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South Africa saw off England with a 16-15 win on a grim Saturday at Twickenham, with a late rally from the hosts seeing them fall short.
Three penalties from Pat Lambie and a bizarre try from Willem Alberts handed the visitors the win, with Toby Flood and Owen Farrell accumulating five penalties between them.
England dominated territory and possession but were naive in attack, lacking direction and depth which made matters simple for the Springboks defence. Too often forwards were found in midfield when England needed a clinical line-breaker. The fact that Tom Youngs was the most effective Red Rose attacker said it all.
An interception break from Manu Tuilagi in the second half summed up their troubles perfectly; Chris Ashton choosing to not back his pace and ultimately seeing England plod forward into another turnover.
South Africa on the other hand were more patient, clinical and superior without anywhere near the same amount of possession - executing to greater effect when inside opposition territory in a replica performance from their victory over Ireland weeks earlier.
Controlling the line-out, they were spearheaded by the excellent Eben Etzebeth and made better use of their kicks to pin England back. Their scrum was also in the ascendancy as time ticked away, gaining the upper hand and reversing England's dominance from the first half.
Mike Brown's clean break in the opening minutes gave England valuable territory, with Toby Flood eventually converting a penalty after South Africa went offside near the posts.
Lambie tied the scores with his first kick of the afternoon but England regained the lead with a penalty from the game's first scrum, Flood returning to the field after being checked for concussion to grab the points.
A knock-on from Zane Kirchner inside his own 22 handed England an opportunity at the scrum - the returning Alex Corbisiero getting the edge over Jannie du Plessis - only for Flood to miss the simple kick wide to the right.
Persistent South African pressure in England's red zone then yielded a penalty for Lambie to give the visitors the lead for the first time at 6-9.
A fine offload from Joe Launchbury released Flood before Alex Goode burst upfield to bring Twickenham onto it's feet. But the chance was wasted after a grubber kick from Flood dribbled beyond the dead ball line. Key defence at the breakdown then helped both teams clear their lines before half-time.
The Springboks started the second half with a bang and after setting up camp in the England 22 scored a bizarre try. Ben Youngs' box kick ricocheted forward off JP Pietersen, with Tom Wood fumbling the ball which dropped into the hands of Alberts who burrowed over for the opening try.
Farrell replaced a wayward Flood and drew England within seven points with a penalty after 60 minutes and then added another as the match went into the closing stages, giving England a chance as they moved within four points.
Faced with a tough decision inside Springbok territory with two minutes left, Farrell brought England within a single point with another penalty kick rather than opting for the corner. Unable to win the restart, South Africa closed out the match and remain unbeaten in November.
Man of the match: One big performance from Eben Etzebeth, dominant in the skies and a joint top tackler with 16.
Moment of the match: England may well regret their decision for points over the corner as the clock ran out.
Villain of the match: Aimless kicking. It entertains nobody and transforms games from spectacles to duds.
The scorers:
For England:
Pen: Flood 2, Farrell 3
For South Africa:
Try: Alberts
Con: Lambie
Pen: Lambie 3
England: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Mike Brown, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Alex Corbisiero.
Replacements: 16 David Paice, 17 David Wilson, 18 Mako Vunipola, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 James Haskell, 21 Danny Care, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Jonathan Joseph.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Jaco Taute, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
By Ben Coles at Twickenham
@bencoles_
Comments
TVaddict says...
@Sasquatch
Yeah, I vary between bothering to challenge the trolls like BokAvenger and not bothering so I'm sorry if anyone else gets caught in the crossfire sometimes. It does annoy me that where ever there are rational people to talk and banter about a game there are idiot to ruin it. I guess they're suffering from some deep psychology problems, like not getting any love from their parents because no one could love them. Or maybe they were bullied as a child and an online forum is the only way they can bully someone else? Maybe they're impotent? I guess it's up to people like BokAvenger to say why they are as they are.
@BokAvenger
Slightly better I guess, at least your apologising for your homophobic comments.
Posted 04:30 29th November 2012
philipjfry says...
@BokAvenger says: 'You're crap at rugby because all you poms are a bunch of poofs.'
And my post about midgets and marmite gets censored? Whats wrong with the world.
Posted 22:56 27th November 2012
Sasquatch says...
@dropkick:
BRILLIANT!!!! Good luck convincing the IRB...
Posted 20:28 27th November 2012
Sasquatch says...
@TV Addict:
No harm done mate, I'd had a few and was feeling a bit emotional! Drives me nuts when I read opinionated drivel from my fellow countrymen (I don't think I need to give examples) and so the stereotype persists as a result, unfortunately. We have a site in SA, keo.co.za, that isn't edited (the posts). I started visiting the site just before the last WC and quit it before the competition was finished due to the crass nature of the threads. PR is one of my favourite reads and hence my objection to some of the posts. I do feel that it gets a bit too much sometimes.
Posted 20:25 27th November 2012
BokAvenger says...
@TVAddict: If I have offended you and the rest of the gay community then I apologise unreservedly. I have absolutely no problem with you or anyone else who is gay. However, you do seem to have a problem with femine blokes which I find a little disturbing. I mean how is JayStar supposed to feel with you having a go at feminite blokes on a public forum like this?
