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Cipriani and Farrell ease pressure on Jones as England avoid SA whitewash

England’s Jonny May in the third Test with South Africa

Danny Cipriani marked his first England start since 2008 in style and Owen Farrell also starred as England avoided a whitewash in South Africa with a 25-10 win in the third and final Test in Cape Town.

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Defeats in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein saw England miss out on the chance to claim a first series win in South Africa and piled pressure on head coach Eddie Jones.

Wet conditions in Cape Town sent some members of the pre-match entertainment flying to the turf on Saturday and unsurprisingly did not lead to aesthetically pleasing rugby.

Yet England earned a degree of comfort from a disappointing series thanks to 20 points from the boot of Farrell and an excellent kick from Cipriani, which found Jonny May for their only try – effectively deciding the contest – as the tourists ended a five-Test losing streak.

Elton Jantjies missed an early penalty for South Africa and, by the time he did find his range from the tee, it only served to halve the hosts’ deficit at the interval, Farrell having knocked over two three-pointers of his own in the opening period.

Farrell restored England’s six-point lead four minutes after the restart before Schalk Brits was brought off the bench for his return from international retirement, bringing energy to a Newlands crowd that had further reason to cheer when Warrick Gelant produced a rare moment of precision.

Gelant’s excellent grubber sent Jesse Kriel in for the game’s first try, and when Jantjies converted England would have feared a repeat after letting leads slip in each of the first two Tests.

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However, two further Farrell penalties nudged them into a five-point lead and, with time running out for the Springboks, Cipriani produced a moment of magic.

Cipriani was tackled as he launched a kick cross-field, but the ball spiralled perfectly into the far corner of the in-goal area, and May turned on the jets to dot down.

Farrell converted and then added gloss with the sixth penalty of a talismanic display, as England ground out a deserved triumph that Jones will hope brings an end to his toughest period since taking charge.

 

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B
BeamMeUp 3 hours ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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