Springboks make England pay the penalty
With the home side trailing 16-12 and only two minutes left, England captain Chris Robshaw -criticised for running kickable penalties during last week's defeat by Australia -- told replacement fly-half Owen Farrell to go for goal rather than opt for an attacking line-out that could have lead to a try.
LONDON, Nov 24, 2012 (AFP) - South Africa completed an unbeaten tour of Europe with a 16-15 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday that did more damage to the hosts' hopes of a top four seeding at next month's World Cup draw.
Springbok flanker Willem Alberts's try -- the only one of the match -- early in the second half proved the decisive score.
But with the home side trailing 16-12 and only two minutes left, England captain Chris Robshaw -- criticised for running kickable penalties during last week's defeat by Australia - - told replacement fly-half Owen Farrell to go for goal rather than opt for an attacking line-out that could have lead to a try.
But while Farrell landed the kick, it meant England, fifth in the world rankings, were still a point behind.
South Africa then ran down the clock to extend their unbeaten streak against England to 11 Tests.
England, who suffered a frustrating 14-14 draw with the Springboks in Port Elizabeth in June, made six changes from the side beaten 20-14 by Australia.
In the backs Mike Brown came in for left wing Charlie Sharples and Ben Youngs started at scrum-half in place of Danny Care.
Lock Joe Launchbury was given a first Test start as Wasps team-mate Tom Palmer made way and a rejigged back-row saw the return of No 8 Ben Morgan and blindside flanker Tom Wood.
Meanwhile Alex Corbisiero, fit following a knee injury, was back at loose-head prop following Joe Marler's knee injury.
South Africa, by contrast, were unchanged from the team that last week beat Scotland 2110 at Murrayfield, having started their tour with a 16-12 win over Ireland in Dublin. An attritional first half finished with South Africa 9-6 in front after Springbok fly-half Pat Lambie kicked three penalties from as many attempts while his England counterpart, Toby Flood, landed two from four.