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:
TRY! England 6-24 SOUTH AFRICA (Eben Etzebeth, 50 minutes)
Eben Etzebeth somehow ends up with a try! Maro Itoje contests a ruck beneath his own posts and the ball spills into his opposite number’s arms, with Etzebeth having the simple job of gathering and grounding from not even a metre out.
Was the lock on his feet as he picked up? It didn’t look like it, but Faf de Klerk’s quick conversion is over and South Africa are back in control.
YELLOW CARD! Tom Curry is sent to the sin bin! England 6-17 South Africa, 49 minutes
And England lose a man! Another maul infringement, and Tom Curry is shown yellow.
England 6-17 South Africa, 47 minutes
More changes for both teams - Dave Ribbans for his Northampton teammate Alex Coles in the England pack; Malcolm Marx for Bongi Mbonambi at hooker for South Africa.
That’s rathear daft from Jonny Hill. England win a penalty but Hill impatiently hauls Faf de Klerk out of the ruck by the scruff of the scrum-half’s shirt. Angus Gardner warned both captains he’d tolerate nothing more after the whistle; penalty reversed and South Africa kick to the corner.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 6-17 South Africa (Owen Farrell penalty, 46 minutes)
Owen Farrell’s first half misses means that there is an apprehensive intake of breath as Twickenham falls silent for the kick.
But Farrell’s radar is right this time.
England 3-17 South Africa, 44 minutes
Freddie Steward makes an imperious return to aerial form, taking, landing, and powering on, nearly able to get the offload away. Marcus Smith scurries through a half hole as England earn a penalty, and the England fly half remains down for some treatment as Owen Farrell prepares to line up the three points.
Kwagga Smith replaces Marvin Orie for South Africa - Franco Mostert will move one row further forward into lock.
England 3-17 South Africa, 43 minutes
Luke Cowan-Dickie is on for England, too, but those half-time front row changes haven’t helped the home side at scrum time - Will Stuart is free kicked for driving too soon.
England 3-17 South Africa, 43 minutes
That will help the hosts - Marvin Orie makes a hash of his collection as Owen Farrell lands his restart in the lifted lock’s breadbasket.
England 3-17 South Africa, 42 minutes
The simmering pot rather boiled over there, with green and white shirts piling in to the scuffle.
Angus Gardner warns both captains he won’t tolerate it again - England, in desperate need of a lift, will get things back underway.
DROP GOAL! England 3-17 SOUTH AFRICA (Damian Willemse drop goal, 42 minutes)
A second drop goal!
A slow midfield ruck, and Damian Willemse drops deep to slot another three points and extend the South African lead.
And there’s a mighty fracas among the forwards to follow it!
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