A fifth Test defeat in a row for England and little evidence of the great reset promised ahead of this Nations Championship opener after their humbling Six Nations campaign. South Africa, in what was their first game since last November, ran in seven tries in a statement victory that ramps up the pressure again on Steve Borthwick and leaves so many questions hanging in the air.
England will arrive back in London on Monday morning, with just six days to prepare for the game against Fiji in Liverpool, knowing that another defeat will not be acceptable.
Losing to South Africa at high altitude at Ellis Park, a mile above sea level, is one thing, losing to Fiji on ‘home’ turf in the seaside port would be a different story altogether.
Once again discipline let Borthwick’s side down, just as it did so often during the Six Nations, as they finished the contest with 13 men following yellow cards for Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper, and South Africa turned the scoreline into the rout they had promised from early in the first half, finishing with tries by Malcolm Marx and Ben-Jason Dixon.
There was a lack of ruthlessness in England’s finishing, too, and at times they were simply out-powered by the relentless physicality of a Springboks side who were playing their first game together since last November. South Africa were easily able to seize on defensive lapses.