Rugby Union: Memo to England: Beef Up Now or You'll Get Bullied

If I had a pound for every time I heard someone say over the past year, especially in the media, that English rugby players are spending too much time weight training, I could buy my own gym. I would argue that what last weekend's defeat to South Africa showed was that not enough hours are being put into conditioning work.

The Springboks were more powerful than England and it told. Anyone who wonders why Graham Henry risked the wrath of broadcasters by insisting that his top players missed the first half of the Super 14 series to take part in a conditioning program, only had to look at the way South Africa looked and played last weekend. Big men imposed themselves physically: it does not matter how skillful and talented you are, muscle matters.

Look at the one-sided Guinness Premiership final. Gloucester had talent to die for behind the scrum, but they could not match Leicester's power. Henry knows that the All Blacks may be the best attacking side in the world, but if they are unable to stand up to South Africa's physical approach, they will probably not win the World Cup.

The Springboks have been the only side to beat New Zealand in the last three years and their method has always been the same: close the All Blacks down, operate a rush defence and take them on physically. Anyone who suggests that English players need to spend less time on the weights lacks a true understanding of what the modern game is about.

Wasps led the way in England when it came to weight training, as did Bradford Bulls in the Super League. You only need to look at the consistent success both clubs have enjoyed to appreciate the considerable value of conditioning. Like everything, it is a question of balance: spend all your time weight-training without working on skills and you will pay for it, while the converse is true.

England were just as talented as South Africa, but in terms of size and power there was only going to be one winner. The scoreline was not a true reflection of the difference between the sides, with altitude and sickness telling on England in the final 10 minutes, but the Springboks are looking menacingly good as the World Cup looms closer.

England did not help themselves last week and there are areas of their game they have to improve on tomorrow, especially kicking out of hand, which in Bloemfontein too often gave the initiative to South Africa, and marrying the desire of Brian Ashton for an open game with an appreciation of what is possible.

I have lost count of the number of interception tries England have handed over in the last year. It shows they are trying to play a more attacking game, but there are times when they need to be more conservative, bide their time and be more selective. Their chances of winning in Pretoria tomorrow were never going to be high given the players who have remained at home and the virus sweeping through the squad, but the players can still make a statement.

They have to make South Africa work for every point and there were some areas of weakness in the Springboks last Saturday. Mathew Tait picked out forwards to take on and beat, and while England's line-breaks were too few and often not well enough supported, they exposed fault-lines. It has been another bad week on the fitness front, with players summoned to South Africa at short notice, but in one sense England have nothing to lose tomorrow.

This series has little relevance ahead of the World Cup group match between the sides in September and the future of summer tours has been called into question with European sides taking largely reserve squads to the southern hemisphere this month, but that is for the politicians.

I am more concerned about the lessons that are absorbed from the last couple of weeks. They emphasize the value of conditioning and reflect the changes in the game made in the professional era. Skill still matters and always will, but without strength in an impact sport you will come second. Always.