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.”
Wales 13-13 Australia
32 mins: Big turnover from Australia in the scrum. Wales had the Wallabies in the corner following the restart and the visitors were smart to slow things down at the set-piece. Australia then win the penalty from the scrum, as tempers flare between the two packs, and White clears.
Wales 13-13 Australia (O’Connor pen 28’)
Australia, still playing with 13, look to keep the ball and build the phases and eventually win the penalty in the Wales half.
O’Connor levels the scores from in front of the posts.
TRY! Wales 13-10 Australia (ELIAS 23’)
Wales take the lead, and it’s a fine move from the lineout immediately after Beale’s yellow card! Tomos Williams spins away from the ruck and times his pass to his outside to perfection. Ryan Elias, who scored two tries against Fiji last weekend, is there to cross over in the corner.
Biggar then nails a brilliant conversion from the touchline.
YELLOW CARD! Wales 6-10 Australia (Beale)
23 mins: Wales swiftly move the ball across the field after retaining the ball from the lineout - and they suddenly have the man over on the right wing in Rees-Zammit.
Nick Tompkins’ pass is cut out by Kurtley Beale - but this appears to be a slap-down, a deliberate knock-on.
After a lengthy discussion with the TMO, Adamson shows Beale a yellow card and Australia are down to 13!
Wales 6-10 Australia
21 mins: Brilliant defending from White denies Rees-Zammit a certain try as he sweeps up in the corner following a smart kick from Biggar.
White’s momentum carries him out and Wales still have the ball in excellent field position.
Wales 6-10 Australia (O’Connor pen 19’)
Brilliant response from Australia - Slipper makes a strong carry and then Tupou takes up the charge as finds a nice line through the Wales defence.
Australia had the penalty advantage but it comes back. The Wallabies take the kick at goal and O’Connor converts.
Wales 6-7 Australia (Biggar pen 15’)
Biggar pulls Wales back to within one point as he chips over from in front of the posts.
RED CARD! Wales 3-7 Australia (Rob Valetini)
Australia are down to 14 after Rob Valetini is shown a red card for a dangerous high tackle.
“He’s come at distance, he’s come at speed, I’m seeing a high-degree of danger. There’s no mitigation,” says referee Mike Adamson.
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