ENGLAND’S AIR OF DESPERATION

Jones’ men claim altitude affected them after FIFTH straight defeat

JAMIE GEORGE claimed England had an altitude problem after their hopes of redemption disappeared into thin air.

Eddie Jones’ team ran out of puff just 20 minutes into Saturday’s first Test and fell victim to the secondbiggest top tier international comeback of all time. Jones insisted they had got their calculations right despite crashing to earth after leading 24-3 inside the first quarter.

“We don’t think the benefits of staying at altitude are massive enough,” he said, defending his decision to prepare on the coast for a match more than a mile above sea level.

“We didn’t lose the game because of altitude. We lost it because of our individual errors and discipline.”

Hooker George’s reaction to a fifth successive England loss appeared to tell a different story. Referring to the altitude, he said: “It really did kick in.

“After 20 to 30 minutes it definitely hit us quite hard. There’s no excuse for that, (it’s the same for) both teams.” At 1,724 metres, Ellis Park is the world’s highest international rugby ground – a third the height of Everest base camp.

Lower oxygen levels in the air make breathing more difficult. It is literally nosebleed territory.

Faf de Klerk, whose man-ofthe-match performance turned the game South Africa’s way, said the Boks had banked on England tiring.

“We knew they were based in Durban and that coming from the UK the altitude was going to be a factor,” he said. “So I never doubted we would come back.”

So much for England sweeping this series 3-0 as was their boldly stated aim. They have now conceded 14 tries and more than 100 points in two games – and could drop below Wales to fifth in the world rankings.

Yesterday they flew down to sea level to prepare for Saturday’s do-or-die Bloemfontein Test – back up at altitude, of course, this time 1,400m.

“It’s not quite as high,” said George. “We’ll look to learn our lessons.”

Captain Owen Farrell will demand England cut out the careless penalties, stop talking the talk and start delivering.

“We can’t sulk and feel sorry for ourselves,” he said. “We need a proper deep belief that we can go and win this Test series.

“Not just saying we believe, not just chatting about it.”

SOUTH AFRICA - Tries: de Klerk, Nkosi 2, le Roux, Dyantyi. Cons: Pollard 4. Pens: Pollard 3.

ENGLAND - Tries: Brown, Daly, Farrell, Itoje, May. Cons: Farrell 4. Pen: Daly, Farrell.