EDDIE PRAISES ENGLISH STARS IN NEWLANDS

ENGLAND’S five-Test losing run came to an end as Owen Farrell marked his first win as captain by kicking six penalties in a 25-10 victory over South Africa at Newlands.

The series had already been surrendered following defeats in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, but in Cape Town they salvaged some pride with a gutsy display that grew in purpose in the second half.

What started as an ugly spectacle scarred by repeated mistakes eventually developed into a tense climax to the tour that produced two eye-catching moments for both teams, Jess Kriel’s try for the hosts cancelled out by a scorching Jonny May effort.

Danny Cipriani, making his first Test start for a decade, had been a peripheral figure until he delivered the perfect chip into the right corner where May’s electric pace enabled him to win the foot race.

But the biggest winning margin of the series was primarily about the boot of Farrell, who finished with a 20-point haul, and the renewal of English forward might after passive displays in the first two Tests.

The penalty count that had been so damaging at Ellis Park and Free State Stadium was turned on its head with the favourable 14-6 statistic enabling Eddie Jones’ men to keep their foot on the Springboks’ throats once they had seized the lead.

It is a win that relieves the pressure on the under-pressure Jones, who can now enter the autumn series with renewed conviction. Unfortunately, only a paltry crowd of 33,827 was in attendance at Newlands.

The torrential downpour that had swept across Cape Town in the hours before the match stopped in time for kick-off but enough rain had already fallen to make the pitch treacherous.

Jones said: “It’s a great reward for the players. Today we were able to control the big moments.

“Their control and the way we stuck to the tactical plan was good.

It’s a great learning experience for the World Cup.

“It’s never a deadrubber - England had never won at Newlands before so these guys will remember that. We want to be the world’s best team and we’re back on the road

again.”

SOUTH AFRICA: Try: Kriel Con: Jantjies Pen: Jantjies

ENGLAND: Try: May Con: Farrell (left) Pens: Farrell 6

It’s never a dead rubber. We want to be the world’s best team and we are back on the road..

WIN Eddie Jones with try hero Jonny May