England 28 South Africa 31: Fleeting England lack durability and nous to mix it with the best

When England destroyed South Africa’s revered pack with two tries from driving mauls in just three second-half minutes, they looked simply immense on Saturday.

Indeed, given the forcefulness with which they executed the two line-outs, David Wilson profiting first after battering their way relentlessly infield to the posts and then Ben Morgan after a charge started from 30 metres out, it was redolent of messrs Johnson, Back, Dallaglio et al in 2003.

Owen Farrell converted both to retrieve a 20-6 deficit and level at 20-20 with bold England, making the Springboks look more like springboards the way they were bouncing off defenders, bringing dozing Twickenham alive once more.

Granted, South Africa were down to 14 men following a Victor Matfield indiscretion but still it seemed, from there and with such momentum garnered, only one winner was plausible.

But it is folly to look upon this England side with such confidence. Yes, they were brilliant in that spell but that was all it was – a fleeting spell.

Until Stuart Lancaster’s side learn how to sustain such levels of quality their record under his command of just two victories in 13 games against southern hemisphere opposition will never alter.

They even, inexplicably, managed to go behind once more while the Springboks – their mixture of gnarl and experience so telling – were still a man light.

Tom Wood, the blindside set to be one of many casualties when Lancaster names on Wednesday his side for Samoa, tackled his opposite man while still in the air at a line-out.

From the penalty, the visitors fashioned position to drive England back over their own line, Schalk Burger getting the 54th-minute try that Pat Lambie supplemented with a penalty and drop goal to leave the home side badly adrift, in more ways than one, yet again.

When Lancaster’s men did have a chance to make their own riposte, Rob Webber’s lineout throw was snaffled – admittedly they had otherwise been strong in this area – and South Africa escaped.

The hosts, fitful and devoid of ideas, had not been aided by Dylan Hartley’s latest ill-discipline, sin-binned on the hour for a stamp.

He is supposed to be one of England’s more experienced operators but he let them down badly in this instance.

The World Cup is only 10 months and, more worryingly, 10 games away but there are still few players who have truly cemented their spot yet.

Farrell and Danny Care, on his 50th Test appearance, never looked comfortable at half-back and George Ford and Ben Youngs will aim to capitalise if they get a start against Samoa on Saturday.

Billy Vunipola hoped to start showing he could be the new Dallaglio at the weekend but carried on where he left off from his ineffectual display against the All Blacks and looked at odds with himself from the off.

With so many handling mistakes, South Africa did not mind him having the ball and the Saracen’s confidence must now be in tatters?

“He’s a young player, a similar category to some of the others,” offered Lancaster about the 22-year-old.

“You put him in at the highest level against Duane Vermuelen who’s up for world player of the year.... Billy is going to be a fantastic player for England. I wouldn’t hold him responsible for the defeat.”

Certainly not. This was a collective malaise. For all their first half dominance in terms of territory, their own failings saw them go in 13-6 down.

Lock Dave Attwood bombed an overlap that could have given a try to Anthony Watson, the Bath winger troubled by kicks on his debut, after Care had already gifted Jan Serfontein a 60m intercept to help the visitors build a 10-0 lead. Lambie and Farrell exchanged two penalties each in the first half but it was South Africa – intent on responding after a shock loss to Ireland – who made the initial breakthrough in the second period.

It took them just 44 seconds to do so and it was a beautiful try crafted with all the creativity and imagination that England lacked.

Lambie, certainly taking his chance at No 10, lofted a midfield chip that Willie le Roux gathered on the full and then found the scrum-half Cobus Reinach for a sublime try that even had England fans applauding.

Lambie made it 20-6 but, even after England’s brief renaissance, his experienced side still had enough wherewithal to prosper.

Ford’s arrival came too late. He slotted a penalty and was involved in a rare passage of clarity when Brad Barritt scored his side’s third try.

But that came in the penultimate minute and South Africa, unlike England, do not offer reprieves.

England: Brown; Watson, Barritt, Eastmond, May; Farrell (Ford 65), Care (Youngs 65); Marler (Mullan 66), Hartley, Wilson (Brookes 72), Attwood (Kruis 66), Lawes, Wood (Webber 60), Robshaw, Vunipola (Morgan 44)

South Africa: le Roux; Pietersen, Serfontein, de Villiers, Habana; Lambie, Reinach; Mtawarira (Nyakane 74), Strauss (B du Plessis 60), J du Plessis (Oosthuizen 65), Etzebeth (Botha 65), Matfield, Coetzee, Burger (Mohoje 77), Vermeulen.

Referee: S Walsh (Australia).