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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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 3-11 SOUTH AFRICA (Kurt-Lee Arendse try, 33 minutes)
At last! A delightful, delicious South African score!
Magnificent from the Springboks. Damian Willemse takes Freddie Steward’s high bomb and spots that the England full-back is isolated as he chases, Willemse jumps to his right, Kurt-Lee Arendse a useful, perfectly legal shield in the way, allowing Willemse to sprint up the right and away from a toiling Jamie George.
Willemse passes inwards for Willie le Roux, who draws Jonny May and puts Arendse in to the corner, the wing turning Marcus Smith inside out with a shimmy of the hips to complete a sublime score. How this game needed that!
DROP GOAL! England 3-6 SOUTH AFRICA (Damian Willemse drop goal, 31 minutes)
A drop goal! This odd first half continues as South Africa eventually tire of playing aimless phases just outside England’s 22, Damian Willemse dropping back and slotting a pleasantly-struck drop kick.
England 3-3 South Africa, 29 minutes
Tommy Freeman and Freddie Steward get themselves in a tangle, England’s two young back three members making a mess as South Africa begin to get some consistent joy in the air.
England 3-3 South Africa, 28 minutes
England earn a free kick at the scrum, which is pumped high into the Twickenham high.
A not dissmiliar return from South Africa once more evades English hands, with Marcus Smith required to show his powers of escapology after scramblig back on to a fly-hacked ball. Jack van Poortvliet’s clearance then deflects into touch off South African hands.
England 3-3 South Africa, 27 minutes
It’s been a scrappy old start, this. Nearly half an hour in and still there has been little flow to the contest, England shelling South Africa’s latest aerial assault. The Springboks will feed a scrum on the fringes of the hosts’ 22.
The staccato nature of this encounter has not been helped by breaks in play that have come all too regularly - for some reason, both sets of players take another pause for some water before the set piece.
England 3-3 South Africa, 26 minutes
Held up! Outstanding defence from England at the front of the lineout as South Africa vary their play, Eben Etzebeth returning to Bongi Mbonambi off the top with Siya Kolisi then charging on to his hooker’s pop. England stem his flow, holding him up off the floor over the line to earn a goalline drop out.
England 3-3 South Africa, 25 minutes
They do, four backs piling in to lend their mass to the maul’s might. It makes little progress but England have infringed again.
England 3-3 South Africa, 24 minutes
South Africa maul, and maul in muscular manner - England penalised.
Faf de Klerk opts to kick for the corner, just about finding it. South Africa, you think, will drive again.
England 3-3 South Africa, 23 minutes
And another error from one of England’s Messrs Dependable - Freddie Steward’s long punt travels out on the full.
Missed penalty! England 3-3 South Africa, 22 minutes
Blimey! That might be even worse than the first from Owen Farrell, a snap hook from the tee and finding the hazard some way to the left of the posts.
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