England beaten by South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series
England were defeated by South Africa 20 - 29 at Allianz Stadium in their third match of the Autumn Nations series.
Steve Borthwick’s side struck through tries from Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill and 10 points from the boot of Marcus Smith.
However, tries from Grant Williams, Pieter-Steph du Toit and a brace from Cheslin Kolbe as well as nine points via the boots of Mannie Libbok and Handre Pollard sealed victory.
England opened the scoring after just three minutes. Smith looked to be going for a drop goal before he darted to the blindside. He popped to Slade, who fed Sleightholme for the first try of the match. Smith converted to give England a 7 – 0 lead.
South Africa responded through their scrumhalf Williams. He ran in from beyond the 22 and stepped defenders to score under the posts. Libbok converted to tie the scores after 12 minutes.
England continued to play quickly before being awarded a penalty for Pieter-Steph du Toit handling in the ruck. Smith’s kick was good, and the hosts had the lead once more.
England then collected the ball from the restart, but Eben Etzebeth charged down Jack van Poortvliet’s box kick from the back of a ruck. Smith collected the ball and attempted a clearance under pressure, but his kick too was charged down and du Toit dived on the ball to score and give his side a 10 – 12 lead.
After England conceded a couple of penalties, the Springboks had a lineout on the England five-metre line. The England forwards stopped the maul, but the Springboks recycled the ball quickly. Libbok kicked cross-field to Cheslin Kolbe, who avoided Freddie Steward’s tackle to cross for South Africa’s third try. Libbok added the extras to make it 10 – 19 after 22 minutes.
Four minutes later, England continued to run hard at the South African defence to make their way to their opponent’s five-metre line. Van Poortvliet passed to Underhill who cut back inside and dragged three defenders over the line with him to score England’s second try. Smith’s conversion cut the deficit to two points.
Libbok missed a penalty just before half time which kept the score at 17 – 19.
It looked as if South Africa had the first points of the second half, but referee Andrew Brace judged that Aphelele Fassi’s pass to Kolbe had gone forward.
England won two penalties in quick succession to march themselves into the South Africa 22. After a period of pressure, Smith kicked a high cross-field kick which Tommy Freeman collected. Slade looked to have scored before their try was disallowed for a prior infringement from Maro Itoje.
The hosts continued to apply pressure before a second high kick from Smith won his team a penalty after replacement Roebuck was prevented from competing for the kick. Smith landed the penalty to give the hosts a 20 – 19 lead after 52 minutes.
Replacement Pollard kicked a long-range penalty to regain the lead for his team before Damian de Allende broke through the England defence on the halfway line. He passed to Kolbe who stepped Sleightholme and sprinted down the wing to score his second try. Pollard converted to extend South Africa’s lead to 20 – 29 after 63 minutes.
Five minutes later, South Africa’s replacement prop Gerhard Steenekamp was sent to the sin bin after a series of offences from his team.
England drove towards the try line through repeated attacks from their forwards. A further penalty gave England an attacking lineout five metres out, but replacement Luke Cowan-Dickie gave a dummy throw at the lineout and South Africa were awarded a free kick.
With two minutes to go, Pollard missed an attempt at a drop goal. England had an attacking opportunity at the death, but a knock-on allowed Cobus Reinach to boot the ball out and seal his team’s victory.
England will face Japan at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday 24 November for their final fixture of the series.
