SA ready for possible penalty shoot-out

SOUTH Africa are ready for a penalty shoot-out should the World Cup final against England on Saturday be called a stalemate after extra-time.

England’s Jonny Wilkinson memorably won the 2003 final against Australia with an injury-time drop-goal, but Springboks coach Jake White said he was unconcerned that the talismanic No 10 had rediscovered his form with the boot. “Firstly it goes into extra time and then after extra time it goes to a penalty shoot-out and you’ve got to choose five kickers, so again I think the selection of your team is vital,” said White.”It has got to be players that are on the field.You can’t have substituted them so I can’t see Jonny Wilkinson getting substituted in this game.”South Africa beat Argentina 37-13 in their final-four clash to line up a game against England, a team they beat 36-0 in the pool stages.Bok fullback Percy Montgomery has been a cornerstone of the South African game, which has seen them unbeaten in their run to the showdown at the Stade de France, racking up 93 points from two tries, 22 conversions and 13 penalties in six games.But White stressed that he had other capable kickers in his 30-man squad.”I’m quite lucky,” he acknowledged.”One thing we do have in this team is quite a few goal kickers.You look at guys like Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn, André Pretorius, Percy Montgomery, Butch James.”White added that there would be discussions within the camp as to what would happen should it come to a shoot-out.Sapa-AFP”Firstly it goes into extra time and then after extra time it goes to a penalty shoot-out and you’ve got to choose five kickers, so again I think the selection of your team is vital,” said White.”It has got to be players that are on the field.You can’t have substituted them so I can’t see Jonny Wilkinson getting substituted in this game.”South Africa beat Argentina 37-13 in their final-four clash to line up a game against England, a team they beat 36-0 in the pool stages.Bok fullback Percy Montgomery has been a cornerstone of the South African game, which has seen them unbeaten in their run to the showdown at the Stade de France, racking up 93 points from two tries, 22 conversions and 13 penalties in six games.But White stressed that he had other capable kickers in his 30-man squad.”I’m quite lucky,” he acknowledged.”One thing we do have in this team is quite a few goal kickers.You look at guys like Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn, André Pretorius, Percy Montgomery, Butch James.”White added that there would be discussions within the camp as to what would happen should it come to a shoot-out.Sapa-AFP