| England (3) 13 |
| Tries: Slade Cons: Farrell Pens: Farrell 2 |
| South Africa (14) 27 |
| Tries: Arendse, Etzebeth Cons: De Klerk Pens: De Klerk 3 Drop-goals: Willemse 2 |
An error-strewn and under-powered England had been comfortably seen off by South Africa at Twickenham to finish the hosts’ autumn in deflating model.
Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse raced in for a long-range rating that helped his aspect to a wholesome lead after a cagey first half.
The guests turned the screw with Eben Etzebeth ploughing over to make it 24-6 after 51 minutes.
Substitute prop Thomas du Toit’s pink card for a excessive shot on Luke Cowan-Dickie briefly provided England hope.
However Henry Slade’s strive was all they might muster towards the 14 males as time ticked down and hope of one other extraordinary comeback to match final week’s draw with New Zealand ebbed away.
England finish the autumn with just one win – a snug victory over Japan – to indicate from 4 matches.
After a disappointing Six Nations marketing campaign and a slim summer season collection win over Australia, there is no such thing as a signal of England bridging the hole to the world’s greatest groups, by no means thoughts overtaking them.
Springboks show a category above
South Africa, unable to area Leicester’s Jasper Wiese and Harlequins’ Andre Esterhuizen – amongst others – due to their membership commitments and the scheduling of the sport exterior World Rugby’s window for Check rugby, had been at a right away drawback by way of personnel.
Their line-up additionally lacked a specialist goal-kicker, however it was England who seemed extra jittery off the tee early on.
Owen Farrell two missed pictures at aim, from nicely inside the England captain’s vary, to maintain the rating at 3-3 after the primary quarter.
There have been flashes of ambition in England’s play – Farrell’s tip-on go nearly freed Manu Tuilagi spherical a rush defence, and a neat go inside nearly put full-back Freddie Steward right into a gap – however South Africa steadily wrestled their manner into the ascendance.
Siya Kolisi was held up over the road after a sensible trick-play on the entrance of the line-out earlier than fly-half Damian Willemse potted a drop-goal to place the guests 6-3 in entrance.
The strive that had been coming arrived two minutes later. Willemse fielded an over-cooked kick and evaded Steward’s chase, earlier than feeding Willie le Roux, who in flip shipped the ball on to Arendse.
The 26-year-old former Sevens specialist solely made his Check debut in July, however has been one of many finds of the yr.
He confirmed his ending potential as soon as once more as he swerved exterior Smith, leaving the England fly-half rooted to the Twickenham turf, earlier than diving over for his seventh strive in seven Assessments.
England complained that Steward had been impeded by Arendse as he hunted Willemse, however Gardner waved away their complaints and the rating stood.
One other De Klerk penalty simply earlier than half-time despatched England down the tunnel with an 11-point deficit to make up.
Willemse’s good drop-goal two minutes after the restart put the Springboks two transformed scores clear at 17-3 and England nicely and really within the mire.
Final weekend, England dug themselves out of deeper mess, reeling within the All Blacks from 25-6 adrift with 10 minutes left.
This time, there was no such escape. England partly sabotaged themselves. Second row Jonny Hill yanked De Klerk by the collar, inflicting a penalty deep in his personal half to be reversed.
Tom Curry was then proven yellow for infringing on the ruck on the subsequent play. However the Springboks additionally confirmed an iron grip that New Zealand lacked.
Etzebeth burrowed over beneath the posts a few minutes after Curry’s exit to the sin-bin to heap the factors and stress on England.
England’s try to copy South Africa’s bomb squad – Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Will Stuart – arrived off the bench at half-time, however proved no match for the guests’ model.
De Klerk landed a long-range kick after a scrum penalty to push the lead out to 27-6.
Substitute Du Toit’s pink card for a reckless, nasty shoulder to Cowan-Dickie’s head provided England a glimmer with 20 minutes left and roused the group.
However England’s inaccuracy snuffed it out. Two line-outs inside 5 metres of the South Africa line went astray. Malcolm Marx clamped over an unguarded breakdown deep in his personal half. And, Slade’s 72nd-minute rating aside, a despairing England’s makes an attempt to run from deep floundered.
Lots of the crowd had already headed to the exits earlier than the ultimate whistle. Loads of people who remained gave voice to their dissatisfaction on the ultimate whistle.
Participant of the match – Kurt-Lee Arendse
England: Steward; Freeman, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), Could; Smith, Van Poortvliet; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Coles, Curry, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Ribbans, Simmonds, Youngs, Slade, Nowell.
South Africa: Le Roux; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Mapimpi; Willemse, De Klerk; Nche, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Orie, Kolisi (c), Mostert, Roos.
Replacements: Marx, Kitshoff, Du Toit, Van Staden, Smith, Hendrikse, Libbok, Moodie
