South Africa 36 England 0: It was a script many outside the England camp had penned in the build-up to this World Cup Pool A clash and so it came to pass. The English were thumped horribly, reduced to a disorganised husk of a team.
The Springboks, galvanised by a wonderful display from scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and the faultless place-kicking of Percy Montgomery, produced a performance, hallmarked by intelligence, application and a ruthless exploitation of chances. The gulf in ability was staggering, though England will have to honestly appraise their own shortcomings.
They were clueless at times, devoid of direction and unable to fulfil the basics of the game. Going scoreless was the ultimate humiliation, and Saturday week's game against Samoa will be viewed with some trepidation, particularly in the light of fresh injuries last night.
The opening was predictable, risk minimisation the primary goal as the ball was hoofed into the still Parisian night. Both teams were culpable, the first few punts misdirected and easy fodder for the recipient.
The nervous tension gradually eased and it was the Springboks, fortified by excellent lineout possession that settled quicker. It was from one such set piece that they grabbed the game's first try.
They took down and drove the lineout several metres until scrumhalf Preez spotted a gap on the short side and his beautifully timed flat pass allowed JP Pietersen to get outside the cover and when tackled offload to du Preez in support.
The scrumhalf stepped Jason Robinson and though he stumbled had the presence of mind to throw a superb inside pass to the supporting flanker Juan Smith, who cantered off unopposed.
Percy Montgomery, equalling the Springbok record for most caps (89), added the conversion.
Although number eight Danny Rossouw fumbled the kick-off it wasn't long before South Africa threatened again, left-wing Bryan Habana's break taking play into the England 22. Though England survived the respite was brief.
On 10 minutes the English were penalised at a ruck and centre Francois Steyn thumped a mammoth place kick from 45 metres and close to the touchline that cleared the cross with plenty to spare. The world champions were wobbling, soon losing their first lineout, but did manage to cause their opponents problems in the early scrums, a couple of which yielded free kicks.
These were minor trophies as the Springboks continued to win the war. Except for one brilliant run by Jason Robinson, England looked bereft of ideas. They had to commit too many to rucks to win slow ball and try to rumble round the side, and when that failed and they tried to go wide the Springboks just drifted and enveloped the ball carrier.
Montgomery and Steyn missed with drop-goal attempts before South Africa spurned another glorious chance. Quick thinking from a penalty inside their own half saw Butch James kick long down the middle; Jaque Fourie was favoured by the bounce and a try seemed a certainty. Robinson produced a great last-ditch tackle, causing Fourie to lose control as he stretched for the line.
The South African centre could and should have offloaded to the supporting Habana, who would have scored under the posts.
English prop Matt Stevens needlessly blocked du Preez at a ruck and Montgomery exacted the maximum retribution with his second penalty on 40 minutes.
South Africa were cruising at 13-0 but conjured a final flourish before they allowed England the sanctuary of the dressingroom.
It started innocuously, a loose pass inside their own 22 causing a couple of Englishmen to overrun the ball as du Preez gathered, pirouetted beautifully and raced 50 metres before exquisitely timing his scoring pass to the supporting Pietersen. Montgomery's conversion added pep to the Boks' step as they left the pitch.
The fullback tagged on yet another penalty five minutes after the restart before England finally managed to secure a visit to the South Africa 22: it ended when Ben Kay miscued a chip, a decision that encapsulated England's lack of imagination.
The Springboks had the luxury of committing few players to rucks, playing a four-man rush defence and dropping three backs deep as England kicked.
Robinson's last act in this game and probably as a rugby player - he retires after the World Cup - was to pull up with a hamstring injury. The standing ovation was a fitting tribute and not just for his exploits on the night.
The Springboks mentally disengaged from the contest and that allowed England some attacking field position but they could barely go a couple of phases before imploding in basic errors.
It wasn't long before order was restored and the outstanding du Preez was again the catalyst, switching play brilliantly on an arcing run against the grain before flipping an overhead pass to allow Pietersen his second run-in of the night. Montgomery converted to make it 33-0 on 68 minutes.
There was still time for England to suffer the ignominy of spurning attacking overlaps but on the night a score would have been mere window dressing.
Scoring sequence: 6 mins: Smith try, Montgomery con, 7-0; 10: Steyn pen, 10-0; 40: Montgomery pen, 13-0; 40(+2): Pietersen try, Montgomery con, 20-0 (half-time 20-0); 45: Montgomery pen, 23-0; 56: Montgomery pen, 26-0; 68: Pietersen try, Montgomery con, 33-0; 84: Montgomery pen, 36-0.
ENGLAND: J Robinson; J Lewsey, J Noon, A Farrell, P Sackey; M Catt, S Perry; A Sheridan, M Regan, M Stevens; S Shaw, B Kay; M Corry (capt), T Rees, N Easter. Replacements: A Gomarsall for Perry (half-time); L Moody for Rees (54 mins); B Borthwick for Shaw (56-63 mins); G Chuter for Regan (58 mins); M Tait for Robinson (65 mins); P Freshwater for Sheridan, S Borthwick for Shaw (both 83 mins); P Richards for Noon (84 mins).
SOUTH AFRICA: P Montgomery; JP Pietersen, J Fourie, F Steyn, B Habana; B James, F du Preez; O du Randt, J Smit (capt), Brendon Botha; Bakkies Botha, V Matfield; W van Heerden, J Smith, D Rossouw. Replacements: J Muller for Bakkies Botha (52 mins); R Pienaar for Habana (58-64 mins); CJ van der Linde for du Randt (65 mins); Pienaar for du Preez (71 mins); B di Plessis for Smit, A Pretorius for James, B Skinstad for Smith (all 75 mins); W Olivier for Steyn (83 mins).
Referee: J Jutge (France).
Attendance: 77,523
