Saturday.

Wilkinson accounted for all England’s points that day in the 27-22 victory that saw them atone for their first test defeat in Pretoria seven days earlier, a similar state of affairs to that in which Owen Farrell’s maligned team find themselves.

England are all too aware that their credibility as World Cup contenders is on the line after four successive losses with Eddie Jones likening the match at the Toyota Stadium to a semi-final knockout with a measure of redemption on offer for England...

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