South Africa humiliate England

Eurosport - Sun, 23 Nov 07:27:00 2008

World champions South Africa pounced on another error-strewn performance by England to consign the hosts to a record 42-6 defeat at Twickenham.

South Africa celebrate beating England at Twickenham - 0

First half tries from Danie Rossouw and Ruan Pienaar were added to after the interval by Adi Jacobs, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana as South Africa ran in five scores despite having a man sent to the sin-bin in either half.

"It was a brutal lesson," Johnson said. "We created a lot of opportunities but the execution was poor.

"It's a real character week for all of us now. We can either pack it all up or come back and try to win the game. We have to bounce back and play our hearts out."

England made a solid start to the match with Danny Cipriani giving the hosts a three point lead within a minute, but Pienaar quickly levelled for South Africa when England were penalised for not releasing the ball at the breakdown.

Cipriani had a second chance to put England in the lead but his effort from the halfway line fell just short.

It was a decent effort from the young England fly-half but South Africa took the escape as a signal to run riot as England produced another error-riddled performance.

Roussow forced his way over for the first try after an attacking lineout for the hosts when the England defence was exposed.

Pienaar added the extras before single-handedly exposing England's inexperience - Cipriani took far too long over a clearance kick allowing the Springbok to charge the ball down and take it on for an unchallenged solo try which he also converted.

England once again found themselves penalised at the breakdown, allowing Pienaar to add another penalty to South Africa's tally.

Cipriani recovered his composure enough to double England's output in the first half but it was scant consolation to the hosts who were being dominated in all aspects of the game.

Things were to go from bad to worse though for England as, not only did they fail to put any points on the board while Tendai Mtawarira was in the sin bin, but they were also forced to defend frantically for the last 10 minutes of the half to keep the score down at 20-6.

There were better signs from England at the start of the second half as Ugo Monye and Delon Armitage, both bright points for England, strung some moves together. But again the final ball was a problem and the hosts were unable to capitalise.

South Africa quickly recovered though and Adi Jacobs scored their third try of the afternoon after a brilliant decoy run from Jean De Villiers had opened up acres of space for JP Pietersen.

Pienaar again added the conversion before kicking a third penalty when Nick Easter was caught playing the ball off his feet.

South Africa saw Conrad Jantjes sent to the sin-bin for a late shoulder charge on Armitage, after the London Irish man had already chipped the ball away upfield.

But again England failed to take advantage of the opportunity and Johnson will want to forget the final 10 minutes as South Africa ran in another two tries.

Fourie got the first by out-muscling Paul Sackey for a loose ball before running through to touch down unchallenged. Replacement Francois Steyn added the conversion before the Boks finished with a flourish, working the ball across the field for Habana to cross over on the right wing.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 19 of 59

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  1. England are too slow

    From r_c_t, on Sat 22 Nov 7:53PM

  2. isthatgoodyah
    Thanks but I'm not in the UK. I­ don't think the highlights would be my cup of tea­ anyway! They'd probably make me sick!
    Boks must­ have really been pleased to travel all that way to play­ that shower!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 22 Nov 7:48PM

  3. Apart from the childish nationalistic comments on this­ blog (both Scottish and english) wasn'y it­ interesting to see the home of sycophancy (Sky Sports)­ giving Martin Johnston a hard time after the game. In­ my opinion being a world class player (Johnston for­ England) or never having played at any level (Hadden­ for Scotland) shows that being a coach involves­ something with it would seem neither of them have!

    From Zio Guz, on Sat 22 Nov 7:38PM

  4. Well done BOKKE!I Knew u can do it the moment I put on­ my SA rugby shirt this morning.
    And Chris T ,a shame u­ missed the game, watch the hi-lights on BBC3 right now.­ Mona

    From isthatgoodyah, on Sat 22 Nov 7:35PM

  5. Nicely put Bigharrywhite. But you forgot to also­ mention Scotland's greatest sporting hero of the­ moment is fat, cocaine addicted half-wit whose­ country-men killed as many Scotsmen as they did English­ and Welsh only 20 years ago.
    Shut-up Alex F and stuff­ your drunken face with a few more fried mars bars.

    From IVAN R, on Sat 22 Nov 7:29PM

  6. re comment 4.
    Make allowances for the guy. Obviously­ English isn't his native language and he didn't­ mean to come across as such a prat.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 22 Nov 7:24PM

  7. Johnson is a pathetic choice as the England coach, this­ is a high profile position, he isn't up to this­ task a trusted and highly tried coach is needed here,­ go now, and let us all remember you as a good player­ Johnno, cos this could be an embarrasment to you­ clearly, as this shower in the white shirts are clearly­ NOT GOOD ENOUGH

    From Glyn D, on Sat 22 Nov 7:22PM

  8. Cipriani, come back when you are fit enough to tie­ wilkos boots.

    From ian mack, on Sat 22 Nov 7:21PM

  9. Comment 4 - how I thank the good Lord that I am not­ Scottish. Your biggest sporting triumphs are another­ nations losses. Your greatest ever football result was­ Argentina beating England in 1986 and your greatest­ rugby result is now this. If only your nation spent as­ much time concentrating on winning and less on England­ losing, maybe one day you'd have something to­ really cheer about.

    From bigharrywhite, on Sat 22 Nov 7:05PM

  10. Go Bokke!!

    From tfn8tnt, on Sat 22 Nov 6:42PM

  11. dont worry england its only new zealand next good luck­ lol

    From lee_31uk2003, on Sat 22 Nov 6:34PM

  12. I am so proud to be South African...!!! You guys rock.­ Thats why you are the World Champions...ons is die­ beste.
    Amanda L.

    From mindy_moo39, on Sat 22 Nov 6:30PM

  13. Alex, how many World Cups has Scotland Won? In fact­ has Scotland actually ever won anything???? Stick to­ the rugby debate mate. If you want to post­ nationalist, racist or idiotic comments, try the SNP­ website.

    From scott, on Sat 22 Nov 6:22PM

  14. Thank God I didn't see it!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 22 Nov 6:11PM

  15. no comment from Martin Johnson yet again-- had plenty­ to say when ashton was in charge and­ winning'badly' according to him.
    This loss is a­ coaching disaster not a plan in sight
    Martin get hold­ and start putting disapline ahead of celeb!!!!
    perhaps­ we are saving ourselves for the 'Blacks'
    DJH­ SIDCUP

    From DJ H, on Sat 22 Nov 6:09PM

  16. cipriani useless needs a new position .The real­ problems are not Martin Johnson but his pathetic­ coaches, who show no cohesion. Bring in Shaun Edwards­ for the backs and Jake White. Dean Richards needed for­ the forwards as well.
    Wilkinson for inside centre and a­ new fly half wanted .Cipriani when he grows up will be­ brilliant but three charge-downs in three matches shows­ his lack of experience.

    From ANTHONY, on Sat 22 Nov 6:08PM

  17. One reason for losing : Danny Cipriani. Once again he­ looked like a deer caught in headlights and is clearly­ not upto international rugby. Basic skills went missing­ and decision making appaling. If Jonno is to have a­ future he must ditch this overrated show pony. On top­ on that, how fat was the England front row that­ fibished the game. Matt Stevens is a slow, laborious­ porker.

    From Ian H, on Sat 22 Nov 5:08PM

  18. Pathetic. Find a decent coach

    From tonypassmore31, on Sat 22 Nov 4:56PM

  19. Englan victory with a 10 try romp!

    From jason b, on Sat 22 Nov 6:32AM
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