England's dismal losing run continues as world champions South Africa show their class

ENGLAND 20-29 SOUTH AFRICA: Cheslin Kolbe ran successful 2 tries arsenic the Springboks emerged victorious from an often choky contention to inflict different decision connected England

England’s quest to resurrect their autumn by toppling South Africa ended successful crushing disappointment arsenic the world champions inflicted a 5th successive decision connected Steve Borthwick side.

After the high-octane thrills of a archetypal fractional that produced 5 tries, the rivals settled into a nervy arm-wrestle that delivered the decisive infinitesimal erstwhile Cheslin Kolbe ran successful the 2nd of his 2 interaction downs successful the 62nd minute.

It meant England trailed by 9 points and portion they controlled territory and possession successful the closing stages, the greenish partition held steadfast to prop the Springboks to a 29-20 triumph astatine Allianz Stadium.

Marcus Smith produced an attacking masterclass against the back-to-back satellite champions with his ingenuity matched by his determination to thrust England onwards and helium was their brightest anticipation of causing an upset.

But the Harlequins ringmaster’s power waned arsenic an enthralling contention tightened up and it was alternatively the location defence that came into crisp absorption with anemic tackles from Henry Slade and Ben Earl starring to Kolbe’s captious try.

The atrocious humor betwixt the rivals calved retired of past year’s stormy World Cup semi-final were seldom disposable connected pulsating evening successful London that has continued England’s autumn decline.

For the archetypal clip since 2018 they person mislaid 5 successive Tests with New Zealand and Australia besides storming Twickenham this month. Only triumph implicit Japan adjacent Sunday volition forestall an autumn whitewash.

Smith’s creativity has been a beacon for England this autumn and conscionable 4 minutes successful helium carved South Africa open, shaping for a drop-goal but past darting near and sucking successful the defence to find Slade whose crisp walk sent Ollie Sleightholme racing over.

It was a blistering commencement from the hosts but they were soon unpicked by the brilliance of scrum-half Grant Williams, who slipped betwixt Ellis Genge and George Martin earlier gliding past Freddie Steward successful an electrical finish.

England were trading blows successful a ferocious commencement lone to beryllium undone by a treble complaint down of kicks by the shaky Jack van Poortvliet and Smith, allowing Pieter-Steph du Toit to poach 5 points successful the corner.

The Springboks’ 3rd effort was clinically executed by Manie Libbok arsenic helium picked retired Kolbe with a pinpoint kick-pass and the livewire helping stepped wrong a diving Steward to score.

Sam Underhill utilized his powerfulness and a cute moving enactment to propel England backmost into contention aft their forwards, with Martin arsenic the spearhead, had bulldozed done the satellite champions.

Trailing 19-17, England continued to teardrop into the Springboks arsenic the frantic gait continued and successful Smith they had the game’s astir influential player.

South Africa started the 2nd fractional similar a freight bid with a Kurt-Lee Arendse effort ruled retired due to the fact that of a guardant pass, but the tempest was weathered and it past became the hosts’ crook to beryllium denied by a review, this clip owed to a cervix rotation by Maro Itoje.

Over went a Smith punishment to regain the pb but Handre Pollard, connected for Libbok, replied with a monster changeable astatine extremity that fell connected the crossbar and trickled over.

And South Africa were besides the adjacent to people successful the 62nd infinitesimal erstwhile Damian de Allende barged done anemic tackles from Slade and Earl to set-up a effort for Kolbe with Pollard converting.

Unlike against New Zealand and Australia, England were incapable to instrumentality the crippled to the ligament arsenic their situation fell away.