Marcus Smith kicked a penalty with 20 seconds remaining to give England a 27-26 win over world champion South Africa in a Twickenham classic that followed a very different script to their last meeting in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
Trailing 17-6 midway through the first half, the Springboks used relentless physicality, forward power and bench depth to recover and lead 26-24 before captain Siya Kolisi’s 76th minute yellow card for a tackle in the air gave England hope at the death.
One last attack saw Frans Steyn give away a reckless penalty in front of the posts and Smith, England’s five-eighth and new hope, made it five successful kicks from five to settle a breathless Test match.
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It gave England a measure of revenge after losing the World Cup final 32-12 in Yokohama two years ago.
That didn’t happen at Twickenham – where South Africa hasn’t won since 2014 – until the second half.
Before that, England’s inexperienced pack held its own in the scrum, even winning two early penalties, while its backs scored tries through Manu Tuilagi in the left corner and Freddie Steward from close range on the other side.
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Handre Pollard’s penalties kept South Africa in touch – the sides turned around with the score 17-12 at halftime – and the Boks were dominant after the break, with a change of their entire front row in the 45th minute helping to turn the tide.
The English finished the game having conceded 18 penalties, with one of them allowing replacement Elton Jantjies to boot a penalty to put South Africa ahead for the first time in the 64th minute.
Within a minute, England was back in front and it was another try that owed to the team’s creativity in the backs as Henry Slade sent Joe Marchant through a gap and he passed inside for replacement scrumhalf Raffi Quirke to sprint over for his first international try.
It was soon advantage South Africa when replacement prop Will Stuart was yellow carded for an accumulation of team offences and the visitors capitalised, with Makazole Mapimpi romping over in the left corner for their only try and Steyn then kicking a penalty for 26-24.
There was still time, though, for another big turning point when Kolisi attempted to challenge for a high ball with Marchant.
He was beaten to it and ended up pulling down England’s winger while in the air.
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Kolisi protested but he had to go to the sinbin.
England launched an attack, got a penalty advantage, but still continued going forward and earned a penalty in a much better position after Steyn slid, knee first, into the back of an England player on the ground.
Smith made no mistake again and England managed to claim the restart to see out a brilliant Test, completing a sweep of autumn victories after previous wins over Tonga and Australia.
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“We dug in, we fought,” said Steward, who had to field a stream of high kicks at fullback.
“South Africa are so physical and you can’t shy away from that.
“It was a whole squad effort and it was unbelievable.”