Cheslin Kolbe scored two tries as world champions South Africa inflicted more international misery on England in November with a 29-20 win at Twickenham on Saturday.
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The wings struck from both sides as the Springboks condemned Steve Borthwick’s men to their fifth successive defeat and third defeat this month following last-minute 24-22 and 42-37 defeats at home to New Zealand and Australia.
South Africa led 19-17 at the break after finishing the first half with five tries, with Grant Williams, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kolbe all crossing for the Springboks.
Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill travel to England for South Africa’s first meeting since the Springboks’ dramatic 16-15 World Cup semi-final win in France last year.
An exchange of penalties between England fly-half Marcus Smith and Handre Pollard gave the Springboks a 22-20 lead going into the final quarter before Kolbe scored again in the 63rd minute.
South African substitute Gerhard Steenekamp was shown a yellow card five minutes later, but the Springboks overcame a key turnover against a poorly disciplined England side to finish the game off.
England full-back Freddie Steward told the BBC: “You can’t criticize the effort, but we didn’t have enough power today and I give credit to South Africa. They finished the game well.”
“Our discipline costs money. We talked this week about reducing penalty counts. “We gave up too much and it cost us a lot.” This is South Africa’s great strength. They made 12 changes to the team, with Siya Kolisi returning as team captain after coming off the Edinburgh bench in last week’s 32-15 win over Scotland.
Springboks manager Lassie Erasmus warned his side would face a “desperate” England side and they proved his point with a try inside four minutes to the delight of a crowd of 81,910.
Smith mimicked a drop goal and went wide before sending Sleightholme off after scoring two tries off the bench against Australia in the wing’s first Test start.
In-form fly-half Smith highlighted a tricky transition. However, South Africa were soon 7-7 up when scrum-half Williams took advantage of England’s questionable ruck defense to break between Ellis Genge and lock George Martin before Manie Libbok added the extra man to side Steward for a superb solo try. The score was tied.
Smith’s penalty put England ahead but South Africa had a second try in the 17th minute.
Eben Etzebeth darted in Jack van Poortvliet’s box kick and Smith regained possession only for his kick to be in turn charged in by Du Toit, with the flanker diving into the loose ball for a try. Libbok’s outside conversion hit the post.
The Springboks soon had another try when fly-half Libbok’s pinpoint cross-kick found Kolbe, who side-stepped Steward in typical style as Libbok added the extra.
England reduced the deficit to two points when Underhill powered in from a close-range ruck for Smith’s try in the 27th minute.
The Springboks thought they had a fourth try early in the second half but wing Kurt-Lee Arendse’s effort was cleared off a review of a forward pass by fullback Aphelele Fassi.
It was a similar story in England, with Henry Slade’s attempt disallowed after Maro Itoje’s illegal neck roll in the build-up.
However, Smith put England 20-19 ahead in the 51st minute with a simple penalty on substitute stand-off Pollard, who scored a monster penalty just inside the halfway mark that bounced off the crossbar.
England spent most of the second half in the South African zone, but it was the Springboks who took a two-point lead.
Damian de Allende powered past Ben Earl and Slade before the ball was passed to Kolbe, who was also the top scorer in South Africa’s 2019 World Cup final win over England.
Pollard converted Kolbe’s 18th try in 39 Tests to give the Springboks a nine-point lead.
South Africa conclude their 2024 campaign against Wales in Cardiff next week. England will be looking to salvage some pride against a Japanese side coached by former Red Rose manager Eddie Jones.
