Ellis Park has gained a reputation for being an extremely dangerous place after dark and so it proved for Borthwick’s team. Pre match predictions of poor attendance did not materialise with 52,000 in attendance. Both sides made enforced changes before the kick off. England lost George Furbank taken into hospital with appendicitis and S Africa lost Etzebeth and Kolisi to injury.

The Match

South Africa hit the ground running and before they knew it England, starved of territory and possession, were 17-0 down inside 15 mins with tries for Thomas Du Toit, Kolbe and Arendse. When they did see some ball Van Poortvliet proceeded to kick it away but the kicks were way too long allowing the SA full back Williamse to run the ball back with ease. Very frustrating to watch. England started to gain some momentum applying pressure through their pack which led tries for Genge and Martin. England reduced the deficit going into half time 17-14 down. 

S Africa started the second half as they did the first, monopolising possession and pressing the England line. Strong defence kept the Bokke out but the pressure of multiple pick and goes eventually led to scrum half Grant Williams crossing for a try. It was rinse and repeat when Jesse Kriel crossed after a slick move from the SA backs. The converted try put the Bokke ahead 31-14 and it was effectively game over. With 20 mins to go and the benches emptied England pulled a try back through Coles. However, penalties and  yellow cards against Freeman and Coles meant that England finished the game with 13 on the field. The Bokke took full advantage of this scoring two more converted tries through Marx and Dixon, winning 45-21.

Details

Scores 5-0 du Toit try, 10-0 Kolbe try, 12-0 Kolbe con, 17-0 Arendse try, 17-5 Genge try, 17-7 Smith con, 17-12 Martin try, 17-14 Smith con, 22-14 Williams try, 24-14 Kolbe con; 29-14 Kriel try, 31-14 Kolbe con, 31-19 Coles try, 31-21 Smith con, 36-21 Marx try, 38-21 Kolbe con, 43-21 Dixon try, 45-21 Kolbe con.  

South Africa D Willemse, C Kolbe, J Kriel, D de Allende, K-L Arendse (C Moodie 67); M Libbok, G Williams (C Reinach 66); O Nche (G Steenekamp 8, J-H Wessels 65), M Marx, T du Toit (Z Porthen 51), P-S Du Toit, R Nortje, P de Villiers (M van Staden 45), C Hanekom (B-J Dixon 45) J Wiese (A Esterhuizen 65). Yellow cards Arendse 27

England M Smith; I Feyi-Waboso, T Freeman, S Atkinson, C Murley (H Slade 54): F Smith, J van Poortvliet (A Mitchell 54); E Genge (B Obano 58), J George (L Cowan-Dickie 55), J Heyes (A Opoku-Fordjour 65), A Coles (C Ewels 74), G Martin (H Pollock 58), O Chessum, T Curry (G Pepper 54), B Earl. Yellow cards T Freeman 70, G Pepper 72.

An unhappy Pommy skipper: one of life’s true treasures.

My Sumamry

A fifth Test defeat in a row for England and little evidence of the great reset promised ahead of this Nations Championship opener after their humbling Six Nations campaign. This was S Africas first real game since last November. With players unavailable and late changes to the team, they ran in seven tries in a statement victory that ramps up the pressure again on Steve Borthwick and leaves so many questions hanging in the air.

Once again discipline let Borthwick’s side down, just as it did so often during the Six Nations, as they finished the contest with 13 men. Borthwick’s game plan needs changing. Kicking is all very well but most of the time it was just poor gifting hard won possession to the Bokke. Even when they ran the ball it was imo one dimensional and a far cry from the broken play excellence shown in the ABs game.  I didn’t expect an England victory against the World No 1 and our players tried their damnedest but we were outmuscled at the breakdown and outplayed in the backs.

Stay in the loop with G&GR