England survive South Africa test as Farrell’s boot proves the difference
New Zealand and Wales also claim victories as autumn internationals begin
England’s new-look side delivered a performance full of character to withstand an early South African onslaught and come back to win 12-11 at Twickenham yesterday.
The boot of Owen Farrell proved crucial as he hit four penalties that proved crucial in their opening November test.
South Africa led 8-6 at halftime, via a try for winger Sibusio Nkosi, but they should have been much further ahead as England showed nothing at all in attack but stayed in range with two Farrell penalties.
England were transformed in the second half, with their backs finally getting the ball in hand, but it was their pack, missing a host of first-choice players, who delivered the key blow by shoving the Springbok pack backwards near their own line to win a penalty that Farrell slotted for the 12-11 lead.
Fly-half Handre Pollard had the chance to win it for South Africa with another long-range penalty three minutes from time but his effort skimmed off the outside of the post.
There was drama right at the end when, with 80 minutes played, referee Angus Gardner consulted the television match official to see if England co-captain Owen Farrell had committed a no-arm tackle on Springbok replacement Andre Esterhuizen.
But the officials decided Farrell had made enough of a legal challenge not to award a penalty that could have seen South Africa snatch victory.
Farrell said: “It’s hard to keep your arms round when someone’s running that hard but thankfully there was a bit of common sense.
“The best thing about that performance was the way we stuck at it, we stayed in the fight and it paid dividends in the second half.
“They were definitely on top, they had a lot of ball and looked dangerous but we managed to stay in it. The main thing was that it was mentally tough and that counts a lot for us.”
Farrell’s teammate Chris Ashton added: “South Africa are a big team but we contained their physicality, didn’t get bored of doing the basics, and I’m really happy it worked out for us.” Meanwhile, Wales extended an unbeaten home record against Scotland to 10 Tests as they defeated their Six Nations rivals 21-10 in their clash in Cardiff.
Tries by British and Irish Lions Test stars George North and Jonathan Davies underpinned victory in the inaugural Doddie Weir Cup clash.
Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked 11 points to leave Scotland still without a win on Welsh soil since 2002 – the same year as Wales last claimed victory in an opening autumn fixture.
Captain Stuart McInally scored a try for the visitors, while assured fly-half Adam Hastings – son of former Scotland and Lions captain Gavin Hastings – kicked a penalty and conversion, and Wales had to defend for long periods of the second half before subduing their opponents.
Meanwhile, fly-half Richie Mo’unga inspired a second-string New Zealand side to a 69-31 victory over plucky Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.
Mo’unga scored a try and went eight-from-nine with the boot in a sparkling 22-point display for the world champions, who ran in 10 tries against the 2019 World Cup hosts.
Ngani Laumape bagged a hat-trick of tries, while George Bridge marked his All Blacks debut with a pair after coming on at the start of the second half.
But New Zealand, resting their big-hitters for the Tests away to England, Ireland and Italy, were given a workout by Japan watched by a crowd of 43,000.
Japan scored five tries of their own – including the game’s first, run in by Samuela Anise after just three minutes to stun the visitors. But New Zealand ran out convincing victors in the end.