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.”
Scotland 26-12 Japan, 61 minutes
Scotland carry well inside the 22 having failed to set something more structured from the lineout. They draw another penalty, and Scotland tap-and-go quickly!
Scotland 26-12 Japan, 59 minutes
This time the arm is pointed Scotland’s way! Kazuki Himeno is isolated and chopped down by the busy McNally, and two Scottish jackalers like what they find among the carrion - Himeno is penalised for holding on. Scotland kick for the right corner.
Scotland 26-12 Japan, 58 minutes
Big double tackle and Stuart McNally fumbles! The hooker’s third touch isn’t quite as good as his first two as Japan cr-unch him in the carry and force the ball free.
Japan will attack, as they have done all afternoon, from deep in their own territory...
And Pierre Schoeman is pinged to allow them to clear in comfort and keep the ball.
Scotland 26-12 Japan, 56 minutes
Ali Price has kicked rather well this afternoon, putting one perfectly on the head on the Japanese catcher who is given a muscular embrace by three chasers as he comes back to earth. His offload is unwise, Scotland gather and Finn Russell pushes a perfect kick for the corner with his weaker left-foot. Scotland lineout inside the Japan 22.
TRY! SCOTLAND 26-12 Japan (Stuart McNally try, 55 minutes)
And his second job will be scoring! A meaty maul, some fine guidance from the rear by the replacement hooker and with Zander Fagerson and Hamish Watson clearing the way in front of him, McNally is able to make safe progress to within scoring distance. He crashes over, Finn Russell’s converts, and that will just steady any nervy Scots after the Japan fightback.
Scotland 19-12 Japan, 53 minutes
A brief delay while referee Brendon Pickerill again stabilises the scrum and Jamie Bhatti will soon be back with us.
In fact, it may be properly soon as Scotland are awarded a penalty for offside and the clock runs out on the sin-binning.
Finn Russell pokes it for the corner and here come the cavalry, Bhatti back on, Hamish Watson too, and Stuart McNally replacing George Turner at hooker. McNally’s first job will be to find a hoisted teammate at the five metre lineout...
Scotland 19-12 Japan, 50 minutes
Instability on the engage and a free kick to Scotland, which Finn Russell is going to boot as high as he possibly can and ask his teammates to chase...
Knocked on! Kazuki Himeno fails to catch cleanly and Scotland will have possession just outside the Japan 22.
Scotland 19-12 Japan, 48 minutes
Scotland play some aimless midfield phases but Jamie Ritchie regathers some momentum as he steps free of a tackle attempt with a great lift of his long left leg, and producing a rather nice one-handed offload as he falls to the floor.
That is knocked on by Japan, on the line of being deliberate but ruled to be in the tackle, and thus just a Scottish scrum.
That decision will necessitate the introduction of a new loosehead with Jamie Bhatti still in the bin. Hamish Watson is sacrificed so Pierre Schoeman, with his flopping locks of long brown and blonde hair, can provide suitable propping cover.
PENALTY! Scotland 19-12 JAPAN (Rikiya Matsuda penalty, 46 minutes)
Three more to the tally of Rikiya Matsuda. Japan very much in this contest.
Scotland 19-9 Japan, 45 minutes
Stuart Hogg drags Millar down but Scotland are then offside as Yutaka Nagare looks to exploit an inviting overlap on the right. Japan poke through, and Kotaro Matsushima is on to it!
He’s dragged down just short and his offload ends up in...Scottish hands! The tackler had bounced back to their feet and managed to clutch Matsushima’s pass before a teammate could arrive to support the winger - a vital moment for Scotland, for otherwise that was a certain score, but Japan will have another penalty to kick for goal.
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