England vs South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Springboks edge thriller
Steve Borthwick’s side have now lost five games in a row including the summer defeats to New Zealand
Two irresistible tries by winger Cheslin Kolbe helped South Africa team to a 29-20 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday and though the home crowd was treated to a fantastic match, it meant a fifth successive defeat for Steve Borthwick’s men.
It was 19-17 to the world champion Springboks at the break after a breathless, five-try first half full of attacking intent from both sides.
Ollie Sleightholme put England ahead, but three tries in 10 minutes by Grant Williams, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kolbe silenced Twickenham, only for Sam Underhill to power over for the hosts.
A penalty for Marcus Smith briefly had England ahead but a Handre Pollard penalty and winger Kolbe’s explosive second try made it 29-20 and South Africa showed all their usual doggedness to keep the hosts at arm’s length in the final 15 minutes.
Follow all the latest reaction from the Allianz Stadium below:
England 20-29 South Africa
70 mins
England sense their moment is close, Cole fancies it, burrowing down low, but held up. Penalty to England after that advantage for offside.
The crowd expects, inside the final 10 minutes, but the Boks survive and can boot clear through Pollard.
England 20-29 South Africa
An opportunity opens for England with Gerhard Steenekamp sent to the sin bin. Not only are South Africa down a man but with Ox Nche seemingly injured earlier, they are short of a loosehead. The Springboks would normally have a versatile tighthead like Trevor Nyakane or Thomas du Toit capable of covering but this will be a test of their champion qualities.
YELLOW! England 20-29 South Africa (Steenekamp)
67 mins
Kolbe searching for his first ever hat-trick for the Boks, then, but England frantically try to find a route back here. Down nine, they’re in a hurry.
Kolbe is everywhere, now a boot to relieve pressure, he bashes his hands together, urging the world champions to finish the job.
England searching for a spark, anything at this stage, and maybe that’s it, Steenekamp is shown a yellow card!
De Allende is off, Am is his replacement...
TRY! England 20-29 South Africa (Kolbe)
63 mins
TRY! De Allende working those tree trunks for legs, pumping them as he breaks a tackle and then offloads to the rampaging Kolbe.
The catch is smooth and then he ducks inside of Slade and storms through to score. Daylight for the Boks, stunning!
Penalty! England 20-22 South Africa (Pollard)
58 mins
Where’s your luck!? Pollard’s kick flutters in the night sky at the Allianz Stadium, it’s struggling, it won’t make it surely?
It clatters the bar and tumbles over, three more to the Boks and a precious lead once again.
England 20-19 South Africa
55 mins
Bit of a kicking battle unfolds here, Pollard with another exquisite claim under pressure from Freeman after Smith orchestrates England’s way forward with a towering kick.
Penalty South Africa! England concede their ninth, to the Boks’ seven so far. Pollard’s first...
Penalty! England 20-19 South Africa (Smith)
52 mins
No problem at all, Marcus Smith knocks over the three points with ease and England finally lead once more!
But South Africa quickly respond and Van Poortvliet affords the Boks a chance through the scrum.
England 17-19 South Africa
51 mins
Pollard up high to gather and a tidy offload to Williams, too.
Obstruction though, England can pounce here and pull ahead by a point with this penalty.
NO TRY! England 17-19 South Africa
49 mins
NO TRY! Itoje with a neck roll on Marx and that’ll be enough for the TMO to chalk that score off for England.
One apiece, then, and you can still barely split them. Boos ring around the Allianz Stadium.
TRY! England 22-19 South Africa (Slade)
48 mins
Sense it? They seize the score, England in business and Henry Slade with an almighty stretch up high after being found free on the far side.
But it’s the magic of Smith, who delays the pass and spreads the ball out wide. But we’ll take a look at this one too... Up to the TMO.
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