The Springboks maintained their unbeaten record, claiming a hard-fought 29-20 win over England at Allianz Stadium in London on Saturday evening. In front of a sell-out crowd, the South Africans withstood a spirited challenge from the Red Roses, with the scoreline reflecting the intense battle between the two sides.
In a game filled with opportunities for both teams, the Springboks’ resilience and individual brilliance proved decisive. Despite giving away several penalties and receiving a yellow card late in the second half, the Boks held firm, with speedster Cheslin Kolbe once again delivering a world-class performance, scoring two brilliant tries.
England, on the other hand, will likely rue their second-half game management, particularly during a period when they had the Boks under pressure but failed to capitalise. Although the home side played with determination, their inability to close out the match under pressure ultimately cost them.
The match was a close contest, but the South Africans’ bench strength and their defensive resolve were key factors in keeping the hosts at bay. England fought valiantly, but the Boks’ ability to grind out victories, even when not at their best, ensured they left London with another win.
First Half Drama
The match started with England on the front foot, taking an early 7-0 lead after a well-executed try by Ollie Sleightholme. The move followed a deceptive play by Marcus Smith, who faked a drop goal and switched play to the blindside, catching the South African defence off guard.
However, the Springboks quickly responded as Grant Williams capitalised on an aerial contest won by Kurt-Lee Arendse to score a try, and Libbok converted to bring the game level. Shortly after, England’s discipline was rewarded with a penalty, allowing Smith to slot three points and give the Red Roses a 10-7 lead.
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The Boks regained the advantage with a quick-fire counter-attack. Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph Du Toit charged down two of Smith’s clearance kicks, and Du Toit pounced on the loose ball to score, with the Boks taking a 12-10 lead.
The Springboks then applied sustained pressure, earning a lineout deep in England territory. Libbok found Kolbe with a perfectly timed cross-kick, and the speedster sliced through the defence to score, giving South Africa a 19-10 lead after 22 minutes. England responded with a try from Sam Underhill, narrowing the gap to 19-17 at halftime.
A Tight Second Half
The second half saw both teams making key tactical decisions. Gerhard Steenekamp replaced Ox Nche just before the break, and early in the second half, Aphelele Fassi looked to have set up a try for Kurt-Lee Arendse after a brilliant break, but the try was ruled out by the TMO for a forward pass.
The Springboks were forced to dig deep after Maro Itoje’s neck roll on Malcolm Marx and Jesse Kriel’s penalty for lazy running gave England an opening. Marcus Smith slotted a second penalty to give England a 20-19 lead, but the Boks responded with their trademark calm under pressure.
In the 57th minute, Handré Pollard kicked a long-range penalty, bouncing off the crossbar, to give the Boks the lead once more. A few minutes later, Cheslin Kolbe scored his second try, finishing off a superb team move involving Kwagga Smith and Damian de Allende. Pollard converted, and the Boks were 29-20 up with just over 15 minutes to play.
England’s Final Push
With the Springboks’ error rate on the ground continuing to frustrate, Gerhard Steenekamp was shown a yellow card in the 68th minute for repeated infractions, briefly opening the door for England to mount a comeback. However, England squandered a key opportunity near the Boks’ line with a misfired throw-in, and South Africa’s defence, led by Vincent Koch, Malcolm Marx, and Kwagga Smith, held firm.
Despite the pressure, the Boks managed to win key turnovers, and England’s hopes of snatching victory faded. The Springboks emerged victorious, showcasing their ability to close out a Test match even when under pressure.
