South Africa v England

South Africa hold off England's spirited second-half display to secure a thrilling 36-27 win and clinch the series.

16 June 2012 Last updated at 17:26 GMT

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As it happened

In Summary

  • Full time: South Africa 36-27 England
  • 73: JP Petersen scores vital try
  • Youngs scores twice in second half
  • England trailed 25-10 at half-time
  • SA scored three tries in first half
  • Flood scored try for England
Reporting by
  • Mike Henson, BBC Sport
  1. 1823: 

    So two more matches to go for England. They play the Northern Barbarians, who had better be better their Southern counterparts were, on Tuesday and then it is off to Port Elizabeth and the final Test at the same time next week. You'll be able to follow it all from these very pages. Bye for now and thanks for your company.

  2. 1814: 

    There is a fatigued look in the eyes of both Ben Youngs and Toby Flood as they bid farewell and head down the tunnel. It has certainly been a long old season, that soul-sapping Rugby World Cup campaign feels nine years ago rather than nine months ago. This England team look like one looking to the future rather than resurrect the past. That'll do I reckon.

  3.  

    Saracens and England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth on Twitter: "Great spirt by England body's will be battered. Youngsy had a great game! Congrats to Alex Goode on his first cap."

  4.  

    Thom Crow on Twitter: "We need a backrow who will work harder for the ball at the breakdown AND who can carry! We missed Croft and Wood."

    Danny Till on Twitter: "Waldrom has made the difference in the 2nd half, great carrying and awareness when he has the ball."

  5. 1759: 

    Ben Youngs speaking to Sky Sports: "The first 20 minutes killed us. We can't give them that and then find ourselves playing catch-up like we did. We finished strongly but that doesn't mean much to us now. We have to play like that from the start, we know what we are capable of and we need to get that happening from the off. We have two more matches at the end of a long season and hopefully they can be two big results."

  6. 1755: 

    England head coach Stuart Lancaster: "We were clinging on by our fingernails in the first half, but Floody's try in the first half gave us something and that was crucial. We dragged ourselves back in and had Ben Foden's chip cleared Steyn than we might have scored. It is small margins, but I have told the boys to bottle that and take it into next week. We created lots of opportunities but we know we need to be better at all those little bits and pieces that make the difference in international rugby."

  7.  
    Brian Moore, BBC Sport

    "Give England credit because they were physically outplayed in the first half. If you concede silly ground and penalties it gives the impetus to the opposition but when you have a coherent game plan and go forward, it puts the other team under pressure. England stilll have a lot of work to do though."

  8. 1752: 

    Similar to last week, England came back into the game once the Springboks' intensity dropped. They are a side with spirit and belief, but if the Boks hadn't plundered those early points would they have been given the opportunity to do so.

  9.  
    FULL-TIME- South Africa 36-27 England

    Thomas Waldrom has made a big impact since coming on. He is barged out into touch by JP Pietersen, allowing the winger another bit of gloating, before the hooter sounds from the subsequent line-out and the Boks boot out to wrap up the series. A lot less comfortably than expected though.

  10. 78 mins: 
    South Africa 36-27 England

    Hooker Lee Mears, also on off the bench, twice makes a hash of his lineout throws through and England cannot get the quick clean ball they need to put the match's outcome in doubt.

  11. 76 mins: 
    SUBSTITUTION- South Africa 36-27 England

    England bring on Lee Dickson and are running the ball from everywhere in an attempt to get the Boks creaking again. A penalty is booted downfield and they have a line-out on the South Africa 22 to ask a few questions from.

  12.  
    Brian Moore, BBC Sport

    "Pietersen has such quick, dancing feet, it was a mesmerising run, fantastic to watch and deservedly scored in the right-hand corner. South Africa had the patience and the experience to go through the phases and go to the right through simple attrition. It was a wonderful run, not just in this game, but in any game. To beat three layers of defence was special."

  13. 73 mins: 
    TRY (Pietersen)- South Africa 36-27 England

    JP Pietersen returns a rather nothing kick forward with a searing break that leaves Jonathan Joseph and a few more floored. He is hauled down eventually but pops up a few phases later to cross with a showboating swallow dive and a ruffle of Ben Youngs' hair. Morne Steyn is still misfiring though and spanks the conversion wide. Is that enough to kill off England?

  14. 70 mins: 
    South Africa 31-27 England

    There is belief running through England now and they work Ben Foden into a narrow corridor of space down the right wing following good work from Jonathan Joseph. Foden's chip over the top is snaffled by a leaping Francois Steyn though and the attack is snuffed out.

  15. 67 mins: 
    MISSED PENALTY (M. Steyn)- South Africa 31-27 England

    Alex Corbisero is a little over-eager at the engage and Alan Rolland gives Morne Steyn an immediate chance to steady a ship that is rocking like a punt in the middle of the Atlantic. Steyn pushes his penalty though, the ball rattling the woodwork and dropping safe for England. It is eerie quiet in Ellis Park.

