World Cup-winning prop Phil Vickery came off the bench to spare England from the embarrassment of what would have been a record-breaking eighth straight defeat as they came from behind to beat South Africa 23-21 at Twickenham on Saturday.
England were 18-6 down early in the second half but made their possession after the break count eight minutes from time when Vickery burrowed over to ease the pressure on coach Andy Robinson in what was the first of two back-to-back Tests against the Springboks.
But just as important to England’s victory, which came nearly three years to the day after they won the World Cup, was the performance of Josh Lewsey, another of their 2003 heroes, who made two try-saving tackles.
Right wing Mark Cueto scored England’s first try after two early penalties from Charlie Hodgson with Andy Goode’s two conversions and a penalty their other scores.
The Springboks saw Butch James and Akona Ndungane cross England’s line. James also landed a penalty and conversion with Francois Steyn kicking a huge drop-goal.
The defeat was South Africa’s seventh in a row against England and left them still searching for a first Twickenham win since 1997.
They had left several leading players behind for their European tour in a bid to develop their squad for next year’s World Cup, a decision that led to renewed criticism of under-fire coach Jake White who’d seen his team lose five on the bounce earlier this year.
South Africa, beaten 32-15 by Ireland last week, turned round 13-6 up at the break after scoring the only try of the first half shortly before the interval.
After fullback Steyn had missed with a 60m penalty, England wing Ben Cohen kicked possession straight back to the Boks.
James caught and then found flanker Danie Rossouw in support who then fed centre Jean de Villiers.
He in turn released flyhalf James who, taking the ball at speed, sliced through the English defence out wide and then cut back inside for a try.
James converted and South Africa had a seven-point cushion.
They might have been further ahead had it not been for two try-saving tackles by the recalled Lewsey, one of seven changes to the starting line-up beaten 25-18 by Argentina last weekend.
An early penalty exchange left the scores level at 3-3 with England captain Martin Corry lucky not to be yellow carded for a head-high tackle on James.
With both packs showing plenty of commitment up front, South Africa’s backs almost scored the first try of the match in the 13th minute.
Exploiting the gap between 10 and 12 in England’s defensive line-up, just as Argentina had done the week before, De Villiers intercepted Hodgson’s pass from 50m out and sprinted for the corner.
But despite having Ndungane and back-row Pierre Spies on his inside, de Villiers didn’t pass and Lewsey produced a superb try saving tackle
Another Hodgson penalty nudged England in front before Steyn, who made his debut against Ireland, landed an audacious drop-goal from 45m.
Lewsey then prevented another try with a fine tackle on Steyn.
Soon afterwards England saw Hodgson stretchered off before James missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Then, in the third minute of the second-half, a James kick did lead to a score. His superb grubber punt split the flat England defence and right wing Ndungane gathered a kindly bounce for his first Test try.
James just missed the conversion from out on the touchline but the Springboks had a healthy 18-6 lead.
But England found themselves a man-up when De Villiers was sin-binned for a professional foul before the hosts saw prop Andrew Sheridan stretchered off and replaced by Vickery.
England hit back when, from a scrum, the ball went onto the blindside and replacement flyhalf Goode dived for the line.
Tackled short by Springbok scrumhalf Ricky Januarie, Goode laid the ball back for Cueto to score a try.
Goode converted and South Africa’s lead had been cut to 18-13.
Steyn was then denied a try when held up over the line by Vickery after a neat move on the narrow side but England had infringed and James’s simple penalty extended South Africa’s lead to 21-13 — two scores in front — heading into the final quarter.
But with 13 minutes to go, South Africa gave Goode an easy penalty chance and England were just 21-16 behind.
And their pressure was rewarded when Vickery crossed after England had been camped on the Springbok line for several minutes, Goode’s conversion giving them a priceless lead. — AFP
