England vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby result, final score and reaction from 2021 Autumn Nations Series

Eddie Jones’ side got some revenge against the world champion Springboks

Freddie Steward celebrates 'unbelievable win' against South Africa

England welcomed South Africa to Twickenham on Saturday afternoon in a mouthwatering rematch of the World Cup final two years on.

Fly-half Marcus Smith landed a last-minute penalty to snatch a 27-26 win as the hosts looked full of early promise but were hauled back by the battling Springboks in the teams’ first meeting since the 2019 showpiece.

England fashioned excellent early tries for Manu Tuilagi and Freddie Steward but were penalised relentlessly and four penalties for Handre Pollard kept South Africa within five points at the break.

The Springboks edged clear in the second half and, after tries by Raffie Quirke for England and Makazole Mapimpi for the Springboks, a Fran Steyne penalty put the visitors two points ahead with six minutes to go. England, though, mustered one final attack and earned a penalty on the 22 that Smith smashed over.

With star youngsters like Smith, Steward and Quirke breaking through across a fruitful autumn, Jones admitted the quest for the 2023 World Cup title hurtles ever closer. Asked if this autumn series represents a new England era, coach Eddie Jones replied: “Yes, we said in the summer that the Lions tour draws a line in the sand, and that you need to regenerate and have a little bit of a rebirth to go to the World Cup.

“There’s some good players coming through but we’ve got some pretty good experienced players too. They feel comfortable within themselves, they want to be together, they want to work together. Our stated aim is to win the World Cup, so we want to be better in the next campaign.”

England vs South Africa

• 7’ - TRY! Tuilagi drives home to give England early advantage, 7-0
• 7’ - INJURY: Tuilagi is off after injuring himself scoring, Malins is his replacement
• 18’ - TRY! Steward with a powerful finish to maintain early momentum and rock the Boks, 14-3
• 48’ - MISS! Pollard with a second successive skewed kick, England let off and remain up 17-12
• 66’ - TRY! Quirke with a breathtaking breakaway try as England retake the lead, 24-18
• 69’ - TRY! Pure power from the Boks and Mapimpi is in, but Jantjies misses the extras, it’s still England with the lead, 24-23
• 73’ - PENALTY! Steyn keeps his nerve, slots this one and the Boks lead, 26-24
• 80’ - PENALTY! Smith nails it, England snatch victory, incredible noise at Twickenham, 27-26

[20 November 2021 16:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! ENGLAND 24-18 South Africa (Raffi Quirke try, 66 minutes)

Twickenham erupts! England are back ahead! It’s Raffi Quirke!

It’s a delightful attacking play. Good lineout ball is fizzed out with a perfect pass from the scrum half to Henry Slade, who sets the defence with a charge and then releases a blind pass with perfect timing for Joe Marchant to rush on to.

Marchant charges through the chasm, draws the last defender and puts in Quirke on the cheat line to score! Marcus Smith adds the two - England have been comfortably out-played in this second half but are back in front.

[20 November 2021 16:43 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! England 17-18 SOUTH AFRICA (Elton Jantjies penalty, 63 minutes)

South Africa lead for the first time...

[20 November 2021 16:42 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-15 South Africa, 63 minutes

No penalty! Andrew Brace is happy that Ewels is not at fault, believing that Etzebeth tumbled into him having been taken at the ankles, and it will just be the previous penalty for which South Africa will head.

Elton Jantjies has taken over kicking duties

[20 November 2021 16:40 · Jack Rathborn]

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[20 November 2021 16:39 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-15 South Africa, 62 minutes

Another penalty against England, and a warning for Courtney Lawes as a South African player receives treatment...

And that would be why! A stray arm to the face from Charlie Ewels as Eben Etzebeth topples over and TMO Brian MacNeice would like to check this...

[20 November 2021 16:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-15 South Africa, 60 minutes

Twickenham says hello, Dolly, as Leicester hooker Nic makes his debut in Jamie Blamire’s stead. Charlie Ewels arrives too.

South Africa try a drop-goal from England’s goalline drop out but it flies wide.

But momentum remains with the Springboks - Raffi Quirke is charged down by the enormous Eben Etzebeth’s long forearms and South Africa win a penalty at the breakdown, which is kicked for the right corner.

[20 November 2021 16:35 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Held up! England 17-15 South Africa, 59 minutes

Remarkable defence from England! It’s Max Malins again! South Africa maul to within inches but are somehow just short, and then Kwagga Smith lunches for the line, but is somehow held up by Malins, turtling the South African flanker and keeping the ball from brushing the in-goal grass - a goalline drop out for England and they survive!

[20 November 2021 16:34 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-15 South Africa, 58 minutes

South Africa are nearly in, and is there a card coming here? Good play down the left from Malcolm Marx sees him power through a tackle and draw another defender, and his infield offload nearly puts Cobus Reinach away.

Max Malins somehow gets to him and disrupts the offload, too, but is the wing off his feet? He looks to be, but the officials are happy with a penalty only, which South Africa poke for the corner...

[20 November 2021 16:32 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-15 South Africa, 57 minutes

A proper mauling from South Africa! England are forced to haul down the rumbling mass as it gathers momentum towards the left corner.

[20 November 2021 16:31 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 17-15 South Africa, 55 minutes

On comes Will Stuart for Kyle Sinckler, and straight away the Bath tighthead is pinged as Steven Kitshoff continues to make an impact. South Africa starting to have the better of this contest.