  16. 64 mins: 
    PENALTY (Flood)- South Africa 31-27 England

    South Africa's removal of Bismarck du Plessis and England's introduction of Thomas Waldrom and Alex Corbisero has further weighted the scrum in the visitors' favour. The Boks are in a tailspin in the setpiece and give away another kickable penalty. Flood is on the mark again and England are within four.

  17. 62 mins: 
    TRY (Youngs converted by Flood)- South Africa 31-24 England

    South Africa are down to seven men in the forwards as Juandre Kruger receives treatment, but England power on and take advantage with Alex Corbisero, getting his head down and torpedoing into the shins of the Bok line. He is stopped a couple of metres short, but livewire Ben Youngs slithers and stretches through round the base of the breakdown. Flood adds the extras and England are within a converted try. Extraordinary.

  18. 59 mins: 
    SUBSTITUTION

    England bring on Owen Farrell for David Strettle, with Jonathan Joseph heading out to the wing.

  19. 58 mins: 
    PENALTY (M. Steyn)- South Africa 31-17 England

    Ben Youngs is swamped by Francois Hougaard at the back of the scrum and England are on the back foot. Referee Rolland blows up at a subsequent set-piece, possibly for Youngs' crooked feed, and More Steyn slots it over to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the Boks.

  20. 54 mins: 
    South Africa 28-17 England

    Exeter's Tom Johnson fields a long kick downfield and, without any better candidates in sight, opts to hit a spiral kick back in response. It is a decent effort as well, it looks fun this altitude malarky.

  21. 53 mins: 
    TRY (Youngs converted by Flood)- South Africa 28-17 England

    The video official gives the nod to Youngs' effort, but he sure did take his time. Toby Flood strokes over the extras and England are within a couple of tries and a successful conversion. The Boks will want a bigger margin to reflect their superiority.

  22.  
    Brian Moore, BBC Sport

    "He needs to make a decision quickly because I'm getting bored. He can't say for certain."

  23. 52 mins: 
    TRY REVIEW- South Africa 28-10 England

    Ben Youngs has bagged an overthrown lineout and looks to have squirmed over despite Willem Alberts last-ditch, a high-looking, intervention. It has gone up to the TMO though and we are still waiting... A worrying number of replays being scrolled through.

  24. 49 mins: 
    South Africa 28-10 England

    If we are looking for positives from England, the scrum is offering a scrap of silver. The forwards smuggle one back against the head and with the South African back row twisted out of position, Thomas Waldrom, on off the bench, charges into the Bok midfield.

  25. 47 mins: 
    PENALTY (M. Steyn)- South Africa 28-10 England

    It is only a brief bit of respite though as Willem Alberts crashes up the blindside, flattening Tom Palmer before handing on to Eben Etzebeth who is hauled down just five metres short. Chris Robshaw takes matters into his own hands, cynically coming round the side of the ruck to tie up Hougaard. He somehow escapes a spell in the sin bin, but Morne Steyn adds another three points from right in front.

  26. 44 mins: 

    Dan Cole gets over the top of a tackled Bok and puts up enough of a fight to convince Alain Rolland to award the penalty and give England a gasp of oxygen.

  27. 43 mins: 

    South Africa are inside the England 22-metre with more thunderous carries from the forwards. Bismarck du Plessis's piston-like hand-off leaves Geoff Parling sprawled out flat before he gets anywhere near the hooker's knees.

  28. 42 mins: 

    England botch their opening line-out after South Africa clear their lines. Dylan Hartley lobs long to the tail, but the lifters are late arriving around Chris Robshaw's knees.

  29. 41 mins: 
    KICK-OFF

    Toby Flood gets the match back under way for England.

  30.  

    Bilaal Mayet on Twitter: "As a South African I'm loving how this engand team is cracking under pressure...."

    Mat the Washman on Twitter: "Come on lads, you are class players, up your game, everyone knows you can get back into this!"

  31. 1658: 

    This is the sort of match that makes the Six Nations look like a neighbourly dispute over the height of leylandi hedges compared to the all-out war raging south of the equator. England have been ripped out of their comfort zone, out of their depth and out of contention for the series. I can't imagine the odds that would make a bet on an England comeback look attractive.

  32.  
    Brian Moore, BBC Sport

    "For the first 15 minutes it was men against boys and for the next 15 minutes it was men against teenagers. Hopefully in the second half it will be men against men. It's very predictable (from South Africa) but it is immensely powerful and even if you know it is coming it is not easy to stop. If England don't front up they are not going to get any ball."

