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 12-6 Japan (Stuart Hogg try, 28 minutes)
Stuart Hogg is over and that is the record score! The Scotland captain becomes his country’s all-time leading men’s try scorer!
Unsurprisingly it comes from the pass of Finn Russell, drawing two to him with a carry close to the line and then fizzing a nice pass to Hogg on an unders line, the full-back just fading on the ball to take it into a gap and grinning as he dots the ball down.
25 tries for Hogg to take the record outright - Russell adds two more from the tee.
Scotland 5-6 Japan, 27 minutes
Where’s Stuart Hogg going? The Scotland captain scythes through a great chasm in a chasing Japanese line and bursts between the bodies into the visitors’ backfield. Quick ball and on Scotland go, making more metres up the middle as Japan struggle to reset.
PENALTY! Scotland 5-6 JAPAN (Rikiya Matsuda penalty, 25 minutes)
A cleaner stroke over the top of the tee from Rikiya Matsuda and Japan are into a not underserved lead.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 24 minutes
Wing against prop and that isn’t going to end well for Scotland! Kotaro Matsushima picks out Zander Fagerson toiling in the open pasture and runs right around the tighthead, Fagerson chugging along in vain to try and stay with Matsushima but in the end not within sniffing distance.
Matushima nearly dances past the last defender but Stuart Hogg gets enough of an arm to his thigh to slow the Clermont Auvergne flyer, but Scotland are again penalised for a tackler rolling away incorrectly as Japan look to build an attack. For a third time the tee is called for - this is the simplest of the lot.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 23 minutes
A touch harsh? George Turner’s throw drifts ever so slightly off-line but there is no room for error in the minds of the officials - the slanted throw took it out of leaping Japanese hands and it will be a scrum to the visitors.
The set-piece is stable and Japan thread a diagonal grubber inside the Scotland 22.
Scotland play quickly! Plenty of adventure in this first half from both sides but the hosts do eventually clear.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 22 minutes
Japan attack from a lineout on the right and pass the ball along the line, a little short of accuracy but still able to get it to the edge even as Chris Harris gives Kotaro Matsushima a healthy tonking.
Siosaia Fifita busts out of one tackle but then finds another offload fail to find safe inside hands. Indeed, the wing was in touch, anyway - Scotland lineout.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 19 minutes
Outstanding covering defence from Rikiya Matsuda! Scotland drive well and draw in the Japan defence, the home side playing away at the right time and plenty of options presenting themselves. Sam Johnson feigns a carry and dabs a lovely little grubber though for Chris Harris to chase, and but for some superb scooting across to gather it ahead of the centre from Matsuda, Harris would have scored beneath the posts. Sharp work from the fly-half, who then allows his side to clear with more fleet footwork.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 18 minutes
Statement at the scrum! Scotland struggled a touch last week but Jamie Bhatti, making his first Scotland start since August 2019, gets a nudge on Asaeli Ai Valu and draws the penalty from Brendon Pickerill. Scotland back inside the Japan 22 with Finn Russell’s banana-style touch-finder.
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 16 minutes
That’s a delicious pass! Scotland kick the 22 dropout long and Japan bring it back, playing to width down the left once more. Shogo Nakano produces a majestic fizzed miss ball out to Siosaia Fifita as he is clattered by a tackler, Fifita charging on and getting a nifty offload inside as he is driven out.
Unfortunately, a knock-on from captain Lappies Labuschagne ends a promising attacking movement. Some pass from the very talented Nakano, though.
Missed Penalty! Scotland 5-3 Japan (15 minutes)
That’s not particularly pleasant. Like a sliced five-iron approach, this starts online but very quickly skews right in the ugly flight of a wounded duck. Matsuda slaps his hands in frustration. Not one of his better kicks at goal.
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