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As it happenedended

England vs South Africa - Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly secure controversial victory over Springboks

Follow the latest from the opening autumn international at Twickenham

Jack de Menezes
Twickenham
Saturday 03 November 2018 17:26 GMT
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England rugby training session in Portugal

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England fought back from behind to defeat South Africa 12-11 and kickstart not only their autumn international campaign but also their Rugby World Cup plans.

But it took a hugely controversial finish to fall in England's favour to secure the win, with Owen Farrell involved in a last-play TMO review for what appeared to be a shoulder tackle on replacement Andre Esterhuizen.

Referee Angus Gardner and Irish TMO Olly Hodges reviewed the tackle after the former had initially blown for full-time, but deemed it just on the side of legal to hand England a hugely important victory.

The win gives England back-to-back wins over the Springboks, which is all the more impressive given the number of players that Eddie Jones was missing from his squad and the lack of ball carriers they had in the pack, and it is the perfect preparation for welcoming the All Blacks to Twickenham next weekend.

South Africa took the lead in the first half through a Handre Pollard penalty that Farrell soon matched, although by that point Maro Itoje had been sent to the sin-bon for repeatedly infringing. But the Springboks hit the gas soon after Itoje's return that saw the wing Sbu Nkosi spring over in the corner, with Pollard missing what would prove a crucial conversion.

England landed an immediate response as Farrell struck his second penalty before the break, but after half-time England spurred into life. Elliot Daly stepped up to strike a 49m penalty that nudged England into the lead, and while Pollard was able to put the Springboks back in front, England's defence set the tone for their attack that suddenly started to click. Farrell was given a late chance to win the match for England seven minutes from time, and although Pollard was given his own chance a few minutes later, his effort just shaved the outside of the upright to hand England victory.

Re-live the live action below.

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What time does it start?

England vs South Africa kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 3 November.

Where can I watch it?

The Test will be shown live on Sky Sports Action from 2:00pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 2:30pm.

Teams

England: Elliot Daly; Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ben Te’o, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Alec Hepburn, Dylan Hartley, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Brad Shields, Tom Curry, Mark Wilson.

Replacements: Jamie George, Ben Moon, Harry Williams, Charlie Ewels, Zach Mercer, Danny Care, George Ford, Chris Ashton.

South Africa: Damian Willemse; Sbu Nkosi, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Aphiwe Dyantyi; Handre Pollard, Ivan van Zyl; Steven Kitschoff, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe; Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit; Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Embrose Papier, Elton Jantjies, Andre Esterhuizen.

And here come the teams! Time for the anthems...

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 14:56

It's England's "spiritual leader" Owen Farrell who leads out England ahead of co-captain Dylan Hartley. Maybe they flipped a coin for it...

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 14:58

Anthems over and done with. Referee Angus Gardner is ready to get us underway as South Africa kick-off. Here we go...

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 15:01

KICK-OFF: THE MATCH IS UNDERWAY!

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 15:02

1 mins: A poor start for England. They go up to claim the kick-off, but time it wrong and the ball is lost straight away. They get away with it as South Africa knock on, but hopefully that's not a sign of things to come for Eddie Jones' side.

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 15:03

2 mins: That's two high balls not caught cleanly for England as Daly knocks on a high kick from Pollard, but again the knock-on comes and England have possession. The good new is that the scrum looks very stable and it's giving good platform to Wilson and Youngs, and Nowell is able to stretch his legs off first phase to move into the Springboks half.

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 15:05

4 mins: The crowd roars into life as Slade chips through low for May to run on to. He just reaches the ball, but only in time to take it into touch and from the linout, England concede a penalty as Itoje grabs the Springbok jumper Etzebeth in the air.

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 15:06

6 mins: A second successive penalty goes against England inside six minutes as Sinckler is caught offside, and Pollard will kick for goal from the England 10m line.

Memories of 2016 suddenly appear when England's ill-discipline threatened to get the better of them against the Boks.

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 15:08

7 mins: Pollard kicks the penalty comfortably and South Africa lead 0-3.

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 15:08

10 mins: England are definitely trying to test out Willemse as Farrell sends a fourth high kick of the match his way. The makeshift full-back is holding up well, and when Van Zyl box-kicks it's Dyantyi who takes the aerial duel and wins the ball.

Jack de Menezes3 November 2018 15:12

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