  33.  
    HALF-TIME- South Africa 25-10 England
  34. 40 mins: 
    MISSED PENALTY- South Africa 25-10 England

    Another few thousand metres of altitude and he may have been in business. As it is Francois Steyn's effort drops just short. That is just about the last action of the half and England troop down the tunnel to the sanctury of the dressing room.

  35. 39 mins: 
    South Africa 25-10 England

    Chris Robshaw snakes an arm through a ruck to try and pick the pocket of scrum-half Francois Hougaard as he waits to feed his backs. Alain Rolland spots his attempted thievery though and awards the penalty. It is out near halfway but, in the thin air, the Boks fancy their chances with Francois Steyn's big boot.

  36. 37 mins: 
    South Africa 25-10 England

    England's forwards are congratulating themselves after getting the best of the Boks when parked on their own line once again, but their post-scrum pep talk sounds like it is lacking a bit of conviction.

  37. 35 mins: 
    South Africa 25-10 England

    South Africa are within JP Petersen's fingertips of another try. The winger fails to get a grip on Jean de Villiers off-load after the centre outpaces Toby Flood to get to Francois Steyn's delicate prod of a grubber kick.

  38.  

    Thom Crow on Twitter: "South Africa seem to have the strength, power and nous. England seem to be lacking in all areas! England need to wise up QUICKLY!"

    danielgwood on Twitter: "England are getting obliterated here."

    Viv Powers on Twitter: "Honeymoon period is now definitely over for Lancaster and his shortcomings at international level are being hugely exposed."

  39. 31 mins: 
    MISSED PENALTY- South Africa 25-10 England

    Very out of character from Morne Steyn who screws his relatively straightforward kick well wide. It is a small mercy for England, who are thrashing around desperately in search of a lifeline.

  40. 29 mins: 
    South Africa 25-10 England

    Suffocating pressure from South Africa as the continue to fly into contact. Jonathan Jospeh does tremendously with a sliding claim of Patrick Lambie's chip over the top. He calls the mark, but the referee calls the play back for England's desperate earlier attempt to drag down a rolling Bok maul and Morne Steyn points to the posts once more.

  41. 26 mins: 
    DROP-GOAL (M Steyn)- South Africa 25-10 England

    No let-up from South Africa though as Morne Steyn cracks over a long-range drop-goal to restore a lead of more than two converted tries.

  42. 23 mins: 
    TRY ( Flood converted by Flood)- South Africa 22-10 England

    This all comes from brave stuff from Ben Youngs. The Leicester scrum-half could have taken his time when awarded a penalty just inside the Bok half, taking his time to take the sting out of the game. Instead he opts to take the quick tap and scamper. Chris Ashton is on his wavelength and quickly in support, before flicking the last pass to Toby Flood who spins inside the last of the retreating defence. Flood converts his own try.

  43.  
    Brian Moore, BBC Sport

    "This is going to be a long, long evening. England are being physically overpowered. There's nothing at all sophisticated about the South African attack. I'm lost for words. There's not more you can say than England are being out-gunned."

  44. 19 mins: 
    TRY (F Hougaard, converted by M Steyn)- South Africa 22-3 England

    This could be very painful for England. Their defensive line just being shuffled back metres with every phase. They are camped back on their own line before they know where they are. After all the Bok power, scrum-half Francois Hougaard shows they can do guile and craft as well with a jag inside a fringe defender to dot down. Another two from Morne Steyn as well to rub in the salt.

  45. 16 mins: 
    South Africa 15-3 England

    "Beaasssttt," bellow the Ellis Park crowd as Tendai Mtawarira rumbles into Mouritz Botha.

  46. 13mins: 
    PENALTY (M Steyn)- South Africa 15-3 England

    South Africa are turnng the screw in the scrum as well. JP Pietersen's canny chip ahead isolates the covering Ben Youngs ensuring that the ball is turned over via referee Rolland's scrum call. The Bok pack press forward in the set-piece, earning a penalty five metres out that Morne Steyn slots with ease.

  47.  

    Kelvin Yip on Twitter: "Absolute schoolboy mistake. Same thing happened last week and still haven't sorted out the put-in."

    Lee Ellis on Twitter: "Bad start from England, long way to come back from already, hope they can improve."

  48.  
    Brian Moore, BBC Sport

    On BBC 5 live: "It's important that England make the most of any opportunity they get. They won't get that many chances in this game and any that come their way need to be taken."

  49. 10 mins: 
    PENALTY (Flood)- South Africa 12-3 England

    England almost have an immediate reply as Ben Foden ghosts through a gap on halfway, but his attempt to link up with Chris Ashton, as they have done so many times for Northampton, goes to ground. Referee Alain Rolland pings the Springboks for an offence though and Toby Flood reduces for the arrears with a simple kick.

