England vs South Africa LIVE rugby: Final score and result as Springboks down sub-par England despite red card
England 13-27 South Africa: Thomas Du Toit sent off but Springboks cruise to a win that completes a poor autumn for England
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Your support makes all the difference.England collapsed to their first defeat by South Africa at Twickenham for eight years as an autumn of crushing disappointment concluded with a 27-13 rout.
Eddie Jones’ men delivered the worst performance of a campaign consisting of a solitary victory over Japan as the 14-man Springboks, inspired by half-backs Faf de Klerk and Damian Willemse, dominated the rematch of the 2019 World Cup final.
By the end of the first half, England had spent only six seconds in the opposition 22 with their backline reduced to virtual bystanders by a vast error count and the familiar disciplinary issues. The most brainless moment arrived shortly after the break when Jonny Hill flung De Klerk out of a ruck, prompting referee Angus Gardner to reverse a penalty, and seconds later Eben Etzebeth was over to extend the lead to 24-6.
Unlike their mesmerising comeback against New Zealand a week earlier, there were no late heroics this time even after replacement prop Thomas du Toit had been sent off in the 60th minute for a dangerous challenge on Luke Cowan-Dickie. Henry Slade dashed over in the 72nd minute - the same stage at which the 25-25 draw with the All Blacks was made possible - but pedestrian England had rarely threatened amid a lack of ideas or tempo in attack.
Relive all the action from Twickenham with our live blog below:
F/T: England 13-27 South Africa
Where next for England? There are a few who looked off the pace today, with the front and back rows unable to match South Africa’s physicality, and Jonny Hill producing at least two moments of impestuous stupidity amid wider issues of discipline under pressure. Manu Tuilagi didn’t have the impact he’d have liked on his 50th England cap - it’s been an unspectacular autumn for the centre.
F/T: England 13-27 South Africa
Another outstanding showing to cap a superlative international season from Eben Etzebeth - even if I don’t think his try should have stood. He embodies so much about this South African side, and was close to faultless again this evening.
F/T: England 13-27 South Africa
Great boos from the Twickenham crowd as South Africa kick for the stands to send us to a close. For the first time under Eddie Jones, England have lost twice in a single autumn - they end 2022 with six defeats and plenty of problems entering a World Cup year.
South Africa simply out-muscled them today, with far too many errors from the home team - in the air and from the tee early on, but more consequentially at the set piece throughout. It’s a handy win for the Springboks, their first over England at Twickenham since 2014, and a real reminder of just how fearsome this pack, even missing a couple of key cogs, can be.
England 13-27 South Africa, 80 minutes
But after some huffing and puffing inside their own 22, a dangerous clearout from Jonny Hill (who will not look back fondly on this encounter) is spotted by the officials. It’s loose from Hill, needlessly lifting a South African beyond the horizontal and depositing him back onto a ruck.
England 13-27 South Africa, 79 minutes
As should, by now, come as little surprise, South Africa win a penalty at the scrum.
They fancy one more adventure from inside their own half, playing to width immediately. Damian Willemse acts the intrepid explorer, going it alone among the retreating English tacklers and then releasing an ambitious offload out the back door, which tumbles forward from South African hands. The advantage was over - England will seek a consolation.
England 13-27 South Africa, 78 minutes
But England’s errors hve been much, much too regular this evening, particularly at the set piece - Luke Cowan-Dickie flings to the tail jumper, but his throw drifts some distance off line.
England 13-27 South Africa, 78 minutes
South Africa are then offside in midfeld at the lineout.
England 13-27 South Africa, 77 minutes
Slightly curiously, South Africa grubber into the in-goal on first phase, giving England a goalline dropout - rm which the hosts win a penalty.
England 13-27 South Africa, 76 minutes
Will Stuart remains down after the collapse, holding his arm awkwardly against his stomach as he is helped to his feet. It looks like the Bath prop will face another spell on the sidelines after making a speedy recover to feature for England this autumn.
South Africa are happy to take a scrum in teh corner as they seek to fully dash England’s hopes of a repeat resurrection.
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