Date: 02 Dec 2000
Venue: Twickenham
Attendance: Not Recorded
Referee: Mchugh d.
Let there be no doubt about it, England have come of age. If there was ever any reservation -- following a win in South Africa and a victory over Australia a fortnight previously -- that England was not a member of the exclusive "top three in the world club", it was completely overcome at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon.
Having led 19-9 at the break, England held off a concerted South African effort early in the second half to prove that that win in Bloemfontein in June was no fluke. As expected, they were hard and uncompromising, and although the rugby on display was not terribly exciting, it was unquestionably passionate.
For South Africa, it was not to be another great escape. Both Ireland and Wales had their chances, but on both occasions the Springboks hauled out something special at the end to keep their tour on a winning track.
At Twickenham that late spark failed to ignite as England closed down the slightest break and smothered anything loose.
Speaking after the game England manager Clive Woodward saluted his side, who made it two wins over southern hemisphere opposition in two weeks.
"That was a big, big win for us today," he said.
"The marks out of ten won't be fantastic. Our front five were excellent, and the captaincy of Martin Johnson has proved really strong. It was a good performance but we could have played better."
Kicking hero of the day Jonny Wilkinson said after the match which saw him split his head in the opening minute: "The first 15 minutes were impossible.
"We could have quite easily gone back in to our shells but we took the challenge."
Wilkinson also dismissed recent criticism of the Twickenham turf, after the mud-bath surface for the Argentina Test last Saturday.
"The pitch was as good as I have ever seen it, and kicking wasn't really a problem."
Much of the early going was South Africa's, but it was of little value as far as points were concerned. First Percy Montgomery, back to the familiar role of fullback, failed to find touch with a penalty, and then Robbie Fleck threw a hopelessly forward pass to Stefan Terblanche when the try looked decidedly on.
So it was England who opened the scoring through Jonny Wilkinson with a 40-metre strike, and then Braam van Straaten put the Boks on the board with another penalty.
Wilkinson had restored the three-point lead when South Africa finally found a way through the English defence, via Breyton Paulse's pace and through kick. The Boks were awarded a scrum and Montgomery dashed through, only to be held up on the line.
The homeside, however, were offside and again Van Straaten levelled matters. In that period England lost the services of both their flanks, with Martin Corry coming on for Richard Hill, and reserve hooker Mark Regan taking over at the side of the scrum from Neil Back. Regan's spell in the unknown was gratifyingly short though, with Back returning just before the break.
Wilkinson, in the meantime, was growing in confidence. He pushed and prodded with that deft left foot of his, always pressing the Boks back.
In a desperate effort to fall back and defend, South Africa inevitably went offside, with England scrumhalf Matt Dawson taking a string of quick taps. In between that, a rolling battle continued amongst the more robust and less focused. The net result was another three points to Wilkinson, and Japie Mulder having to receive attention for a bloody gash.
Perhaps Mulder's absence created the gap, but Will Greenwood pounced on the opportunity. He collected a short pass from Wilkinson and split the Bok midfield defence for the opening try.
Van Straaten and Wilkinson exchanged penalties to end the half with England in front 19-9.
South Africa's brightest hope came in the unlikely form of Van Straaten. So often derided for his cumbersome running, his one dimensional play and unimaginative options, the stand off darted through a gap, broke three tackles and crashed over for a try four minutes into the half.
The score gave rise to a period of sustained Bok pressure, but the visitors could find no way through. England's defence held firm and then Wilkinson began working his magic once more.
24 minutes after Van Straaten's touchdown, Wilkinson threaded a ball through that ended up just metres from the Bok tryline. South Africa, once again on the back foot, transgressed and again Wilkinson punished them.
Van Straaten, en route to scoring all 17 of South Africa's points, pulled one back but Wilkinson held his nerve at the seething stadium to slot his sixth penalty and seal the win.
Speaking after the game, England try-scorer Will Greenwood outlined the renewed enjoyment of this campaign, and admitted that the first half score had surprised himself as well as the Springbok defence.
"I'm delighted to be back playing for England, and we've been doing a lot of work between the stand-off and the first centre this week."
"I didn't even realise that I had a left-foot sidestep in the cupboard," he added.
Man of the match: Close competition from Will Greenwood, but Jonny Wilkinson was superb. As he proved against Australia, he is a man for the big occasions. He was South Africa's undoing in Bloemfontein, and he did so again on Saturday night. In all, the pivot scored 20 points on top of his clever kicks and sending his line away with good ball.
Moment of the match: Greenwood slicing through the middle. Until then, the match had threatened to be a rather dour and solely physical affair. Alternatively, England hooker Phil Greening with a huge pin-point kick for touch under pressure in his 22 in the second half which raised a smile from everyone in the ground.
Villain of the match: Far too many candidates to choose from. With so many off the ball incidents -- from both sides -- it would be unfair to single out just one offender.
England 25 South Africa 17 (H-t 19-9)
England: Matt Perry (Bath); Ben Cohen (Northampton), Mike Tindall (Bath), Will Greenwood (Harlequins), Dan Luger (Saracens); Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), Matt Dawson (Northampton); Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps), Neil Back (Leicester), Richard Hill (Saracens); Danny Grewcock (Saracens), Martin Johnson (Leicester, capt); Julian White (Saracens), Phil Greening (Wasps), Jason Leonard (Harlequins).
Replacements used: Martin Corry (Leicester), Mark Regan (Bath), Iain Balshaw (Bath), Phil Vickery (Gloucester), Austin Healey (Leicester)
Try: Greenwood.
Conversion: Wilkinson
Penalties: Wilkinson (6)
South Africa: Percy Montgomery (Western Province); Breyton Paulse (Western Province), Robbie Fleck (Western Province), Japie Mulder (Golden Lions), Stefan Terblanche (Natal); Braam van Straaten (Western Province), Joost van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls); Andre Vos (Golden Lions, capt) Andre Venter (Free State), Corne Krige (Western Province); Mark Andrews (Natal), Albert van den Berg (Natal); Willie Meyer (Golden Lions), John Smit (Natal), Robbie Kempson (Western Province)
Replacements used: Grant Esterhuizen (Golden Lions), AJ Venter (Natal), Ollie le Roux (Natal), Dan van Zyl (Western Province), Warren Brosnihan (Natal)
Try: Van Straaten
Penalties: Van Straaten (4)
Referee: David McHugh (Irl)
Att: 75,000