  50. 7mins: 
    TRY (B. du Plessis, converted by M Steyn)- South Africa 12-0 England

    England are looking bewildered. South Africa thump their way forward and to within range, crossing the gainline with ease at every phase. In the end it is Bismarck du Plessis who pirouttes like the heftiest member of the chorus line to crash over the final yards. Jonathan Joseph made a valiant attempt to get his forearm under the ball but the video referee comes down in favour of the home side, which looks just about right. Morne Steyn knocks over the extras.

  51. 5 mins: 
    TRY (Alberts)- South Africa 5-0 England

    Schoolboy stuff for England as all their hard defensive work is wasted with an elementary set-piece error. Ben Youngs' feed into the scrum on the five metre line rolls all the way through the channel. Springbok flanker Willem Alberts spies the loose ball, while Tom Johnson still has his head buried and it is a simple pick and plant. Hougaard fluffs the conversion attempt though.

  52. 3 mins: 
    South Africa 0-0 England

    South Africa work England left and right and eventually find a chink of light as Bryan Habana pins his ears back. The cover floods across the scrag the winger and his attempt to get the ball away in the tackle goes forward.

  53. 2 mins: 
    South Africa 0-0 England

    Ben Youngs hoists a decent box kick to clear his lines. South Africa are making the gain line with every phase though, nibbling away at the territory.

  54. 1 min: 
    KICK-OFF- South Africa 0-0 England

    Morne Steyn kicks deep and Ben Morgan catches before wading his way into the chasing South African defenders.

  55.  

    Jacob Osman on Twitter: "After the first two matches today, if this one is half as good we are in for a treat! Come on England!"

  56. 1602: 

    The Ellis Park cauldron is bubbling away with a capacity crowd giving it a good old stir. Englishmen are in sparse supply amongst them and they are given another ropey rendition of God Save the Queen to get their vocal cords round. Kick-off is upon us.

  57. 1558: 

    It is a big day for another product of Welford Road, Manu Tuilagi. The England centre is the senior member of a midfield partnership completed by London Irish's Jonathan Joseph on his first start. A lot of responsibility on his shoulders to inject pace into this England backline.

  58.  

    South Africa head coach Heyneke Meyer: "This is a new challenge. We have a lot of respect for England so we know it going to be tough today. I think they'll make a huge step up mentally and physically so if we're not up for it today, it's going to be a hard game. We've got high standards and only the best will be good enough."

  59. 1553: 

    It may be little consolation to England but a bit of South Africa's physicality may have come out of that stronghold of English rugby - Welford Road. Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer spent a short spell in charge at Leicester and says that his time there, famously brutal midweek traning session and all, rekindled his love for the game.

  60.  

    Official RFU on Twitter: "Ellis Park, where SA have only lost three times (FR, NZ, Lions) since 1993. England will need to be at very best to make history."

  61. 1550: 

    It is a long, long time since England got the better of the Boks on their home territory. Their last Test triumph in South Africa, a 27-22 win in Bloemfontein, was way back in 2000 in the days of Dallaglio, Johnson and early BBC websites.

  62.  

    England head coach Stuart Lancaster: "We're very confident with the side we've selected. We're looking forward to it. It's an unbelievable stadium and an unbelievable atmosphere already and we're some way from kick off. It's about getting our bits and pieces right and, when we get the ball in attack, to take them on."

  63. 1545: 
    TEAM NEWS

    England: B Foden; C Ashton, J Joseph, M Tuilagi, D Strettle; T Flood, B Youngs; J Marler, D Hartley, D Cole, M Botha, G Parling, T Johnson, C Robshaw (capt), B Morgan.

    Replacements: L Mears, A Corbisiero, T Palmer, T Waldrom, L Dickson, O Farrell, A Goode.

    South Africa: P Lambie; J P Pietersen, J de Villiers (capt), F Steyn, B Habana; M Steyn, D Hougaard; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J du Plessis, E Etzebeth, J Kruger, M Coetzee, W Alberts, P Spies.

    Replacements: A Strauss, W Kruger, F van der Merwe, K Daniel, R Pienaar, B Basson, W Olivier.

  64. 1541: 

    Centre Brad Barritt left Durban, the city of his birth, with a whacking great shiner hiding a lacerated eyeball. I think we can agree that those last two words are ones that make a particulalrly unappetising combination. Playing with just the one eye makes depth perception a bit of a nightmare so there has been a bit of a rejig in midfield.

  65. 1537: 

    Stuart Lancaster's side came off on the wrong end of a 22-17 scoreline in the sort of encounter that gets filed under "physical", "attritional", "uncompromising" last week in the opening Test. Dishing out those sort of beatings are as much a local speciality out in South Africa as biltong and braais.

  66. 1530: 

    Afternoon all. It has been a long day of international rugby, with kick-off in Scotland's 37-25 win over Fiji more than 12 hours ago. England may be feeling every second of it at the end of another meeting with South Africa.

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