3 hours ago England were shell-shocked. Never caput the gap, onlookers were marvelling astatine a sheer chasm successful people betwixt the 2 teams.
And this was a Springbok broadside that galore had expected to commencement slowly.
South Africa's past meaningful lucifer was successful November.
They person a lengthy wounded database with the precocious withdrawal of skipper Siya Kolisi and 2nd enactment Eben Etzebeth, adding to the lack of prima fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, guardant mainstays Franco Mostert, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Frans Malherbe and others.
The Springboks didn't adjacent get a accidental to property their accepted scrum supremacy until the 21st minute.
But nary of it mattered. South Africa were excessively skilful individually, excessively connected arsenic a corporate for England to marque an imprint.
Ellis Genge and George Martin's try-scoring rumbles, which chopped the Boks pb to 3 astatine half-time, raised mendacious hopes of an England comeback earlier the break
The Boks duly restored rugby's caller satellite bid aft the break.
"The 2nd fractional was hardly a contest," said erstwhile England fly-half Paul Grayson connected BBC Radio 5 Live.
"England ne'er got a foothold successful the crippled and due to the fact that of that their onslaught was bits and pieces.
"South Africa smashed the doorway down, seldom played much than a mates of phases but squeezed the beingness retired of England. They were uncomplicated and uncompromising."
Perhaps nary broadside could person matched the treble reigning satellite champions successful specified brilliantly belligerent mood.
But plentifulness volition consciousness that England should person been person to doing so.
Opting for Marcus Smith, an fantabulous and versatile player, but not a specializer full-back, astatine 15 aft the precocious withdrawal of George Furbank did not settee the backfield defence.
Tommy Freeman, 1 of England's champion players successful the air, remained successful his little accustomed extracurricular centre role.
Too often the Boks took to the aerial and returned with the ball, with the superb Damian Willemse ruling the skies.
England had promised to play 'big', mixing carnal bravery with tactical daring. It was there, but lone successful parts.
All 3 England tries – with Henry Slade's fantabulous kamikaze space into the bosom of the Bok defence followed up by a astute mispass to Alex Coles to transverse for their last people – showed that intent.
One aboriginal transition with Fin Smith and Ben Earl combining good and Jack van Poortvliet uncovering his antheral with a one-handed offload circular the backmost of tackler carved done the hosts.
But the attacking ambition and accuracy wavered crossed the contest.
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