Coach Andy Robinson has warned England they cannot afford to play catch-up rugby in today's second Test showdown with South Africa.

South Africa will protect a proud record of just two Test match defeats from 11 starts at Bloemfontein.

But the tourists are quietly confident they can level a series between two evenly-matched teams.

England were punished for poor discipline in Pretoria last weekend, trailing 15-3 after Springboks' fly-half Braam van Straaten kicked five penalties inside the opening 25 minutes.

''We gave South Africa a 15-point start we gave them a chance to let them get away,'' said head coach Robinson.

''We did well to claw it back, but if we allow them to get away again, it will make it that much harder for us.

''We also turned over possession 34 times in the match, including our kicking game and the players recognise that.''

That alarming turnover figure was comfortably halved during the successful Six Nations campaign last season when England won four of their five matches, and it is an area Robinson and his players have addressed in training this week.

''Some very undisciplined moments cost us the game,'' admitted England manager Clive Woodward, recalling the 18-13 defeat at Loftus Versfeld.

''Phil Greening going to the sin-bin, Matt Perry chucking the ball away, Leon Lloyd throwing a punch were all things that cost us points,'' he added.

''Our thought process has got to be a bit more clinical we are playing one of the world's best sides away from home.''

The return of fly-half Jonny Wilkinson from illness, meaning that Austin Healey can revert to his roving right wing role, gives the England side a stronger appearance.

And although prolific try-scorer Dan Luger is sidelined through injury his replacement Ben Cohen is hungry for the job after being dropped in favour of Luger last Saturday.

England's immediate priority at the Free State Stadium will be to up the tempo, not allowing South Africa into a match which most pundits find difficult to call.

The Springboks are looking for a far more effective display from their half-back combination of van Straaten and Joost van der Westhuizen, who collectively struggled in Pretoria.

Van der Westhuizen, who wins his 61st cap to equal Mark Andrews' record as most capped Springbok of all time, knows a big performance is required.

He was ineffective during the first Test, and England are unlikely to let him off the hook today, having spent all week analysing the key areas in which they must sharpen up.