England 0 South Africa 36

ENGLAND'S deficiencies were ruthlessly exposed by South Africa at the Stade de France, the Springboks condemning the reigning champions to a record World Cup defeat.

The Webb Ellis Trophy holders were swept aside as South Africa took charge through first-half tries from flanker Juan Smith and wing J P Pietersen.

Pietersen added his second try after the break, while full-back Percy Montgomery added 18 points from the boot and centre Francois Steyn also landed a penalty.

In World Cup terms, it eclipsed England's previous record loss - 44-21 against South Africa - in the same stadium eight years ago.

It means England must beat Samoa in Nantes tomorrow week to have any realistic chance of reaching the quarter-finals, where Australia will probably await them.

England's defeat was the first time they had failed to trouble the scorers in a Test match since 1998, when they lost 18-0 against South Africa in Cape Town.

After losing fly-halves Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley to injuries, while skipper Phil Vickery missed out through suspension, England could not respond from such disarray.

Mike Catt and Andy Farrell proved a largely ineffective midfield combination, while England's best player - full-back Jason Robinson - limped off with a hamstring problem on 58 minutes.

Robinson, who will retire from all rugby in the near future, could conceivably have played his last game. He received a standing ovation.

Head coach Brian Ashton now has a huge task on his hands to lift morale for the Samoa encounter, and there were boos from England's travelling support as their team trudged off.

No Rugby World Cup holder has ever gone out in the pool stage, yet that is the ignominy England now face unless they can drastically get their act together.

South Africa though, have no such problems, and they appear well on course to contest the tournament's business end alongside New Zealand and Australia.

England's road since they won the 2003 World Cup has been a rocky one, and there was a sense of inevitability about the way South Africa ruthessly took them apart.

England are no longer at the top table of world rugby, and the psychological scars of this crushing defeat will surely take a long time to heal.