England 20 South Africa 29: Red Rose edged out again as Springboks inflict fifth straight defeat

ENGLAND slumped to a FIFTH straight defeat despite their best effort of the autumn.

Not even a stunning display by Marcus Smith could prevent Steve Borthwick’s men suffering another Allianz Stadium reverse as the Springboks showed why they are world champions.

Inspired by Smith, Borthwick’s men traded blow for blow in a thrilling first half that brought tries for  Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill.

But England remain porous in defence, their line breached four times including gifting Cheslin Kolbe a double.

That is 12 tries conceded in three matches on home soil. Less a fortress and more an open portal.

And for all the effort and intensity with the ball, unless the Red Rose side learn how to stop conceding easy points they will be consigned to more of the same.

The frustration was all the greater as, just like against Australia last week, England made a lightning start.

Smith had already made two scintillating incursions when he received the ball outside the Springbok 22, initially stepping back for a probable drop goal attempt before switching.

The space was there, with Smith timing his pass perfectly to Henry Slade, who flipped out for Sleightholme to score, the fly-half converting.

England remained on the front foot, thundering into tackles, making yards with ball in hand, as Rassie Erasmus’ side looked unusually nervy.

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But if you make a mistake against the Boks, you get punished. 

England lost their focus as Smith was outjumped 35 yards out and scrum half Grant Williams saw the gap, darting between Ellis Genge and George Martin.

There should have been enough cover but Freddie Steward – back for his defensive capabilities – was left for dead by a side-step as Williams scored under the posts, Manie Libbok levelling.

While Smith kicked England back ahead after South Africa handled in the ruck, from the restart BOTH home half-backs were in the dog-house.

Smith looked to have bailed out recalled No 9 Jack van Poortvliet after his kick was charged down – not for the last time – by the skulking form of Eben Etzebeth.

But Smith’s own clearance was then battered into the turf by Pieter-Steph du Toit, with the bounce favouring the flanker as he fell on the loose ball to score.

The upright denied Libbok but now South Africa were in the ascendancy, England wobbling.

South Africa kicked for the corner, before Libbok’s brilliant cross-field kick saw Cheslin Kolbe step inside the over-committed Steward to score their third try in the opening 22 minutes, the fly-half nailing this one.

Back came England. Four close-range charges foundered against the green wall but the fifth saw Bath back rower Underhill somehow holding off three tacklers to reach out and touch down.

Smith, electric when he had the ball, elusive and mesmerising, reduced the deficit and when Libbok pushed a long-range penalty wide it was a two point game at the interval.

England then caught a massive break at the start of the second half when winger Kurt-Lee Arendse’s try in the corner was ruled out for a forward pass by full-back Aphelele Fassi.

But the TMO then made another similar intervention at the other end after Tommy Freeman grabbed Smith’s bomb.

England switched to the wide open spaces on the left as Slade cantered home.

Yet Maro Itoje was deemed to have grabbed Malcolm Marx round the neck in the clear-out, the try ruled out.

Even so, Smith scored a penalty for obstruction under the high ball soon afterwards and the rollercoaster was back, by a single point, in England’s favour with just under half an hour to go.

Not for long, Luke Cowan-Dickie – on for skipper Jamie George – infringed on half-way with replacement stand-off Handre Pollard’s penalty bouncing off and over the bar.

Now it was down to the nitty gritty, the final quarter where England have fallen short so often,

And once again, they faltered, familiar defensive failings costing them dear.

Slade and Ben Earl failed to bring down centre Damian de Allende and then Sleightholme was beaten far, far too easily by Kolbe as he claimed his second of the match, Pollard deadly off the tee from out wide.

Gerhard Steenekamp’s yellow card with 12 minutes to go opened the door again

England, though, lacked the ability to walk through it, a sloppy line-out penalised, their hopes extinguished as they ran out of steam just when they needed to find the extra gear.

We have seen it too many times. It has to change.

England: Steward; Freeman, Slade, Lawrence, Sleightholme; Smith, van Poortvliet (Randall); Genge (Baxter), George (Cowan-Dickie), Stuart (Cole), Itoje, Martin (Isiekwe), Cunningham-South, Underhill (Dombrandt), Earl.

South Africa: Fassi; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende (Am), Arendse; Libbok (Pollard), Williams (Reinach); Nche (Steenekamp), Mbonambi (Marx), Loux (Koch), Etzebeth, Snyman, Kolisi, Du Toit (Louw), Wiese.