England vs South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Springboks edge thriller
Steve Borthwick’s side have now lost five games in a row including the summer defeats to New Zealand
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Your support makes all the difference.Two irresistible tries by winger Cheslin Kolbe helped South Africa team to a 29-20 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday and though the home crowd was treated to a fantastic match, it meant a fifth successive defeat for Steve Borthwick’s men.
It was 19-17 to the world champion Springboks at the break after a breathless, five-try first half full of attacking intent from both sides.
Ollie Sleightholme put England ahead, but three tries in 10 minutes by Grant Williams, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kolbe silenced Twickenham, only for Sam Underhill to power over for the hosts.
A penalty for Marcus Smith briefly had England ahead but a Handre Pollard penalty and winger Kolbe’s explosive second try made it 29-20 and South Africa showed all their usual doggedness to keep the hosts at arm’s length in the final 15 minutes.
Follow all the latest reaction from the Allianz Stadium below:
Penalty! England 20-19 South Africa (Smith)
52 mins
No problem at all, Marcus Smith knocks over the three points with ease and England finally lead once more!
But South Africa quickly respond and Van Poortvliet affords the Boks a chance through the scrum.
England 17-19 South Africa
51 mins
Pollard up high to gather and a tidy offload to Williams, too.
Obstruction though, England can pounce here and pull ahead by a point with this penalty.
NO TRY! England 17-19 South Africa
49 mins
NO TRY! Itoje with a neck roll on Marx and that’ll be enough for the TMO to chalk that score off for England.
One apiece, then, and you can still barely split them. Boos ring around the Allianz Stadium.
TRY! England 22-19 South Africa (Slade)
48 mins
Sense it? They seize the score, England in business and Henry Slade with an almighty stretch up high after being found free on the far side.
But it’s the magic of Smith, who delays the pass and spreads the ball out wide. But we’ll take a look at this one too... Up to the TMO.
England 17-19 South Africa
46 mins
Marx and Pollard on for Mbonambi and Libbok as South Africa ring the changes.
England fans sense a chance here off the lineout. Smith with a ball out the back of the hand, but it’s a little untidy, but no bother, England regain possession.
Smith, drop goal... No, a boot to the corner and Freeman gathers, a huge roar from the Twickenham crowd. England can sense it!
NO TRY! England 17-19 South Africa
44 mins
NO TRY! Arendse has his head in his hands, Fassi’s pass was a fraction forward and England have a stroke of luck, there.
They remain two back... And an almighty roar as De Allende holds on and Smith will boot into touch for a lineout.
TRY! England 17-24 South Africa (Arendse)
43 mins
TRY! In a flash, South Africa are in and show why they’re world class.
Fassi with the surge and then a neat pass to Arendse on the outside and his pace is too much.
But hold on... Let’s have a look here, forward pass?
England 17-19 South Africa
42 mins
Here we go again, and the Boks immediately press England back. Williams spins one out and Wiese will gladly gather and bump into white shirts like bowling pins.
Kolbe’s agility a little too much for Jamie George, there, and he dashes beyond the line and is almost in, but England survive!
The Boks turn to their daunting bench...
HALF TIME: England 17-19 South Africa
So much for an arm wrestle! Captivating stuff, the collisions colossal, the conjuring clever. England would have worried when they slipped two scores behind but that Sam Underhill score - delightfully taken by a player proving a point on his return to the side - keeps them very much in touch. You do wonder just what impact that Springboks bench will have, even short of a forward or two; England probably don’t have the impact to match that unit.
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