South Africa Grind Out Victory Over England at Twickenham

England (17) 20
Tries: Sleightholme, Underhill
Conversions: Smith (2)
Penalties: Smith (2)

South Africa (19) 29
Tries: Williams, Du Toit, Kolbe (2)
Conversions: Libbok (2), Pollard
Penalties: Pollard

England’s losing streak extended to five consecutive defeats as defending champions South Africa maintained their dominance with a 29-20 victory at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. Despite a strong start, England’s errors and South Africa’s clinical finishing proved decisive.

Fast Start, But South Africa’s Class Prevails
The match began at a blistering pace with England’s Ollie Sleightholme crossing the line after just three minutes. Fly-half Marcus Smith was instrumental in the build-up, evading tackles and setting up Sleightholme for a corner try. However, the Springboks wasted no time in responding, showcasing their attacking prowess with three quickfire tries.

Grant Williams broke through a soft English defence to score under the posts, followed by Pieter-Steph du Toit’s opportunistic try after Smith’s attempted clearance was charged down. Cheslin Kolbe then showed his electric pace, scoring after a well-executed cross-kick from Manie Libbok. These three tries put South Africa firmly in the driver’s seat at 19-10, despite England’s early promise.

England Fight Back, But Mistakes Cost Them
England’s Sam Underhill put the hosts back within two points with a determined try just before halftime, narrowing the gap to 19-17. However, South Africa’s defensive resolve and clinical attack kept them in control. England’s errors continued to hinder their progress, as both individual mistakes and systemic issues were evident.

A significant mistake came when Jack van Poortvliet, under pressure from the Springboks’ forwards, was charged down by Eben Etzebeth. Smith’s attempted clearance then led to Du Toit’s second try, giving South Africa a 12-10 lead. South Africa’s decision to turn down penalty opportunities and opt for a line-out instead paid off, as they capitalized on England’s defensive weaknesses.

England’s Set-Piece Woes and Missed Opportunities
England had their chances, particularly after George Martin’s powerful carry set up Underhill’s try. But the Boks’ dominance at the scrum, particularly from Wilco Louw, and Etzebeth’s relentless pressure on Van Poortvliet continued to disrupt England’s rhythm. Even when England thought they had scored again through Henry Slade, a TMO review revealed a neck roll from Maro Itoje, disallowing the try.

After Smith kicked a penalty to give England a brief 20-19 lead early in the second half, South Africa quickly regained the advantage. Pollard struck a penalty to put South Africa back in front, and as the game progressed, the visitors began to stretch their lead. Kolbe added his second try after a fantastic run inside Sleightholme, and even when South Africa were reduced to 14 men with a late sin-bin for prop Gerhard Steenekamp, they maintained their composure.

England’s Final Efforts Fall Short

England continued to search for a way back into the game but were thwarted by further errors. Luke Cowan-Dickie’s quick throw at a line-out, under pressure near the Springbok line, was penalized. Then, a key turnover by South Africa’s Vincent Koch, following a scrappy play by Itoje, ended England’s last meaningful attack.

The loss marked a difficult conclusion to England’s autumn campaign, with the team showing flashes of brilliance but ultimately undone by errors and a lack of consistency. England’s problems at the set-piece, coupled with their failure to finish opportunities, cost them dearly against a South Africa side that capitalized on every mistake.

Looking Ahead
For South Africa, it was a well-deserved win, built on solid defence and clinical attack. England’s challenge now turns to their final autumn match against Japan, where they will look to end their five-match losing streak. The loss to South Africa has raised questions about England’s progress under Steve Borthwick, with improvements needed in key areas before the 2024 Six Nations.

South Africa’s victory also extended a trend of Southern Hemisphere dominance at Allianz Stadium, with New Zealand, Australia, and now South Africa all securing wins in recent weeks. Despite England’s spirited start, the Springboks proved too strong, reinforcing their status as back-to-back world champions.

Line-Ups:
England: Steward, Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme, M. Smith, Van Poortvliet, Genge, George (capt), Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Cunningham-South, Underhill, Earl.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Cole, Isiekwe, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford, Roebuck.

South Africa: Fassi, Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse, Libbok, Williams, Nche, Mbonambi, W. Louw, Etzebeth, Snyman, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese.
Replacements: Marx, Steenekamp, Koch, E. Louw, Smith, Reinach, Pollard, Am.

Match Officials:
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)