PARIS, Sept 15: England’s Rugby World Cup title defense hit rock bottom on Friday when they were routed 36-0 by South Africa in its worst-ever defeat at the tournament.

The Brits were kept scoreless for the first time since 1998 and will surely approach its next Group ‘A’ game against Samoa on Sept. 22 with trepidation. Especially as it lost yet two more players to injury.

Missing from the South Africa game, Jonny Wilkinson or Olly Barkley may return for a match England must win to realistically advance to the quarterfinals. But Jason Robinson (hamstring) and Jamie Noon (knee) were hurt at the Stade de France.

England coach Brian Ashton said the 2003 world champions need to find some form against Samoa.

“There’s going to have to be a big performance next Saturday, end of story,” he said. “If there’s one in there, it’s coming out next weekend, otherwise we’re going to be on our way home.”

South Africa coach Jake White agrees. “They’re going to have to play much better than they did today if they’re going to beat Samoa,” White said. “The players in the changing room were talking about the fact that Samoa were — I wouldn’t say better — but they felt as though Samoa were really up for it.”

England’s makeshift flyhalf-center pairing of Mike Catt and Andy Farrell had unhappy matches. But Ashton refused to single out any individuals for criticism and instead praised the Springboks.

“The defeat was largely down to the way South Africa played, not the way England played,” Ashton said. “I thought South Africa were incredibly efficient in everything they did. If we played like last week against South Africa today, they would have scored 80 points.

“I said during the week that I thought Fourie du Preez was the brightest No. 9 in world rugby, and I thought he confirmed that this evening.”

Martin Corry, England’s stand-in captain after Phil Vickery was suspended following last week’s 28-10 win over United States, was critical of his team’s effort in the first half as South Africa led 20-0 at the break.

“The lads are a bit shell shocked,” Corry said. “We gifted them 20 points and they didn’t have to work particularly hard for those 20 points, which is disappointing, and after that we were playing catch up, and that was difficult against one of the best sides in the world.”—AP