Off Scottish challenge

most of overwhelming territory and possession in the second half. The Scots had three tryscoring chances and were held up, stopped short, and the ball was dropped over the tryline.

❏ One way or another, Owen Farrell was going to be the decisive factor in a tense finale between England and South Africa.

The England flyhalf was relieved it was his late penalty, and not a disputed tackle, that turned out to be the decisive moment in a 12-11 win over the Springboks in London yesterday.

Farrell’s kick put England ahead in the 73rd minute. His counterpart Handre Pollard had a chance to regain the lead four minutes from the end but his shot glanced off the right post.

The finish was made more dramatic in the final seconds when the Television Match Official was consulted over a Farrell tackle on Andre Esterhuizen. But it was deemed just fair enough, and England held on for a morale-boosting victory ahead of fixtures against New Zealand, Japan, and Australia.

❏ Fullback Jordan Larmour scored a hat trick of tries as Ireland’s experimental side outclassed Italy’s secondstringers 54-7 in Chicago.

Larmour and lock Tadhg Beirne, who notched a brace, both made their first starts. Ireland also sent on reserve backs Ross Byrne and Will Addison to debut in a match building depth for the 2019 World Cup.

Ireland’s depth, as expected, was far more impressive as eight tries were posted to one intercept try.

Even with only four surviving starters from the matchup in February during the Six Nations Grand Slam run, Ireland put a fourth consecutive 50 on Italy, which fielded only two starters from nine months ago.