Player ratings: England
PLAYER RATINGS: England player ratings live from Twickenham Stadium: What a belter of a spectacle under the south-west London lights.
There was plenty of razzle dazzle in a five-try opening 26 minutes followed by the drama of early second-half tries chalked off at both ends before South Africa got the jump on England to move 29-20 ahead with 17 minutes remaining.
We weren’t done, though. Gerhard Steenekamp’s yellow card offered a tantalising lifeline but as much as they tried, the hosts lacked the cohesion and accuracy necessary to reel in the gap and put the result in jeopardy again coming down the finishing straight.
The nine-point margin left England beaten for the seventh time in nine matches, the last five losses coming on the bounce and while that statistic will attract much criticism, they at least have the solace that they are producing exciting attacking rugby that has the approval of their Twickenham fans.
They were within a whisker of winning on both occasions this month against New Zealand and Australia, and were well placed again on 52 minutes here when Marcus Smith kicked them 20-19 ahead to leave the capacity crowd buzzing.
However, as has become a depressing habit, they ‘lost’ the closing 28-minute stage of the match 0-10 and serious questions now must be asked of their defence.
Their rearguard is woundingly missing the blitz promptings of the quitting defence coach Felix Jones and the rate of concession under his successor Joe El-Abd has become painful, the four tries scored by South Africa making it a total of 12 given up the opposition in three matches.
Here are the England player ratings:
1. Ellis Genge – 6.5/10
His willingness to get involved on the carry was important in England making this a super first-half contest but he will be disappointed with two penalised scrum collapses that sapped momentum. Was energetic after the break as well but exited on 61 with his team having just gone behind.
2. Jamie George – 7.5/10
Owed his team a massive shift after limited impact in recent weeks, his defensive contribution was lung-bursting as he topped the tackle chart when exiting on 49 minutes with England having just been denied the lead with the cancelled Slade try. A very welcome return to prominence but question is still there whether a captain should be on the pitch for longer than he was.
3. Will Stuart – 7/10
Can’t be satisfied with his general play penalty concessions; we counted three and his last involvement invited Handre Pollard to kick South Africa in front on 59 minutes. However, energetically playing on the line teased the best from him and the rumbustious cheer his scrum penalty win received on 54 minutes validated his set-piece quality.
4. Maro Itoje – 7.5/10
His grit was critical in firing up England during a compelling end-to-end opening half. His defiance was clear in the way he managed to hold onto possession in the lead-up to the Underhill try despite getting driven back. It was a grave pity his fine performance on both sides of the ball was blemished by his illegal clearout on Malcolm Marx which cost England the Slade try.
5. George Martin – 7.5/10
Was left grasping air along with Genge for the opening South Africa try from Williams but he rose to the occasion just as he did in Paris 13 months ago. Featured in the Underhill try and gave everything he had until replaced by Nick Isiekwe with a couple of minute remaining.
6. Chandler Cunningham-South – 6.5/10
Mega in the opening salvo last Saturday with two tries, he was much quieter here in terms of producing big moments. That didn’t mean he wasn’t effective. He was and the experience of going toe to toe with the star-studded Springboks back will be quite the development for him.
7. Sam Underhill – 7/10
Back in place of the concussed Tom Curry, he produced a great line and stretch to finish his 26th minute score. His carries and tackles were important in England doing so well but he was spent by the time of his 67th-minute exit.
8. Ben Earl – 7.5/10
England needed him to be a dominant carrier and he brought the thunder as his team’s busiest ball player. Also finished joint top of the tackle count but he was left to rue his miss on de Allende in the set up of the game-deciding Kolbe try.
9. Jack van Poortvliet – 6.5/10
In for his first cap since his horror pre-World Cup injury 15 months ago, he began with a couple of awkward box kicks and was then charged by Eben Etzebeth in the lead-up to the du Toit try. However, his pass service to Smith was snappy and he also gave the assist to Sam Underhill for the flanker’s try. Played 61 minutes.
10. Marcus Smith – 8/10
The attacking magician versus Australia, he opened his box of tricks here and performed with great vision. The way he delayed his pass to create the opening score was typical of his influence and while it was his charged down kick that have Pieter-Steph du Toit his try, Smith had his team in a winning position before they collectively lost their way when it came to protecting that advantage.
11. Ollie Sleightholme – 6/10
A two-try cameo a week go as a sub meant he replaced the unavailable Immanuel Feyi-Waboso adn while he was again lively in attack, revelling in the finish of his fourth-minute score, his iffy defending again materialised as he was ghosted by Kolbe for the converted try that made it 20-29.
12. Henry Slade – 6.5/10
Defensively exposed against the Wallabies, he was tighter here for the most part and he also upped his on-the-ball game, giving Ollie Sleightholme the try assist and then finishing his own try from a Steward pass only to have it erased for breakdown foul play by Maro Itoje. His effort ended with a thud, though, as he and Ben Earl failed to prevent the Damian de Allend canter that set Kolbe up for his his crucial second try.
13. Ollie Lawrence – 7.5/10
A repeated gain line breaker last weekend, he was visible on the ball again here. However, it was his defence that stood out most. Look at his big hit on Manie Libbok which was vital in swinging momentum at a time when England were 10-19 down in the first half.
14. Tommy Freeman – 5.5/10
It hadn’t been the winger’s greatest few weeks in the England shirt occupying the left wing but he had more involvement and fleetingly posed a threat in the early part of the second half, impact that included a smart catch that set up the cancelled Henry Slade try.
15. Freddie Steward – 5/10
In for the axed George Furbank in the hope he could reprise his excellent Rugby World Cup semi-final display against the Springboks, his aerial skills couldn’t be faulted; he had the crowd swoon with a 36th-minute fetch. But he was exposed defensively for two of the first half tries, getting left for dead by the footwork of Grant Williams and Cheslin Kolbe. That is what his display will be most remembered for, unfortunately.
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 5/10
Played 31 minutes but lacked the precision to make a real difference. It was his error at the lineout that ruined England’s best chance to take advantage of the South African numerical disadvantage.
17. Fin Baxter – 5/10
Sixteen minutes this week but this was his least impactful cameo of the series.
18. Dan Cole – 5/10
Played 21 minutes, arriving just after Pollard had put the Springboks in front, but couldn’t make a momentum swinging different.
19. Nick Isiekwe – No rating
A 76th minute sub for Martin. Too late to have a meaningful role.
20. Alex Dombrandt – 5/10
Given 13 minutes for Underhill, he was unable to turn the screw when the South Africa yellow came soon after.
21. Harry Randall – 5.5/10
Had 19 minutes, he was energetic but was another sub who wasn’t a game changer.
22. George Ford – No rating
Left unused on the bench following two previous error-ridden sub appearances.
23. Tom Roebuck – 5.5/10
Introduced on 49 minutes with Slade off for his 10-minute HIA, he chased hard and won the crossing penalty that gave England the lead.
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