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:
England 3-3 South Africa, 20 minutes
England’s shapes look nicely formed in these opening skirmishes, forwards and backs interchanging well and working openings in the South African defensive line. A grubber through is collected by Springbok hands but Tom Curry collects the return, and there looks to be space on the right as Billy Vunipola instead opts for a Route One approach.
Owen Farrell is tackled off the ball as England try to launch again. Penalty to the hosts.
PENALTY! England 3-3 SOUTH AFRICA (Faf de Klerk penalty, 19 minutes)
There are plenty of South Africans in for this one - a warm cheer around Twickenham as Faf de Klerk makes right on his earlier miss with his footing this time secure.
England 3-0 South Africa, 17 minutes
The busy Coles is involved again as Evan Roos tries to make inroads around the corner. Coles locks his left arm around the neck of the South Africa number eight - he is penalised, and Faf de Klerk will bid to level things up.
England 3-0 South Africa, 16 minutes
Faf de Klerk scurries blind from the back of a powerful South African scrum, with England doing well to scramble back in enough number to get to the scrum half’s stab through. Alex Coles is hauled out of play.
England 3-0 South Africa, 15 minutes
Space appears for England on the left edge with Jack van Poortvliet’s service sharp. Marcus Smith is forced to stoop to floor to collect his scrum half’s pass, though, hurling away a pass in a hurried manner that Owen Farrell can only slap forward to Manu Tuilagi. South Africa will have a scrum.
England 3-0 South Africa, 14 minutes
England line speed looks strong so far, with Jonny Hill, Alex Coles and Maro Itoje - England’s three long limbed lumberers - up in the face of a clutch of South African forwards as Faf de Klerk flicks away from a ruck.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 3-0 South Africa (Owen Farrell penalty, 13 minutes)
A perhaps necessary nerve-steadier for Owen Farrell after that uncharacteristic opening miss. A confident stride up to the ball and through it flies to get the scoring underway.
England 0-0 South Africa, 12 minutes
Angus Gardner calls both front rows into his office for a chat after releasing a displeased huff on the whistle after the scrum fails to set properly.
The Australian referee waits for the next scrum to fracture before awarding the penalty England’s way with Frans Malherbe turned in.
England 0-0 South Africa, 10 minutes
Freddie Steward is up in pursuit of Marcus Smith’s latest hanging punt, with Damian Willemse high above the England full back but unable to take cleanly.
Tommy Freeman briefly threatens to round the South African defence on the far left, but can’t remain infield. Back for the England scrum.
Missed penalty! England 0-0 South Africa, 9 minutes
Wow. That’s a shocking miss from Owen Farrell, tugging it to the left inexplicably from bang in front. Curious - the England captain insisted yesterday that he had kicked normally all week after taking a bang during last week’s game, but that was a horrible start from the tee.
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