LONDON: South Africa completed an unbeaten tour of Europe with a 16-15 victory over England at Twickenham yesterday 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 in a rainswept match.
But with the hosts 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 led to a try.
But while Farrell landed the kick, it meant England, fifth in the world rankings, were still a point behind.
South Africa, second in the world standings, then ran down the clock to extend their unbeaten streak against England to 11 Tests.
“From that last penalty, I thought we would have a chance to get down the other end and put over a drop-goal,” Robshaw told Sky Sports.
England coach Stuart Lancaster defended his captain by saying: “You can understand why anyone makes any decision but games are not won or lost on any one decision, we lost control in the middle third of the game.”
AFP
