The Vault: England v South Africa

23 Nov 2022 | 5 min |

Ahead of their Autumn Nations Series clash on Saturday, we take a look back at five famous England v South Africa fixtures.

2002: ENG 53 - 3 RSA

England scored seven tries en route to a 53-3 drubbing of South Africa at Twickenham, capping off an unbeaten autumn series, where wins over New Zealand and Australia had preceded.

Scores from Ben Cohen, Will Greenwood (2), Neil Back, Richard Hill and Lawrence Dallaglio – as well as a penalty try – and 18 points from the boot, handed Clive Woodward’s men their largest victory over the Springboks.

Watch highlights of the game here.

TWICKENHAM - NOVEMBER 23: Matt Dawson of England is tackled by Andre Pretorius of South Africa during the Investec Challenge match between England and South Africa held on November 23, 2002 at Twickenham in London, England. England won the match 53 - 3. (Photo by Dave Rogers/Getty Images)

The Test match was played both fiercely and at a frantic pace from the outset, with the visitors going down to 14 men after just 23 minutes. Bok lock Jannes Labuschagne was shown red by referee Paddy O’Brien after an obvious late shoulder charge on Jonny Wilkinson.

South Africa’s response came via a Andre Pretorius penalty – which would be their only score of the day – as England took an 18-3 lead into the break, before registering 35 points in the final 40 minutes.

2004: ENG 32 - 16 RSA

Two years later and back at Twickenham, the same outcome, after a sublime Charlie Hodgson performance inspired England to a 32-16 win over South Africa. The fly-half notched up a personal tally of 27 points, scoring through every means available: one try, two conversions, five penalties and a drop goal.

TWICKENHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20: Try scorers Charlie Hodgson and Mark Cueto of England celebrate in the dressing room during the Investec Challenge match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on November 20, 2004 in Twickenham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The only score he had no involvement in was that of then club mate Mark Cueto, who making his second cap, got on the end of a well-weighted Henry Paul cross-field kick, to dive over the line for his third Test try.

Bryan Habana came off the Springbok bench in the second half to make his international debut, and scored, after linking with Jaco van der Westhuyzen. Full back Percy Montgomery scored 11 points from the boot in the match, cutting the final deficit to 16 points.

2006: ENG 23 - 21 RSA

England came back from a seven point half-time deficit to secure a 23-21 victory over South Africa at Twickenham.

Their saviour of the day came in the shape of substitute prop Phil Vickery, who barrelled over to score a try with just eight minutes left in the Test match, helping Andy Robinson’s men avoid an eighth straight defeat

LONDON - NOVEMBER 25: Mark Cueto of England scores his teams first try during the Investec Challenge match between England and South Africa at Twickenham on November 25, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Vickery was joined on the scoreboard by Mark Cueto, who had struck earlier in the second half, as England’s back division made the most of an extra man advantage after Springbok Jean de Villiers was shown a yellow card.

A pair of Charlie Hodgson penalties had got England on the score board in the first half, and thanks to replacement Andy Goode’s successful conversions in the second, as well as a solitary penalty, England squeezed out a two point victory.

2012: RSA 14 - 14 ENG

A late penalty from replacement Owen Farrell handed England a 14-14 draw with South Africa in Port Elizabeth.

It was the visitors who started brightest, with Toby Flood slotting a penalty in the first minute, but Springbok fly half Morne Steyn was quick to reply shortly after.

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 23: Owen Farrell of England breaks past Flip van der Merwe during the third test match between the South Africa Springboks and England at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on June 23, 2012 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

On his return to the team after a year-long absence from an England jersey, scrum half Danny Care bagged his fourth Test try on the 10-minute mark. Tom Johnson was the first to react to a charged down kick, and being halted just short of the line, Care capitalised, surging over to give England the ascendancy.

Both sides continued to jostle for the lead, as Steyn bagged six points before half-time to put South Africa up, before an early second half penalty put England in front. A JP Pieterson try on the hour mark handed the hosts a momentum shift, but Farrell calmly slotted a penalty with nine minutes left to level the match.

2016: ENG 37 - 21 RSA

England notched up 11 consecutive victories after beating South Africa at Twickenham - their first win over the Springboks in a decade.

Eddie Jones’ side led 20-9 at half-time thanks to tries from Jonny May and Courtney Lawes, as well as seven points from the boot of Owen Farrell and a long range Elliot Daly penalty. Patrick Lambie kicked all of South Africa’s first half points with two penalties and a drop goal.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Jonny May of England is tackled by Patrick Lambie during the Old Mutual Wealth Series match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on November 12, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Imagesges)

George Ford went over shortly after the restart with Farrell converting and sending over a penalty to extend the lead further. Johan Goosen gave the Springboks hope after he went over in the corner but despite missing an earlier penalty Farrell scored England’s fourth converted-try.

The visitors had the final say of the match, as Willie le Roux charged over, and Ruan Combrinck’s extras made it 37-21.