Scotland vs Japan LIVE: Latest rugby score and updates from 2021 Autumn internationals
Follow all the latest updates from Twickenham as Eddie Jones’ side aim for revenge against the world champion Springboks
Captain Stuart Hogg thrilled another capacity crowd at BT Murrayfield as he became Scotland’s leading try-scorer of all time in a 29-20 win over spirited Japan
The Exeter full-back had moved level with Iain Smith and Tony Stanger on 24 tries for the national team when he scored a double against South Africa last weekend, and his first-half touchdown against the Brave Blossoms took him clear on his own on a day when he also became the Scots’ fourth most capped player.
The victory means Gregor Townsend’s side have won three out of four Tests in their Autumn Nations Series and ended a largely progressive 2021 on a high note.
Follow live analysis and reaction from Twickenham and updates from England against South Africa:
England 17-12 South Africa, 34 minutes
South Africa win the lineout but that’s not Cobus Reinach’s best, a shanked box kick that sails out within the South African 22. England with good attacking ball, with Jamie Blamire looping around the back of a dummy maul and inviting Joe Marchant to carry hard on his shoulder. That might have been more effective with Manu Tuilagi still on the pitch.
Bevan Rodd is absolutely munched in the tackle of Ox Nche! Loosehead on loosehead crime, and England are then penalised for sealing off.
England 17-12 South Africa, 32 minutes
A good exit from the Springboks and England rather meander on kick return, Jonny May guilty of running sideways, something he has largely cut out from his game.
Now England attack more fluently! A lovely delayed pass from Marcus Smith nearly sets Bevan Rodd free, before a clever flick up from Sam Underhill to Tom Curry allows England to get away down the right.
Freddie Steward passes to Max Malins who is dragged into touch! A valiant sprint from the corner from the replacement but he’s not particularly close to beating the defender for it.
England 17-12 South Africa, 31 minutes
Up like a salmon and down with the ball! A perfect restart drill from Marcus Smith and Maro Itoje, like a point guard to his power forward in the paint as Itoje beats South Africa to the ball.
A loose pass stalls England but a canny kick for the corner means a pressure lineout for South Africa.
PENALTY! England 17-12 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard penalty, 30 minutes)
Another nice enough strike from Handre Pollard, this time from the left. South Africa just ticking along.
England 17-9 South Africa, 29 minutes
South Africa maul and Courtney Lawes is pinged for trying to bring it down. The penalties are just beginning to mount against England - Andrew Brace warns Lawes to “tidy up” at the maul as the South African tee comes on for a fourth time.
England 17-9 South Africa, 28 minutes
South Africa get themselves in a muddle in their own 22 but somehow the ball is not knocked on as Cobus Reinach’s pass hits a forward retreating back. South Africa belatedly clear.
England play off the top of the lineout and Jonny May prods a grubber through, but Joe Marchant advances before May has passed him and is thus offside. Handre Pollard slips as he strikes the penalty but safely finds the touchline 35 metres from the England tryline.
PENALTY! England 17-9 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard penalty, 26 minutes)
It didn’t look nice off the boot but there is just enough welly in Pollard’s strike to clear the crossbar.
England 17-6 South Africa, 25 minutes
It’s all a bit staccato, now, as another breakdown infringement causes Andrew Brace to whistle again. This time England fail to vacate a ruck - and South Africa, somewhat surprisingly, will have another shot at the posts. This is all of 49 metres out and beyond the 15-metre line - a toughie for Handre Pollard.
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