A huge hit on Ben Earl at the back of a lineout in the opening minutes appeared to have winded the back rower, garnering roars of appreciation from the South African crowd. However, no sooner had England composed themselves than fly-half Marcus Smith was causing chaos – for the opponents, at least – dummying a drop goal and instead arcing towards the left-hand corner at speed. Two quick and short passes later, wing Ollie Sleightholme sprinted in for a try. Smith converted beautifully from the touchline, and the Allianz Stadium was in raptures at this early development.
With ten minutes on the clock, a Springboks lineout in England’s half contrived to send Grant Williams into a gap through which the scrum-half just kept going, scoring unopposed under the sticks. Fly-half Mannie Libbok converted to cancel out England’s seven points.
Smith retook the lead for England after Pieter-Steph du Toit was penalised at a ruck, but it was the giant back rower who gained the upper hand barely a minute later, charging down the fly-half in the home 22 for a try. Libbok’s attempt at two points rebounded off the left upright, making it a two-point game and a breathless first quarter.
England prop Will Stuart was penalised for not releasing in the tackle, and the Boks chose to kick to touch for a 5m lineout. Another penalty followed and, instead of taking the route one option with his forwards, Libbok spotted Cheslin Kolbe unmarked out on the wing and, in what seems a regular occurrence for the pair, delivered a glorious cross-field kick for the winger, who deliciously stepped back to evade the covering Freddie Steward and score. Libbok followed it up with two points: 10-19.
You sensed the home side needed to be the next to score to avoid strengthening South Africa’s momentum, and it was dangerous play at a ruck that gifted them a kick to the corner (rather than a kickable penalty). The sight of Maro Itoje being lifted in the air as he went into contact is enough to take the wind out of any team’s sails, but a super-charged burst through three defenders by Sam Underhill shortly thereafter gave England a huge lift of their own as the openside reached out to touch the ball down on the line. Smith converted: 17-19.
The hits were coming thick and fast now – one from diminutive winger Kurt-Lee Arendse on powerhouse centre Ollie Lawrence dislodging the ball – but so was the attacking rugby, warming up a chilly evening in southwest London. The workrate from Kolbe alone was enough to power the heating in the entire stadium.
A long-range penalty attempt from Libbok less than a minute before half-time fell wide of the mark, before a dropped ball by replacement prop Gerhard Steenkamp (on for the injured Ox Nche) brought to a close what had been a tense but exciting first half.
The excitement only grew once the second half got underway. With the men in green in possession in the England half, Damian de Allende in midfield passed to fullback Aphelele Fassi, who then found Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wing. The number eleven’s pace is a sight to behold, and when the time came to pass the ball back inside to avoid being pushed into touch, Arendse instead backed his pace. Rightfully so, as it turned out, as Arendse crossed the line untouched, only for the TMO to call play back for a forward pass by Fassi.
Approaching 50 minutes, England were denied what looked a sure-fire try of their own when Smith hoisted across a kick-pass for Tommy Freeman to claim, outjumping two South African backs to do so. It set in motion a thrilling passage of play that ended with Henry Slade crossing in the left corner. Instead, foul play by England at the ruck in the build-up gave their opponents some breathing space, and they cleared their lines.
Obstruction by the Springboks in their 22 gave England a lead that the past ten minutes’ momentum suggested they deserved, as Smith’s kick sailed through the posts: 20-19.
Handre Pollard, on for Libbok, struck back with a penalty from just inside England’s half. The ball soared from his boot, but appeared to dip just before reaching its target – only to hit the crossbar and bounce over. Had momentum now swung the Boks’ way? 20-22.
It surely had, was the answer, and it came in the shape of Cheslin Kolbe, taking a pass from De Allende after the centre had overpowered the first defender. The 31-year-old winger stepped inside and had too much gas for any would-be England tackler to stop him. Pollard’s conversion took South Africa nine points clear.
Springbok loosehead Gerhard Steenekamp was shown yellow with ten minutes remaining after infringing at the lineout. Wilco Louw replaced him, with captain Siya Kolisi leaving the field to accommodate for the prop.
England had opportunities deep in the South African half, but the Boks repeatedly repelled them, much to the hosts’ dismay. The visitors seemed content to play that game as time wore on.
South Africa boxed clever in the final minutes, getting into a position for Pollard to attempt a drop goal that was wide. Just as England looked like going for what could have been a consolation try, they were turned over and replacement scrum-half Cobus Reinach kicked the ball out to end what had been a highly entertaining encounter.
