Farrell punishes wasteful Springboks

Owen Farrell’s late penalty snatched a 12-11 victory for injury-hit England in their opening November international as sloppy South Africa were left to rue a lack of ruthlessness at Twickenham.

The Springboks, driven on by a far more experienced pack, dominated the first half but only had a S’busiso Nkosi try and Handre Pollard penalty to show for it.

England were fortunate to only be 8-6 down at the break after taking a battering from the South Africa forwards, Farrell on target with two penalties after Maro Itoje was sin-binned.

The Red Rose raised their game in the second half to gain revenge for a 2-1 series defeat in June, Elliot Daly scoring a magnificent long-range penalty and Farrell splitting the posts eight minutes from time after missing an earlier opportunity. 

Pollard had a chance to win it from the tee in a tense finale, but the fly-half was unable to edge South Africa back in front.

There was more drama with the clock red when Farrell clattered into Andre Esterhuizen with what could have been deemed to be a high tackle, but referee Angus Gardner saw nothing untoward after taking another look and England were able to celebrate a battling victory. 

It’s full time at Twickenham and England have got the 2018 #QuilterInternationals off to a winning start with victory over South Africa #ENGvRSA #CarryThemHome pic.twitter.com/tuMuieuL0C

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 3, 2018

Pollard booted South Africa, missing key men with the Test falling outside the official international window, into an early lead after Kyle Sinckler strayed offside and England were a man down with 15 minutes played when Itoje was shown a yellow card.

Itoje produced a brilliant try-saving tackle after Nkosi rose above Daly to take a magnificent catch from a towering Pollard kick, but the British and Irish Lions forward was punished for not rolling away.

South Africa were well on top, but Malcolm Marx let England off the hook with a poor throw from a line-out and Farrell levelled expertly from the tee against the run of play before Itoje returned to the fray.

England were again grateful for another stray delivery from Marx, but it was only a matter of time before the visitors regained the lead and it was Nkosi who scored the opening try in the corner after more excellent work from the dominant Springboks forwards.

South Africa ought to have had a healthy lead at the break, but Farrell’s second penalty late in the first half reduced the deficit to two points.

Eddie Jones made a change at half-time, sending Ben Moon on for a debut and hauling off Alec Hepburn, and there were further changes just after the interval, with Eben Etzebeth and Tom Curry limping off. 

Itoje looked fortunate to get away with what appeared to be a high tackle and England hit the front for the first time courtesy of a huge Daly penalty from close to the halfway line.

Farrell was just short of distance with a penalty but put that behind him by finding his range and sending England back in front after the South Africa scrum buckled, and he had the final say with a powerful hit on Esterhuizen following Pollard’s miss.

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