Posted 18:26 27th November 2012
TVaddict says...
@BokAvenger
That's just weak. I'll let you have another go at replying if you want, otherwise you should just walk away with your head hung in shame. Up to you, though if it's any more homophobic nonsense then maybe you should just be quiet and let the grown ups speak.
Posted 14:48 27th November 2012
BokAvenger says...
@TV addict: Is there something wrong with being soft and feminine? Are you prejudiced against soft and feminine blokes? Shame on you
Posted 05:21 27th November 2012
BokAvenger says...
@TVclown: Cry me a frikken river. Over the years I have seen South Africans described on these forums as "dodgy dutch farmers", "yarpies", "inbred neanderthals" , "thugs", "racists", "huns" etc. Never once did I see you or any one else raise the slightest objection. So why are you getting your political correct knickers in a knot now?
Posted 20:52 26th November 2012
TVaddict says...
@dropkick
I see what your doing. New Zealand are good at rugby but rubbish with their economy, so your trying to get them more money for one of the few things they do well. Well it's not going to work! Earn some money the hard way before dedicating your country to a sport and hoping that pays off. :)
Posted 19:35 26th November 2012
TVaddict says...
@Sasquatch
I genuinely apologies. I try hard not to get dragged into generalisations about nations and I'm sorry I did. I was trying to use the term 'stereotypical' in the sense that it didn't really represent what South Africans are like. Fell free to call me up on any generalisations about a country in future and I'll willingly apologies.
@BokAvenger
So now gay people are soft and feminine? If this is what get's past the censors then I worry what wasn't getting past! Does that fact that PR isn't censoring this stuff mean they agree with these homophobic slurs?
@Stellenbosched2
Hi Stellenbosched2. To be honest I was surprised any mentioned it as it was just a bit of handbags stuff. The criticism of Youngs strangling Etzebeth is a bit of an overreaction as it was all a bit of nothing. I mean, if you look later on in the 'fight' you'll see a South African player 'strangling' an English player with his arm. It's handbag stuff! It hasn't been mentioned by either team afterwards, no one was even remotely hurt, and it hardly had any impact. Why are we even talking about it?
@dylbull, @APV1
Well said guys. Hurrah for rational and interesting comments! Hip hip!
Posted 15:32 26th November 2012
dropkick says...
Just watched replay. LOL. This one has to be the leading candidate for the dunderhead cup of 2012. Awesome attacking try by the Boks. Probably the best set piece move I've seen from them in years. Then both teams shut up shop. What gives?
I have never seen two teams with a greater degree of contempt for the viewing public that these two. If I had paid to watch that I'd be suing under trades description legislation.
But enough of the criticism, the last thing I want to be accused of is being a one-eyed NZ supporter (which I am BTW). I have a solution to the abomination of the game being served up by these once proud rugby powerhouses. In fact 2. Option one pay try bonuses. These show ponies are pretty money hungry so pay them a low basic and a massive try bonus. My only concern is that the Poms would starve to death under this system so how about a really simple one. Make tries with 7 points, conversions 2 and penalties 1.
Aha I hear you say then our brave boys in the spirit of the game would flop about at ruck time like elephant seals all day long (or even more than they do currently). I have a solution. Once any side has given away ten penalties they lose a player - and this removal is at the call of the opposing captain. Imagine the drama of the CAPTAIN'S CHOICE!!!
Anyway think about it as you are watching the next borefest the English dish up.
Posted 13:12 26th November 2012
APV1 says...
We lost. We deserved to lose because we can't make the right decisions at the right time. We need a captain that can lead from the front (a la Robshaw), but also think a game of rugby and make the correct calls under pressure.
Why didn't we opt for another scrum when they'd just been warned?
Why did we kick for 3 with only a couple of minutes left on the clock?
Because we were stupid. Just like last week, we lost because the Aussies and Boks outsmarted us. And that hurts to admit.
Ashton can now go. He's been worked out and his skill-set is too limited. Good to see Biggs has been called up - now there's an exciting prospect on the wing!
Corbs got away with it. He was scrummaging illegally. But even if he hadn't been, I think our scrum was solid.
Etzbeth was awesome - I hope he learns to keep his hands down. Regardless of anything else, he's likely to be looked at again for making contact with the eye area. He'll probably get off because it was nothing, but it's twice in a row now...
Flood needs to go. Burns please!
Youngs (9) can go too. Did anyone lese see Dickson for Quins? He should be back-up to Care.
Barritt is getting there. 12trees needs to be given the opportunity to challenge for the 12 shirt.
Brown needs to go back to 15. Wade and Biggs on the wings. Goode on the bech as cover.
Farrell? Back to Sarries and improve his vision. Good, accurate kicks, but lacks spark and flair.
The Bok try WAS lucky - of course it was. But he took the opportunity and it was Youngs' fault for not dropping on the ball in the first place.
I'll ignore most of the posts on here, as there's a lot of nonsense. But...
