England vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby result, final score and reaction from 2021 Autumn Nations Series
Eddie Jones’ side got some revenge against the world champion Springboks
England welcomed South Africa to Twickenham on Saturday afternoon in a mouthwatering rematch of the World Cup final two years on.
Fly-half Marcus Smith landed a last-minute penalty to snatch a 27-26 win as the hosts looked full of early promise but were hauled back by the battling Springboks in the teams’ first meeting since the 2019 showpiece.
England fashioned excellent early tries for Manu Tuilagi and Freddie Steward but were penalised relentlessly and four penalties for Handre Pollard kept South Africa within five points at the break.
The Springboks edged clear in the second half and, after tries by Raffie Quirke for England and Makazole Mapimpi for the Springboks, a Fran Steyne penalty put the visitors two points ahead with six minutes to go. England, though, mustered one final attack and earned a penalty on the 22 that Smith smashed over.
With star youngsters like Smith, Steward and Quirke breaking through across a fruitful autumn, Jones admitted the quest for the 2023 World Cup title hurtles ever closer. Asked if this autumn series represents a new England era, coach Eddie Jones replied: “Yes, we said in the summer that the Lions tour draws a line in the sand, and that you need to regenerate and have a little bit of a rebirth to go to the World Cup.
“There’s some good players coming through but we’ve got some pretty good experienced players too. They feel comfortable within themselves, they want to be together, they want to work together. Our stated aim is to win the World Cup, so we want to be better in the next campaign.”
Full time: France 40-25 New Zealand
Sam Whitelock: “It’s not how we wanted to finish our year. We wanted to start well and we didn’t do that. France came out and got on top of us early, it made it hard from the start.
“No excuses at all. They were just better than us tonight. It hurts me saying that but we just need to learn from it, grow and evolve. We’ve got a break now but we want to hold on to this feeling because we don’t want to feel it again.”
FULL TIME: FRANCE 40-25 NEW ZEALAND
Incredible scenes in the Stade de France. It’s their first victory over New Zealand in Paris since 1973!
This was the moment that France really sealed their famous win - although Ntamack’s run from behind his own try-line was probably the moment of the match.
FULL TIME: FRANCE 40-25 NEW ZEALAND
That is a stunning victory for France, a statement night for this young team.
Ntamack, Dupont, Jaminet, Woki and Mauvaka were extraordinary.
“For a lot of us this is the first time we’ve played the All Blacks, to beat them is a dream,” says Gregory Alldritt.
“We will celebrate this evening.”
FULL TIME: FRANCE 40-25 NEW ZEALAND
Jaminet stays perfect and just look at that score!
France have beaten the All Blacks for the first time since 2010, and have claimed their first victory on home soil in over 20 years!
What a match, what a night at the Stade de France.
New Zealand, battered and bruised, have now lost back to back matches for only the second time in 10 years.
France 37 -25 New Zealand
79 mins: Demba Bemba makes a big carry and New Zealand concede another penalty!
Jaminet will kick for the posts to seal an incredible French victory!
France 37 -25 New Zealand
78 mins: France win a penalty on halfway and that is greeted as if they had scored a try! France kick to the corner and are 60 seconds away from a famous win!
France 37 -25 New Zealand
77 mins: New Zealand withstand France’s pressure and are finally able to clear to touch in order to get up the pitch.
Time is running out for the All Blacks though. France are almost there.
France 37 -25 New Zealand
74 mins: Incredible tenacity from Dupont who, with France camped five metres out, charges straight into a couple of big challenges.
New Zealand kick clear but it doesn’t reach touch - and France come again! It was worked wide to Penaud, who chipped towards the line, and Damian McKenzie was swallowed up behind his try-line.
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