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
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.”
Team News - South Africa
South Africa make three changes to the side that beat Scotland a week ago. Cobus Reinach unites with club colleague Handre Pollard in the halves with Faf de Klerk a longer term absentee, while converted centre Jesse Kriel continues to cover for a similarly stricken Cheslin Kolbe.
Jacques Nienaber has this week picked Lood de Jäger ahead of Franco Moster to form an almost comically huge second row connection with the outstanding Eben Etzebeth. Kwagga Smith and Siya Kolisi’s partnership on the flanks has begun to coalesce nicely.
Beware, too, the Bomb Squad, this week consisting of five forwards and three backs but hardly short of explosive power. Malcolm Marx might be the best hooker in the world, while Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch are hardly shrinking violets. Then there is Frans Steyn, hardly short of weight and still booming over long-distance penalties 15 years after his Test debut.
Team News - England
With Jamie George and Owen Farrell out until the new year at least with injuries and Ellis Genge still in isolation, England are short of several key individuals. Bevan Rodd retains his starting place at loose head while there is a start for Jamie Blamire in George’s stead, backed up by Leicester hooker Nic Dolly, who was playing Championship rugby in the spring.
The back five in the pack remains intact for a third week running but there is a reshuffle behind them. After being named on the wing but lining up everywhere but against Australia, Manu Tuilagi is back in the centres, outside Marcus Smith and inside Henry Slade in what appears a balance midfield.
Joe Marchant is this week’s slightly surprise pick on the right wing, with England keen on his ability under the high ball and defensive decision-making. There is also the Harlequins connection with Smith, of course.
A 6-2 bench split means places in the 23 again for Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds, who impressed off the pine a week ago.
On to England vs South Africa...
That concludes our live coverage of Scotland’s win over Japan, but we’ll have plenty of reaction and analysis over the next couple of days.
On to today’s second marquee matchup, and boy is it a big’un - for the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final it is England against South Africa with plenty of scores to be settled...
England out to soothe World Cup scars against scorned South Africa
Rassie Erasmus’s ban has provided an unpleasant backdrop to a titanic game needing little extra spice
Player of the Match Chris Harris speaks to Amazon Prime Video
“It’s been quality for us. I don’t think we played our best last week and today wasn’t our best either but we did enough. Very mixed emotions,” says Chris Harris. “We did some really good stuff but we let Japan into the game - they were brilliant. They kept chipping away. But we got the win. Three wins from four is awesome.”
Scotland 29-20 Japan
Victory for Scotland, who were below their best against a Japan side with plenty of adventure but just short of a degree of execution at times. That’s by no means a bad result for either side - Japan haven’t played too much rugby since the World Cup and they showed some very, very nice things in possession, while Scotland continue to build a winning habit despite a setback against South Africa last weekend.
FULL TIME: SCOTLAND 29-20 JAPAN
PENALTY! SCOTLAND 29-20 Japan (Finn Russell penalty, 79 minutes)
Posts bisected, three more points on the board and victory secured for Scotland. Chris Harris is named the player of the match, and that may just do us...
Scotland 26-20 Japan, 78 minutes
Curiously, Scotland have to have a discussion over what to do here - a kick at goal is surely the option and is eventually settled on by the Scottish leadership committee. Finn Russell takes the tee and will take every second he can as he tries to push Scotland out of reach of a single score...
Scotland 26-20 Japan, 77 minutes
Stability and Scotland are secure in possesion. Pierre Schoeman hits a brilliant line to create a fissure and Scotland then have advantage as Japan rush up offside in a bid to prevent Finn Russell exploiting space on the right - it works, but Japan are penalised. That’ll end their chances, you’d think.
Scotland 26-20 Japan, 76 minutes
A hefty shove from the Scottish eight, powered now on the tighthead by another debutant in Javan Sebastian, who has taken the road less travelled through the Welsh leagues to make a deserved Scotland debut. Just a reset, but that’ll suit Scotland as the time ticks by.
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