England vs South Africa - Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly secure controversial victory over Springboks
England fought back from behind to defeat South Africa 12-11 and kickstart not only their autumn international campaign but also their Rugby World Cup plans.
But it took a hugely controversial finish to fall in England's favour to secure the win, with Owen Farrell involved in a last-play TMO review for what appeared to be a shoulder tackle on replacement Andre Esterhuizen.
Referee Angus Gardner and Irish TMO Olly Hodges reviewed the tackle after the former had initially blown for full-time, but deemed it just on the side of legal to hand England a hugely important victory.
The win gives England back-to-back wins over the Springboks, which is all the more impressive given the number of players that Eddie Jones was missing from his squad and the lack of ball carriers they had in the pack, and it is the perfect preparation for welcoming the All Blacks to Twickenham next weekend.
South Africa took the lead in the first half through a Handre Pollard penalty that Farrell soon matched, although by that point Maro Itoje had been sent to the sin-bon for repeatedly infringing. But the Springboks hit the gas soon after Itoje's return that saw the wing Sbu Nkosi spring over in the corner, with Pollard missing what would prove a crucial conversion.
England landed an immediate response as Farrell struck his second penalty before the break, but after half-time England spurred into life. Elliot Daly stepped up to strike a 49m penalty that nudged England into the lead, and while Pollard was able to put the Springboks back in front, England's defence set the tone for their attack that suddenly started to click. Farrell was given a late chance to win the match for England seven minutes from time, and although Pollard was given his own chance a few minutes later, his effort just shaved the outside of the upright to hand England victory.
Full-time: Never have I seen a Test at Twickenham end in such confusion, but between referee Angus Garnder and TMO Olly Hodges, they deemed Farrell's questionable tackle on Andre Esterhuizen just about legalm handing England the most unlikeliest of wins.
A tale of two halves it was, but England march on to next week's clash with the All Blacks with wind in their sails and a win under their belt.
76 mins: Do the Springboks have anything left? Ohyes. They drive through the English pack on halfway and it gives them a penalty that Pollard reckons he's got. It's about 47m out, similar to Daly's effort...
72 mins: Penalty England! They get the scrum penalty as replacement prop Du Toit collapses under pressure from Williams, and Farrell will kick for goal.
70 mins: Farrell gets absolutely clattered as he passes the ball, and looks to be in a bit of trouble out there. As a result Te'o takes the first phase and releases Daly, who again has May outside him but can't find the wing. England break again seconds later when Te'o throws a lovely offload around the defender to Mercer, who in turn finds Shields, but his attempted offload on the try line goes forwards and the chance goes amiss.
This second half has been hugely different to the first.
67 mins: Kruis is judged to have held onto the ball and gives away the penalty five metres into his own half. Pollard decides to go for goal...and gets it. South Africa back into the lead! 9-11
65 mins: Replacements galore. Kitschoff, Malherbe and Kolisi depart for the Springboks with Thomas du Toit, Wilco Louw and Lood de Jager on, while Sinckler, Youngs and Nowell head off with Harry Williams, Danny Care and - to a huge ovation - Chris Ashton all on.
63 mins: Pollard does supremely well to piroret out of Nowell's and Wilson's reach and he kicks upfield, but Jonny May sweeps around and he's off! He srpints past Whiteley, then Dyantyi and Snyman, and when he offloads to Nowell the Exeter wing makes a further 20 metres before offloading to Slade. It gives England good position to attack from 30m out...
60 mins: Whiteley is singled out for tackling in the air at the lineout, and Farrell chooses to go for goal. It's about eight metres into the Springboks half but on the angle, but he clearly fancies it and Daly is told not to worry. Does he have the legs?
57 mins: The co-captain is off as Jamie George replaces Dylan Hartley. Replays meanwhile show that had Daly seen May outside him on that last play he was in for the try. A chance missed.
56 mins: England are off again! Slade breaks in midfield and finds Daly, but rather than go on the outside he comes in-field and it gives South Africa time to get back and force the turnover inside their 22.
England vs South Africa kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 3 November.
Where can I watch it?
The Test will be shown live on Sky Sports Action from 2:00pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 2:30pm.
Teams
England:Elliot Daly; Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ben Te’o, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Alec Hepburn, Dylan Hartley, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Brad Shields, Tom Curry, Mark Wilson.
Replacements:Jamie George, Ben Moon, Harry Williams, Charlie Ewels, Zach Mercer, Danny Care, George Ford, Chris Ashton.
South Africa:Damian Willemse; Sbu Nkosi, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Aphiwe Dyantyi; Handre Pollard, Ivan van Zyl; Steven Kitschoff, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe; Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit; Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Embrose Papier, Elton Jantjies, Andre Esterhuizen.
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