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.”
TRY! SCOTLAND 19-6 Japan (Darcy Graham try, 40 minutes)
A fine set-piece move and Darcy Graham ducks over! It’s a sharply executed play from Scotland, Finn Russell making curiously untroubled progress as he arcs out of the back of the first receiver, who hits him with a good pull-back pass.
Russell draws the men on the end of the line and gives it to Graham in space, who may be short of stature but has the right kind of compact power to beat a defender carving back inside and then duck beneath two more. He’s buried, but the ball is down - Scotland get their third try, and Russell makes it a seven-pointer with a tough conversion.
Scotland 12-6 Japan, 39 minutes
That’s some rather interesting footwork from Finn Russell, like a celebrity jiving in the early weeks of Strictly Come Dancing with strange flicks and an eventually ok kick through, which Japan knock-on. Good attacking platform for Scotland as we near the end of the half, a scrum on the edge of the 22 ,15 metres in.
Scotland 12-6 Japan, 37 minutes
Japan bring the ball back with interest again as Scotland clear long and again they look dangerous when they do. Siosaia Fifita needs three to bring him down but Sam Johnson is canny with a quick (but clear) release, immediately busying himself over the ball and forcing two Japanese players to drive in at the side in an attempt to displace him. Penalty to Scotland.
Scotland 12-6 Japan, 36 minutes
Nearly for the Brave Blossoms - there is space for Siosaia Fifita on the left wing if they are able to get it there but Stuart Hogg makes an outstanding defensive read and perfectly timed hit, forcing the final pass to evade Fifita’s hands as it is flung forward from the hands. A vital intervention from the Scotland captain.
Scotland 12-6 Japan, 35 minutes
Get off of me! That’s properly authoritative from Duhan van der Merwe, choke-slamming Ryohei Yamanaka as the full-back goes too high in his tackle attempt. That’s a proper hand-off...
It’s the best moment of Scotland’s attempt to clear, though - they make a hash of getting the ball away and Japan will have the ball inside the Scottish 22.
Scotland 12-6 Japan, 33 minutes
It’s another good kick from Scotland and George Turner this time hits his jumper on the edge of the Japan 22.
Scotland give their backs a chance to work something stylish, but it’s not quite right, bodies moving in imperfect motion with Darcy Graham ahead of Finn Russell as the fly-half flicks the inside pass, which is correctly ruled forward. Labuschagne gives him a rather forceful landing with a firm driving tackle before the whistle blows, too. Japan scrum.
Scotland 12-6 Japan, 31 minutes
Stable ball, and Japan are penalised at the ruck. Lappies Labuschagne fails to fully release having tackled Sam Johnson and the Japan captain raises a hand of apology to his teammates.
Scotland 12-6 Japan, 30 minutes
Again a Scottish throw goes awry, Japan able to gather this time and attack on. They make decent metres in the space at the back of the lineout but are again inaccurate with their handling as they begin to sniff a chance of more points five metres from the Scottish 22. Ali Price will feed another scrum.
Scotland 12-6 Japan, 29 minutes
Ali Price produces a very good box kick soon after the restart and forces Japan to fumble into touch. There’s a bit of concern over Darcy Graham as he tumbles slightly awkwardly, but the winger is soon back amongst things for the Scotland lineout.
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