0 
0 England coach Eddie Jones apologised to fans after his team was bullied by the Springboks in a repeat of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
South Africa defeated England at their Twickenham fortress for the first time in eight years in a 27-13 statement by the world champions on Sunday (AEDT).
Jones bulked up England’s lineout options for the match and predicted his team would have an edge in the scrum.
Re-watch Wallabies vs Wales and Springboks vs England on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. All matches streaming ad-free, live and on demand
But instead they were beaten up in both set-pieces as the Springboks manhandled the English pack and suffocated the backs.
Kurt-Lee Arendse scored a try for his sixth consecutive Test and Eben Etzebeth rewarded the forwards with a second-half try.
Four goal kicks by Faf de Klerk and two drop goals by Damian Willemse reflected an impressive performance on the scoreboard.
READ MORE: The unlikely heroes from epic Wallabies win
READ MORE: Aussie makes MMA history in $1.5m bloodbath
READ MORE: Superb Socceroos rock cup with Tunisia ambush
South Africa was up 27-6 and down a man after prop Thomas du Toit was sent off when England finally crossed the tryline in the 71st minute through Henry Slade.
That was about the time England started a remarkable comeback against New Zealand from 19 points down to draw their match last weekend.
But South Africa had too much control and memories of losses on its last three visits to Twickenham to let England breathe again.
The Springboks endured narrow losses on their European tour to rankings leaders Ireland and France, but were satisfied with the way they were playing and how they were building to their title defence in France next year.
England finished the year in deficit — five wins, six defeats and a draw — its worst record in 14 years.
England captain Owen Farrell opened with his first missed place kick of the autumn, after 18 straight successes.
He got the next one, though, from a scrum penalty in which tighthead Frans Malherbe incredibly twisted Mako Vunipola on to his back.
It was a sign of the dominance South Africa gained in the scrum.
Farrell missed the posts a second time while de Klerk leveled as South Africa did everything but score for a time.
After Willemse’s first drop goal put them in front, the second choice flyhalf received a kick on his 22 and countered.
Willie le Roux supported and Arendse shimmied past Marcus Smith to score.
De Klerk couldn’t add the extras but he nailed a penalty kick on halftime after Tom Curry was penalised and England warned for its desperate fouls at the breakdowns.
England reacted during the break by changing the front row and sending on wing Jack Nowell.
But England’s most dangerous back, Manu Tuilagi, was silenced as he was by New Zealand.
The second half seemed to be deja vu.
England’s new front row was no better, Willemse slotted a second drop goal, and Curry was penalised again and yellow carded.
South Africa struck between the posts after a Damian de Allende charge was finished by Etzebeth.
Two more goal kicks by de Klerk had South Africa out of sight at 27-6.
But du Toit spoiled the party when he shoulder charged the head of Luke Cowan-Dickie and was issued a red card.
Le Roux was sacrificed to bring back Malherbe, who gave Will Stuart a rough ride.
England’s attempt to flex some muscle at the tryline failed when two throw-ins were stolen and the scrum conceded penalties and was warned for not holding its weight.
England’s try by Slade had to start from its own half after breaks by Nowell and Farrell.
South Africa finished without de Klerk, who was carted off with a foot injury, and Kolisi, who walked off after a head knock, and still wasn’t troubled.
“We are disappointed we didn’t play how we wanted to,” Jones said.
“We did a few things at the start of the game and got a bit disappointed and dropped our energy a bit. It took until the game had gone to start playing how we wanted to…
“I think about where we are going towards a World Cup. Obviously we want to win games and be successful but are we moving in the right direction? Yes we are.
“I have coached for a number of years and I believe I can coach well. People will say what they say, and there are ups and downs in sport but we didn’t play well today and I apologise for that, it’s entirely my fault.”
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi described the win as a “big relief”.
“We have been working really hard over the past few months,” Kolisi said.
“I know some results haven’t gone our way but the way we play but we are still grateful to get the kind of support we are getting from back home.
“England were tough at the beginning but we just stuck to our guns and tweaked a few things. We will risk it all as it is worth it – we need to find answers before the World Cup but at the same time respecting England. It is not that much of a difference but we are just seeing opportunities which we didn’t in the past.”
South Africa 27 (Kurt-Lee Arendse, Eben Etzebeth tries; Faf de Klerk conversion, 3 penalties, Damian Willemse 2 drop goals) England 13 (Henry Slade try; Owen Farrell conversion, 2 penalties). HT: 14-3
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here
The sporting figures we’ve lost in 2022
