The second week of the Spring tours of the southern teams got underway on Friday afternoon in Genoa where Italy was hosting Argentina.
Australia was in Paris to play France (see separate report); New Zealand was playing Scotland at Murrayfield, but the big game was between two first-week losers: England and South Africa, at Twickenham.
South Africa 31 – England 28
by “Bardon”
South Africa’s five changes to their starting XV compared to England’s one, will tell you who was the happier of Meyer and Lancaster following last week’s games.
This didn’t change the fact that both coaches were coming into this game facing the prospect of a second loss in the international window.
Jan Serfontein – intercepted pass for first try of the match
First Half
On ten minutes Farrell showed good footwork and ambition to run the ball out from under his own posts. His decision making wasn’t up to the same standard as he attempted a scissors with young Watson who found himself isolated. Lambie, in for Pollard, stroked over the penalty 3-0 South Africa.
Five minutes later Serfontein picked off a Care pass to run half the length of the field to score an intercept try. Lambie added the extras for 10-0. No slow start for South Africa this week.
A period of English pressure in the Boks 22 finally paid dividends when South Africa infringed to allow Farrell to get England up and running on the scoreboard. 10-3 with 26 minutes on the clock.
Billy Vunipola – had several bruising runs
South Africa got their big maul working on 30 minutes and drove deep into English territory. England were unable to halt their momentum legally so were forced to concede the penalty. Lambie stroked the goal over. 13-3 to the Boks.
The England scrum was going well and when they won a free kick a driving run from Vunipola allowed them to strike back as South Africa infringed at the breakdown. Farrell popped over the kick from out in front to bring England back within a score 13-6.
England then infringed from a lineout as Etzebeth claimed just after the restart. Lambie stepped up for what should have been a straight forward kick but he was off-target.
At the break the score was 13-6 to South Africa.
Patrick Lambie – 16 points from his boot
Second Half
South Africa had the perfect start to the second half. A beautifully judged kick by Lambie was caught by le Roux on the full he then drew his man and put Reinach through unopposed to score the try. Lambie added the extras for 20-6, England up against it with less than a minute of the second 40 gone.
England weren’t going to lie down though. They responded immediately driving close to the Boks line. Matfield infringed as England drove for the line and got a ten minute rest for his troubles.
England kicked into the corner and made their extra man pay off as they drove over under the posts—Wilson credited with the score. Farrell added the extra two points and England were back within a score at 20-13.
England then drove from a line out deep into the South Africa 22. Morgan broke off the back of the maul and powered over to score the try. Farrell converted to tie the game up at 20-20.
Invisible Schalk Burger – scores at the bottom of the pile
The Boks, still minus Matfield, then drove over from a five-metre lineout with Burger the scorer. Lambie missed from out wide, 25-20 to the Boks as Matfield returned to the field.
Dylan Hartley then received a yellow for liberal use of the boot in a maul. Lambie kicked the penalty dead to let England off the hook. Lambie and Ford traded penalties to make the score 28-23 coming up to the final 10 minutes.
A Lambie drop goal put South Africa more than a score ahead before Barritt scored in the corner for England to bring them back within three points just before the final hooter.
Final Score: England 28 – South Africa 31
Brad Barritt – gave England a sniff at the end
Once again England were competitive against one of the Southern Hemisphere big guns but a narrow defeat is still a defeat. That’s five in a row now for England and still plenty of questions for them to answer before the RWC.
South Africa weren’t at their best but they were much improved on last week’s performance. They were more aggressive at the breakdown and their pack really fronted up today. The changes to the side paid off as Lambie and Reinach combined well at 9 and 10.
Burger put in a man of the match performance as their pack laid the platform for the victory. A good result and Meyer’s will feel they’re back on track.
Disappointed England captain – Chris Robshaw
The Players
England: 1. J. Marler, 2. D. Hartley, 3. D. Wilson, 4. D. Attwood, 5. C. Lawes, 6. T. Wood, 7. C. Robshaw (c), 8. B. Vunipola, 9. D. Care, 10. O. Farrell, 11. J. May, 12. K. Eastmond, 13. B. Barritt, 14. A. Watson, 15. M. Brown.
Reserves: 16. R. Webber, 17. M. Mullan, 18. K. Brookes, 19. G. Kruis, 20. B. Morgan, 21. B. Youngs 22. G. Ford, 23. M. Yarde.
South Africa: 1. T. Mtawarira, 2. A. Strauss, 3. J. du Plessis, 4. E. ETzebeth, 5. V. Matfield, 6. M. Coetzee, 7. S. Burger, 8. D. Vermuelen, 9. C. Reinach, 10. P. Lambie, 11. B. Habana, 12. J. de Villiers (c), 13. J. Serfontein, 14. JP Pietersen, 15. W. le Roux.
Reserves: 16. B. du Plessis, 17. T. Nyakane, 18. C. Oosthuizen, 19. B. Botha, 20. T. Mohoje, 21. F. Hougaard, 22. H. Pollard, 23. C. Hendricks.
The Scorers
South Africa 31 (J. Serfontein, C. Reinach, S. Burger tries; Lambie 2 cons, 3 pens, drop goal) def. England 28 (D. Wilson, B. Morgan, B. Barritt tries; O. Farrell 2 cons, 2 pens; G. Ford pen)
See next page for Italy v. Argentina
