England vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby result, final score and reaction from 2021 Autumn Nations Series
Eddie Jones’ side got some revenge against the world champion Springboks
England welcomed South Africa to Twickenham on Saturday afternoon in a mouthwatering rematch of the World Cup final two years on.
Fly-half Marcus Smith landed a last-minute penalty to snatch a 27-26 win as the hosts looked full of early promise but were hauled back by the battling Springboks in the teams’ first meeting since the 2019 showpiece.
England fashioned excellent early tries for Manu Tuilagi and Freddie Steward but were penalised relentlessly and four penalties for Handre Pollard kept South Africa within five points at the break.
The Springboks edged clear in the second half and, after tries by Raffie Quirke for England and Makazole Mapimpi for the Springboks, a Fran Steyne penalty put the visitors two points ahead with six minutes to go. England, though, mustered one final attack and earned a penalty on the 22 that Smith smashed over.
With star youngsters like Smith, Steward and Quirke breaking through across a fruitful autumn, Jones admitted the quest for the 2023 World Cup title hurtles ever closer. Asked if this autumn series represents a new England era, coach Eddie Jones replied: “Yes, we said in the summer that the Lions tour draws a line in the sand, and that you need to regenerate and have a little bit of a rebirth to go to the World Cup.
“There’s some good players coming through but we’ve got some pretty good experienced players too. They feel comfortable within themselves, they want to be together, they want to work together. Our stated aim is to win the World Cup, so we want to be better in the next campaign.”
England 17-12 South Africa, 34 minutes
South Africa win the lineout but that’s not Cobus Reinach’s best, a shanked box kick that sails out within the South African 22. England with good attacking ball, with Jamie Blamire looping around the back of a dummy maul and inviting Joe Marchant to carry hard on his shoulder. That might have been more effective with Manu Tuilagi still on the pitch.
Bevan Rodd is absolutely munched in the tackle of Ox Nche! Loosehead on loosehead crime, and England are then penalised for sealing off.
England 17-12 South Africa, 32 minutes
A good exit from the Springboks and England rather meander on kick return, Jonny May guilty of running sideways, something he has largely cut out from his game.
Now England attack more fluently! A lovely delayed pass from Marcus Smith nearly sets Bevan Rodd free, before a clever flick up from Sam Underhill to Tom Curry allows England to get away down the right.
Freddie Steward passes to Max Malins who is dragged into touch! A valiant sprint from the corner from the replacement but he’s not particularly close to beating the defender for it.
England 17-12 South Africa, 31 minutes
Up like a salmon and down with the ball! A perfect restart drill from Marcus Smith and Maro Itoje, like a point guard to his power forward in the paint as Itoje beats South Africa to the ball.
A loose pass stalls England but a canny kick for the corner means a pressure lineout for South Africa.
PENALTY! England 17-12 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard penalty, 30 minutes)
Another nice enough strike from Handre Pollard, this time from the left. South Africa just ticking along.
England 17-9 South Africa, 29 minutes
South Africa maul and Courtney Lawes is pinged for trying to bring it down. The penalties are just beginning to mount against England - Andrew Brace warns Lawes to “tidy up” at the maul as the South African tee comes on for a fourth time.
England 17-9 South Africa, 28 minutes
South Africa get themselves in a muddle in their own 22 but somehow the ball is not knocked on as Cobus Reinach’s pass hits a forward retreating back. South Africa belatedly clear.
England play off the top of the lineout and Jonny May prods a grubber through, but Joe Marchant advances before May has passed him and is thus offside. Handre Pollard slips as he strikes the penalty but safely finds the touchline 35 metres from the England tryline.
PENALTY! England 17-9 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard penalty, 26 minutes)
It didn’t look nice off the boot but there is just enough welly in Pollard’s strike to clear the crossbar.
England 17-6 South Africa, 25 minutes
It’s all a bit staccato, now, as another breakdown infringement causes Andrew Brace to whistle again. This time England fail to vacate a ruck - and South Africa, somewhat surprisingly, will have another shot at the posts. This is all of 49 metres out and beyond the 15-metre line - a toughie for Handre Pollard.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 17-6 South Africa (Marcus Smith penalty, 24 minutes)
Which Marcus Smith does will little bother from left of centre.
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