England beat South Africa 32-16 at Twickenham on a miserable London day and were full value for the win. It was only a late try by South Africa that gave them some meagre look of respectability as England simply strangled them up front and took their chances so well when they had them.
England scored two tries to one, both England's scores coming in the first half. For the rest it was fly-half Charlie Hodgson's boot, put in place by his dominant pack.
You pays your money and takes your chances, the pub philosopher said. He may have straightened up his grammar and his accent if he had been at Twickenham but that would have been a fair summary of the first half at greasy Twickenham.
England led 20-6 at half-time. They came into the South African 22 twice and scored 14 points from their visits.
South Africa paid more frequent visits to the England's 22, but did not look like having a creative idea which could have led to a try. It was left to late in the second half for a spectacular try and the chance of another soon afterwards. But they were well and truly beaten.
To compound their problems they were thrashed in the loose for poor, ununified protection of their own ball and made no impact on England's ball. In both England's tries they missed crucial tackles. Not only did they turn over ball in the loose but they knocked on with crucial regularity and kicked poorly out of hand ― kicking by reflex and making it an exercise in handing over possession.
England opened the scoring after just over a minute. Matfield, not for the only time in the half, failed at the England tackle and the went off-side and Charlie Hodgson, the star of the half, goaled.
When Mark Cueto got isolated and held on Percy Montgomery kicked long and low and goaled. 3-3.
A poor clearance from Breyton Paulse gave England an attacking line-out. It went deep and became a maul. Steve Thompson wandered off it and gave to Andy Gomarsall. The scrum-half gave to Hodgson who went past De Wet Barry and through Montgomery and Paulse to score under the posts. He converted. 10-3.
Hodgson started the next try in unpromising circumstances, under pressure not far from touch. But he sprinted down the blindside and gave to Josh Lewsey who charged ahead. England won the ball and Henry Paul kicked high and wide. Cueto dived at the dropping ball in the in-goal area, caught it and scored. Hodgson converted. 17-3.
When Lewis Moody was penalised for going in at the side of a tackle, Montgomery again goaled from a long way out ― 17-6. But soon afterwards the Springboks were penalised for off-side. 20-6.
The Springboks had a great attacking chance when Matfield won an England line-out close to their line, but somehow, mysteriously, Joe Worsley paddled the ball back and England relieved the pressure.
In the first half the Springboks' discipline held and the penalty count was 3-all. In the second half the penalties went 8-2 in favour of England, which made the visitors' task impossible.
South Africa scored first in the second half, when Graham Rowntree was penalised at a scrum and Montgomery made it 20-9. Hodgson made it 23-9, then 26-9 with a neat dropped goal, then 29-9, then 32-9.
With seven minutes left Van Der Westhuyzen skipped out of Hodgson's tackle near the half-way line and sped straight downfield before sending replacement Bryan Habana, on for injured Jean de Villiers, speeding round behind the posts.
When Van Niekerk had a run down the same channel Habana came inside him to take the pass and was caught by the cover.
South Africa? Where, oh where, is all the liveliness, joy, confidence, spirit of the Tri-Nations? This was not a spirited performance. England? Great stranglehold but was is the weather that stopped them scoring a try for 54 minutes despite a plethora of possession?
Man of the Match: It has to be Charlie Hodgson ― no doubt. He scored a great individual try ― the sort of try that left the opposition shaking their heads for they knew that he should not have scored it. In addition he kicked 22 points ― 27 out of 32. He was also the spark that ignited England's second try. There were other great performances ― Martin Corry and Josh Lewsey amongst them.
Moment of the Match: This one is Mark Cueto's try ― Hodgson's vision and dash, Josh Lewsey's accelerated burst, Henry Paul's brilliant kick and Mark Cueto's dive, catch and score.
Villain of the match: Nobody, unless you want to give it to the Boks for a poor effort. But nobody in terms of foul play.
The scorers:
For England:
Tries: Hodgson, Cueto
Cons: Hodgson 2
Pens: Hodgson 5
DG: Hodgson
For South Africa:
Try: Habana
Con: Montgomery
Pens: Montgomery 3
The teams:
England: 15 Jason Robinson (captain), 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Henry Paul (Will Greenwood, 71), 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Andy Gomarsall (Harry Ellis, 66), 8 Martin Corry, 6 Joe Worsley (Andy Hazell, 71), 7 Lewis Moody (Andy Hazell, 6-14), 5 Steve Borthwick (Ben Kay, 71), 4 Danny Grewcock, 3 Julian White, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Graham Rowntree.
Unused replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Andy Sheridan, 22 Ben Cohen.
South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Breyton Paulse (Jaque Fourie, 72), 13 Marius Joubert, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Jean de Villiers (Bryan Habana, 72), 10 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 AJ Venter (Danie Rossouw, 55), 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Eddie Andrews (CJ Van der Linde, 44), 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt (CJ Van der Linde, 17-23).
Unused replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 19 Gerrie Britz, 20 Michael Claassens.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: Paul Honiss (New Zealand), Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
Assessor: David Kerr (Scotland)
Television match official: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
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