@ JayStarr - c'mon now, you're better than that. Have you been drinking "Conspiricy in a Cup" or something? You do realise that the "home nations" want to beat England more than all of the others combined, don't you?!
Posted 11:28 26th November 2012
Coshie78 says...
I think England will struggle until we change the fundamental viewpoint from Premiership clubs down to level 5/6 that size matters more than talent.
There are too many "semi-professional" clubs in the lower leagues paying average players that are bigger and stronger, but not necessarily more skillful than the amateur players against which they play.
How many talented young players are missing out from gaining 1st team experience and moving up through the ranks because they are not as "physical" as the mercenary there for the money?
Take the current batch of players available, do you think Freddie Burns, Jonathan Joseph (1 cap) or Christian Wade would still be without decent international experience if the NZ coaches were at the helm?
Thankfully being physical is not enough to beat the best teams and it shouldn't be. All the English players should be sent away until they can execute an accurate pass at pace whatever their position.
Once the players have the skillset the management should pick the players best suited to use them!!
Burns, Tuilagi, Joseph with Wade, Ashton and Goode for the NZ game, what have we got to lose?
Posted 10:36 26th November 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi PR,
Just wondered if you are censoring my earlier post on this thread, or perhaps you didn't receive it?
Posted 10:16 26th November 2012
dylbull says...
Not the best rugby game, but I think we can take some positives from the game.
First of all, I'm not going to get carried away with the minor scuffle that was started by Etzebeth and Youngs, Youngs grabbed his throat, Etzebeth grabbed his face... it is a physical game and this happens. I don't condone eye gouging but I don't think that is what Etzebeth was trying to do, so lets move on.
I can't help but think that Meyer does have a plan that we are starting to see materialize. Here's why I think this:
- We seem to have found our steel in the forward pack again, this was lacking under De Villiers and earlier on in Meyer's reign, so that's a positive,
- Our backrow is looking alot better and in Louw I think we may have found a very balanced flanker, who runs well at people and is exceptional at the breakdown, I also think we need to start looking at him as a possible captain... I do think we should be starting with Marcel Coetzee and bringing on Alberts as a super sub.
- Our defence has been outstanding. Scotland and England were throwing everything at us and we held firm.
- Our Lineout was very solid this tour and these are elements of our game that weren't looking so good at one stage.
- I wonder if Meyer has been working hard at getting our fundamentals right in order to set up a platform for our attacking game to flourish. He obviously wants us to start running the ball more, why else would he pick De Jong and Lambie?
- I am hoping that we see our attacking game show the improvements that we have shown in other areas of the pitch. It seems like this is what Meyer may be building towards.
- One more thing. I'm a bulls supporter but have never been a Kirchner fan. But I have to say, he was outstanding on Saturday, besides that one knock on he was very good under the high ball, he cleaned up so well at the back! Even the UK commentators were impressed!
Posted 10:03 26th November 2012
darthbok says...
this bok side is very 2 dimentional -- based on defence and beef -- the ball skills are just not there -- however in club games, all these players show incredible loose play and feed off errors and loose ball -- therefore the Bok coaching staff need to open up -- we need a very good attack coach -- this minimal error , percentage approach needs to go -- its like having a ferrari and using it to tow a caravan
Posted 08:25 26th November 2012
BokAvenger says...
I don't see how the word poof is a slur. All I'm saying is that you poms are soft and a touch feminine, which isn't the best combo on a rugby field. If you want to be a nation of lancy boys strutting around in your beskpoke jeans, brown brogues and those ridiculous tweed jackets then that's cool but then don't cry when you get a fat smack on the rugby field. Just look at the constant bleating from you lot about the "brutal boks" who are "thugs" who are on "steriods". Hell it's like listening to school children cry about the big guys from across the tracks who always beat them up.
Posted 05:42 26th November 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi TVaddict,
I find it incredible that you still refuse to mention the way the Etzebeth incident started, with Youngs trying to strangle EE. You accuse others of being biased and yet you are no better.
I won't bet on Owens apologising to EE for the disgraceful way he ranted at the Bok and I am absolutely sure that Youngs won't be cited. Some animals are more equal than others.
Coming back to the decision by Robshaw to go for posts with 3 minutes remaining. I think that decision speaks vollumes for Owens as a biased ref. I think Robshaw felt that all England needed to do was secure the kick off after the penalty, rumble the ball into the Bok half and wait for the next penalty to be awarded. Everything that happened in that game convinces me that Owens would have given the penalty.
Posted 04:42 26th November 2012
Sharkies says...
I watched the ezebeth incident piece by piece and it seems he had his hand on Youngs jersey, while he was bending down to pick up the ball and kicked the ball away and Young re acted by grabbing his throat so ezebeth shoved him in his face, Like the mob mentality of the POMS what a bunch of cakes....
Posted 23:48 25th November 2012
Spartacus says...
Just a thought - should Boks ask for Youngs to be cited for "hands near eyes", and 3-4 others for piling onto Etzebeth and knocking him to floor. (And if you think Etzebeth started it then watch again!)
Dont necessarily think they need to be punished, but there is more reason to cite that lot then there was to cite Etzebeth in the Scotland game.
Posted 22:49 25th November 2012