Boks come from behind to seal series
MATCH REPORT: For the second week in succession South Africa came from behind against England in a brutal match – winning 23-12 to clinch the three-Test series.
The win means that not only has the Springboks taken an unassailable two-nil lead in the series, but also it is England’s sixth-successive defeat of the year.
You could have been forgiven if, after 13 minutes, you thought you had made a mistake and you were watching a rerun of last Saturday’s Test at Ellis Park, for in those 13 minutes, England scored two wide-out tries and were leading 12-0.
But that put an amen to their scoring. For the next 68 minutes England did not score a point while the Springboks scored 23.
Like last week, the Highveld stadium was packed by watchers – merrier and less unsure than they were last week.
There was also a special moment this week. Last week it was Siya Kolisi leading out the Springboks; this week its was Tendai Mtawarira leading out the Springboks, clutching his daughter and his son, celebrating his hundredth Test appearance, one of the most popular Springboks ever.
The muscular impi was there and the coloured smoke and then a moment of silence at the news of the death that day of the much loved and admired Springbok Syd Nomis.
Then things seemed to wobble. Kolisi had won the toss and chose the kick-off but any benefit was soon wiped out.
The Springboks were in English territory but Faf de Klerk went offside and England were on the attack. Damian de Allende intercepted and raced downfield, the possibility of a try kiboshed when he was ankletapped by Owen Farrell.
De Klerk kicked directly into touch for a line-out on England’s right. They went left on the run with right wing Jonny May inside left wing Mike Brown. May gave Brown a perfect pass, and he had a free run to the Springboks’ line. Farrell converted and England led 7-0 after 10 minutes.
Just three minutes later they scored their second try, also from a line-out which followed a penalty against Sibusiso Nkosi. This time May had the overlap and he swept inside the covering defence to score. England led 12-0.
Then South Africa had golden attacking opportunities, including four five-metre line-outs and a five-metre scrum.
From one of the line-outs Mtawarira charged and the Duane Vermeulen turned to deal with a wayward pass that bounced behind him, turned again, powered past four defenders and scored a try. 12-7 after 24 minutes which became 12-10 four minutes later when Billy Vunipola was penalised and Pollard goaled.
Just before half-time Pollard kicked a soaring penalty goal from just on 10 metres inside his own half. And at half-time the Springboks led 13-12.
The Springboks were the active ones in the second half – an intercept and long kick downfield by De Klerk, a break by Vermeulen, a series of advancing fast phases, the props changed, Aphiwe Dyantyi catching May in the English 22 and then another five-metre line-out.
From the line-out, the Springboks drove over England’s line but were held up, which gave them a five metre scrum. Vermeulen held the ball at the back of the scrum and the Springboks shoved the English back to their line. The scrum disintegrated and the referee awarded a penalty try.
At this stage Mtawarira had been substituted and there he was on the touchline bouncing for joy at this successful scrum
20-12 after 49 minutes. The crowd were singing Olé in the expectation of plenty.
But it was England who came closest to scoring when New Zealander Shields dived for the line but lost the ball forward in his attempt to ground it.
England had a five-metre line-out and mauled but the Springboks repelled them.
When Brown was penalised at a tackle, Pollard goaled. 23-12 with 14 minutes to play. That was the end of the scoring.
But not that last of England’s trouble for replacement No.8 Nathan Hughes was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on.
There was a lot of glee in Bloemfontein when the final whistle sounded.
Man of the Match: Duane Vermeulen. And there were other Springbok candidates – Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard, Damian de Allende and Lukanyo Am. Jonny May, always a serious threat, was probably the outstanding England player.
Moment of the Match: The scrum that led to the penalty try.
Villain of the match: There were two outbursts of squabbling and posturing that were at best childish. But perhaps the worst behaved player was the petulant England captain, Owen Farrell.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: Vermeulen, Penalty try
Cons: Pollard, Penalty try does not require conversion
Pens: Pollard 3
For England:
Tries: Brown, May
Con: Farrell
Yellow card: Nathan Hughes (England, 69 – cynical foul, slapping the ball out of scrumhalf’s hand while lying on the ground)
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Teams
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Jesse Kriel, 23 Warrick Gelant.
England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Mike Brown, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Maro Itoje, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Mark Wilson, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Denny Solomona.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
