England vs South Africa - Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly secure controversial victory over Springboks
Follow the latest from the opening autumn international at Twickenham
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
26 mins: May is left with an awkward chip to deal with that just won't go into touch, and he has to take it out of play to concede the lineout. But from the driving maul South Africa knock-on, and that signals the return of Maro Itoje from the sin-bin to a huge ovation.
It was actually a very well managed sin-bin period, with England winning it 3-0, and England are back to full strength.
28 mins: England's front-row is penalised for collapsing and South Africa get the penalty, which Pollaard kicks to the corner and, once again, Marx overthrows. England clear to midway in their own half and that's another chance gone.
"Come on Bokke, wake up!" comes the cry from the crowd.
29 mins: Etzebeth gets the chance to run at the England defence, but a good hit from Shields and Te'o forces the ball out of his grasp and it's another knock-on. It's been a story of ill-discpline from England, and ill-handling from South Africa this half.
33 mins: You can't say it wasn't coming. De Allende makes hard yards on the left of the field, and although Pollard is closed down as South Africa come right, they quickly recycle the ball and Sbu Nkosi squeezes past the covering tackle of Te;o to score in the right corner. Pollard can't convert, but South Africa have the first try of the Test. 3-8
37 mins: England get an immediate response as they win the restart through Kruis, and with the Springboks offside, Farrell gets a shot at goal.
38 mins: The fly-half nails it an immediately reduces the lead. 6-8
40 mins: Sinckler gets in a big hit on Etzebeth that the big prop will have enjoyed, and although South Africa kick deep for Daly, he fails to kick into touch to end the half. That gives them one last chance, but Nowell puts the ball out and that's half-time.
England 6-8 South Africa
Half-time: A worrying 40 minutes for England, but it's kind of what we expected. England have been starved of the ball, having just 33% possession and an alarming 22% territory. South Africa meanwhil have wasted numberous chances, with Marx's throwing at the lineout being, at best, poor, and too many handling errors creeping into their game.
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