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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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:
And out come the rest of them
South Africa and England follow Tuilagi out as the fireworks and flames fly.
Manu Tuilagi hits 50
First out of the Twickenham tunnel is Manu Tuilagi to a great roar from the home fans, the centre swinging those great muscular arms back and forth as he readies himself for his fourth and final task of the autumn.
Team News - South Africa
With their England and France-based players unavailable due to this game taking place outside of the World Rugby stipulated Test window, South Africa are forced to make a number of changes. Evan Roos wins his third cap at number eight, while Eben Etzebeth partners Marvin Orie in the second row after missing out on the win over Italy.
Despite Manie Libbok’s impressive showing in Genoa, Damian Willemse remains at fly-half, while Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel are reunited in midfield. The bench is intriguing, too, with plenty of breakdown threat held in reserve, including two flankers in Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith.
South Africa XV: O Nche, B Mbonambi, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, M Orie; S Kolisi (capt.), F Mostert, E Roos; F de Klerk, D Willemse; M Mapimpi, D de Allende, J Kriel, K-L Arendse; W le Roux.
Replacements: M Marx, S Kitshoff, T du Toit, M van Staden, K Smith; J Hendrikse, M Libbok, C Moodie.
Team News - England
It’s a “horses for courses” England selection, according to Eddie Jones, with an emphasis on extra brawn and bounce in the forwards. The head coach believes a third specialist lineout jumper is essential to combat the Springboks, which opens an opportunity for Alex Coles on the blindside, while Mako Vunipola and Jamie George are in from the start with Jones feeling that the punch that Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie could offer later in the game may be valuable against South Africa’s so-called “Bomb Squad”.
Tommy Freeman makes his first appearance of the autumn on the wing after a promising tour of Australia in the summer, while Manu Tuilagi finally hits 50 caps - 134 England games and more than 11 years after the centre made his international debut.
England XV: M Vunipola, J George, K Sinckler; M Itoje, J Hill; A Coles, T Curry, B Vunipola; J van Poortvliet, M Smith; J May, O Farrell, M Tuilagi, T Freeman; F Steward.
Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie, E Genge, W Stuart, D Ribbans, S Simmonds; B Youngs, H Slade, J Nowell
On to England vs South Africa...
We’ll have the full post-mortem on another horrible defeat for Wales over the next few days, but for now we must switch our attentions to Twickenham, where both sets of players have just disappeared down the tunnel and are preparing for kick off...
F/T! Wales 34-39 Australia
The Welsh players look to the heavens, wondering quite how they managed to throw that away. It was so much better from Wayne Pivac’s side, but a horrific final quarter collapse condemns them to another demoralising home defeat. Will Pivac survive to go again in the Six Nations?
As for Australia, what fight they showed at the end. Given the injuries they had to contend with ahead of this game, and the predicament they found themselves in on 60 minutes, that’s a quite brilliant win.
Wales 34-39 Australia, 81 minutes
Wales play off the top into midfield. One by one their forwards are launched into the Wallabies’ wall, the gold bricks remaining firm in their structure.
Australia have the ball! Away it is punted into the crowd and they’ve snatched a remarkable victory!
Wales 34-39 Australia, 80 minutes
Penalty to Wales! Matthew Carley is the friendly bartender at the last chance saloon, penalising an Australian supporting player for going off their feet as they try to clearout a ruck.
Wales kick down into the Australian 22. This will be the final play.
TRY! Wales 34-37 AUSTRALIA (Lachlan Lonergan try, 79 minutes)
What an extraordinary turnaround!
Nawaqanitawase started a merry dance up the left, Fraser McReight and Tate McDermott swapping in and providing perfect support. McDermott was cut in half from behind by Josh Macleod but hung on, ensuring the ball is quick.
To the right, and Kieran Hardy can’t quite gather as he tries to intercept. The ball spills free, bouncing up for Lachlan Lonergan, who scampers in to put Australia into an improbable lead.
Noah Lolesio converts with just a minute for his side to see out for the win.
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