Springboks are disgracefully robbed

Australian referee Angus Gardener should never again referee an international match.

His decision not to card Owen Farrell for an obvious shoulder charge on Andre Esterhuizen was among the most disgraceful home bias decisions. It happened with the last play of the game. Gardener blew the final whistle but was asked by his assistant to refer Farrell’s obvious no arms shoulder charge. Yet Gardener ignored any input from his TMO and felt that Farrell was legal in a challenge that at no time was ever legal.

What an insult to World Rugby’s integrity.

It won’t change the result. It never does because human error too often determines a result that is accepted and never challenged.

Gardener was awful but the Boks  in execution were the equal of Gardener when it comes to incompetence. The Boks controlled so much of this match but basis errors proved costly as Malcolm Marx four times didn’t find his jumpers when in the England red zone. Marx is an exceptional rugby player but when you consistently err in the primary basics of your game, you can’t be the world player of the year.

England kicked four penalties to win a game they should have lost by 20 points. The Boks, who had a chance to win the game when Handre Pollard hit the post with a penalty in the 75th minute, will forever wonder/ponder how they ever lost this Test.

The reality is they did … and it should never have come down to a controversial last minute.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus got his selection wrong, He got his game management wrong and the Boks got their execution wrong.

Live match commentary

• 80+1‘George Kruis has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 80‘South Africa have won 100 rucks so far this game.
• 77‘The defensive line has been broken as Damian de Allende goes through the gap.
• 77‘South Africa have won 80 rucks so far this game.
• 76‘Mark Wilson has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 76‘Charlie Ewels comes on for England.
• 76‘Brad Shields leaves the field.
• 76‘Handre Pollard steps up to take the penalty but pulls it wide and to the right.
• 74‘Elton Jantjies comes on.
• 74‘Damian Willemse comes off.
• 74‘Embrose Papier comes on.
• 74‘Ivan van Zyl comes off.
• 73‘Mbongeni Mbonami comes on.
• 73‘Malcolm Marx comes off.
• 72‘England decide to make a substitution, with George Ford getting some game time.
• 72‘England decide to make a substitution, with Ben Te’o being replaced.
• 72‘The touch judges raise their flags as Owen Farrell kicks the penalty goal.
• 69‘What a run here by Brad Shields as they gets over the gainline!.
• 67‘Handre Pollard adds the points for South Africa.
• 65‘Brad Shields has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 64‘England make a substitution with Chris Ashton coming on.
• 64‘England make a substitution with Jack Nowell coming off.
• 64‘England sub Danny Care comes onto the field.
• 64‘Ben Youngs departs for England.
• 64‘Harry Williams comes on for England.
• 64‘Kyle Sinckler leaves the field.
• 64‘Lodewyk De Jager comes on.
• 64‘Siya Kolisi comes off.
• 64‘Wilco Louw comes on.
• 64‘Frans Malherbe comes off.
• 64‘Thomas du Toit comes on.
• 64‘Steven Kitshoff comes off.
• 63‘England have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 63‘Warren Whiteley has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 62‘Pieter-Steph du Toit has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 61‘There wasn’t enough power on that penalty goal attempt by Owen Farrell as it drops short of the posts.
• 59‘South Africa decide to make a substitution, with Andre Esterhuizen getting some game time.
• 59‘South Africa decide to make a substitution, with Sibusiso Nkosi being replaced.
• 56‘England make a substitution with Jamie George coming on.
• 56‘England make a substitution with Dylan Hartley coming off.
• 55‘England have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 54‘Owen Farrell makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 52‘Fabulous play by England has led to Maro Itoje being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 50‘Elliot Daly does the business as his penalty goal attempt goes over.
• 47‘Maro Itoje has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 44‘South Africa have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 44‘Trouble here as Henry Slade breaches the defence.
• 41‘South Africa sub RG Snyman comes onto the field.
• 41‘Eben Etzebeth departs for South Africa.
• 41‘Zach Mercer comes on for England.
• 41‘Tom Curry leaves the field.
• 40‘Kyle Sinckler has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 40‘Ben Moon comes on.
• 40‘Alec Hepburn comes off.
• 40‘The second half is underway.
• 40+1‘The half-time whistle blows and both teams’ head for the dressing rooms.
• 40‘Alec Hepburn has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 38‘Tom Curry has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 36‘Owen Farrell makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.
• 34‘England have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 33‘Handre Pollard has hooked the conversion to the left of the posts.
• 32‘Warren Whiteley sets up the try.
• 32‘This is dangerous for the defence as Sibusiso Nkosi bursts through to advance the South Africa attack.
• 32‘Great hands by South Africa leads to a try for Sibusiso Nkosi.
• 32‘South Africa have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 28‘A gap opened in the defence and Damian de Allende took full advantage.
• 20‘Owen Farrell kicks the penalty.
• 16‘South Africa have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 15‘Maro Itoje (England) is shown a yellow card.
• 6‘Handre Pollard has kicked a penalty goal.
• 2‘The defensive line has been broken as Jack Nowell goes through the gap.
•  We are underway as the referee blows his whistle.