England vs South Africa LIVE rugby: Final score and result as Springboks down sub-par England despite red card
England 13-27 South Africa: Thomas Du Toit sent off but Springboks cruise to a win that completes a poor autumn for England
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Your support makes all the difference.England collapsed to their first defeat by South Africa at Twickenham for eight years as an autumn of crushing disappointment concluded with a 27-13 rout.
Eddie Jones’ men delivered the worst performance of a campaign consisting of a solitary victory over Japan as the 14-man Springboks, inspired by half-backs Faf de Klerk and Damian Willemse, dominated the rematch of the 2019 World Cup final.
By the end of the first half, England had spent only six seconds in the opposition 22 with their backline reduced to virtual bystanders by a vast error count and the familiar disciplinary issues. The most brainless moment arrived shortly after the break when Jonny Hill flung De Klerk out of a ruck, prompting referee Angus Gardner to reverse a penalty, and seconds later Eben Etzebeth was over to extend the lead to 24-6.
Unlike their mesmerising comeback against New Zealand a week earlier, there were no late heroics this time even after replacement prop Thomas du Toit had been sent off in the 60th minute for a dangerous challenge on Luke Cowan-Dickie. Henry Slade dashed over in the 72nd minute - the same stage at which the 25-25 draw with the All Blacks was made possible - but pedestrian England had rarely threatened amid a lack of ideas or tempo in attack.
Relive all the action from Twickenham with our live blog below:
Wales 20-13 Australia, 39 minutes
Twice the scrum goes down, with Matthew Carley first resetting and then impatiently blowing on his whistle - Australia pinged. Wales will have another go.
YELLOW CARD! Jake Gordon is sent to the sin bin! Wales 20-13 Australia, 38 minutes
Jake Gordon protests as Matthew Carley reaches into his pocket to retrieve the yellow card. His knock on was in the tackle, as Gordon correctly puts forward as his defence, but the scrum half had never managed to get back onside as Kieran Hardy tried to shift the ball away from the ruck.
Off he’ll go for a stint on the naughty step - Wales opt to scrum.
Wales 20-13 Australia, 37 minutes
Rio Dyer scorches up the left touchline. Is he over? No! Somehow denied by three desperate Australians.
Kieran Hardy has the ball knocked out of his hands by an offside player. It will be at least a penalty for Wales, and this will need a further look to decide on the correct sanction...
Wales 20-13 Australia, 36 minutes
Wales have looked dangerous every time they’ve had the ball. There is plenty of fizz about their attack as they play again inside the Australia half.
TRY! Wales 20-13 AUSTRALIA (Folau Fainga’a try, 34 minutes)
No evidence to overturn the decision - Folau Fainga’a’s score is good!
Just reward for the hooker, who had hit his man at the back of the lineout perfectly with Justin Tipuric up to challenge. It was slow to develop, but Jake Gordon remained patient and did not extract the ball, allowing Fainga’a to bide his time and eject himself from the back of the rumbling mass at the right time.
Try? Wales 20-6 Australia, 34 minutes
Slowly, slowly, Australia begin to heave it forward - Jake Gordon thinks his forwards have scored, and Matt Carley’s on-field call is a try. Upstairs for a look...
Wales 20-6 Australia, 32 minutes
Australia look to maul, but are immediately stalled. Illegally, though - Alun Wyn Jones drove in too soon before the lifted player had come to floor.
Hodge prods further up the touchline.
Wales 20-6 Australia, 31 minutes
George North stays down and receives some treatment, inadvertently taking a stud or two in the face after making a double tackle on Fraser McReight. With the blood mopped up, he rejoins his teammates.
Australia opt for the corner, with Reece Hodge’s banana curving out ten metres from the Welsh line.
Wales 20-6 Australia, 30 minutes
Jordan Petaia takes a high ball in a commanding manner, and his teammates soon draw a penalty advantage.
Nawaqintawase twice shows well, sending away Welshmen with a full extension of his arms, but a stooping Folau Fainga’a can’t take a low pass as space appears in front of the hooker. Still, back for the penalty, which was a high shot on the right.
Wales 20-6 Australia, 29 minutes
There is a real energy to this game, which is both a surprise, given we are at the end of a long autumn, and rather pleasing.
Australia nearly unlock the Welsh fringe defence, Len Ikitau’s feet funky and fend fierce, but there are feet in touch before Mark Nawaqintawase can collect a pass.
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