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 5-3 Japan, 14 minutes
Japan will attack from just outside the Scotland 22. Siosaia Fifita, all seventeen and a bit stone of him, is asked to carry from his blindside wing, and he makes a decent dent, before Scotland are again whistled at the ruck. Hamish Watson is legal in his pilferin attempt but Chris Harris is not, lying on the wrong side and disrupting the Japan clearout. Rikiya Matsuda again gestures to the touchline for the tee...
Scotland 5-3 Japan, 12 minutes
This is a promising start from Japan. They are varying their angles well to win the gainline and forcing Scotland to infringe in order to slow ball that is largely coming rapidly. Grant Gilchrist is the man penalised this time - he fails to roll away having made a tackle. Brendon Pickerill setting an early disciplinarian tone.
PENALTY! Scotland 5-3 JAPAN (Rikiya Matsuda penalty, 11 minutes)
Over it goes from the crisp right foot of Rikiya Matsuda. Japan on the board.
Scotland 5-0 Japan, 10 minutes
Kazuki Himeno is launched into the Scottish defensive line darting from midfield off of the lineout, but he has to stall slightly on the pass and is well handled by George Turner and Hamish Watson, the openside low, the hooker high.
Scotland then infringe at a ruck, though, Watson over-balancing in trying to jackal and pinged for his hands going beyond the ball - and unlike Scotland, Japan are happy to take the three points...
Scotland 5-0 Japan, 8 minutes
Russell then thumps a clearance long but back come Japan with pace and intent. Kotaro Matsushima gets the ball in space for the first time and nearly puts Chris Harris on his back with a fierce right-footed step, but Harris grabs him by the waist and brings the left wing down.
Advantage is coming for Japan, though, as Siosaia Fifita is felled on the opposite wing. Back we will come for that penalty as Japan fail to find momentum - Ali Price had strayed around the edge of a ruck and was offside. Japan kick down to the fringes of the 22.
TRY! SCOTLAND 5-0 Japan (Duhan van der Merwe try, 7 minutes)
Duhan van der Merwe crashes over! He’s built rather like a forward and enjoys the rough stuff in tight, and the winger sniffs a score as he dives off his wing for a reasonably close ruck, picking, going, and receiving just enough support from his teammates to get the ball down. Impressive leg drive against two front-rowers.
Finn Russell strikes the upright with his conversion attempt but that’s a very pleasing start for Scotland.
Scotland 0-0 Japan, 6 minutes
Japan get their maul defence right initially, able to stop the Scotish forwards gaining momentum. Scotland stay patient and change the point of emphasis and rive well to within five metres...
Scotland 0-0 Japan, 4 minutes
There are Japanese bodies on the floor as a Scottish maul fails to properly develop but the referee is happy enough to ask Scotland to play away. They duly do so, Sam Johnson making metres, and Japan are then offside.
What can Finn Russell do with the free play? He arcs something ambitious towards the touchline, a great flowing fling of the oval ball in the direction of a loose forward lurking with chalk on their boots, but it is too tall, and flies into touch.
Back for the penalty, and Stuart Hogg asks his fly-half to put Scotland in the corner. Russell hits five metres.
Scotland 0-0 Japan, 3 minutes
And that’s reward for Scotland - a lazy forward runner was offside in chasing Yutaka Nagare’s box kick and the home side have a penalty on halfway. Finn Russell pouts it down inside the Japan 22.
Scotland 0-0 Japan, 2 minutes
Murrayfield has been silenced by an enterprising start from Japan, moving the ball left and then right and able to work the phases superbly. Japan work some intricate handling for the first time but Scotland line up their men well, Ali Price filling a gap in the line excellently. Steve Tandy’s defence just about holding out well, and eventually they force Japan to kick as midfield ball stalls.
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