Summary

  • England beat world champions South Africa in thrilling Twickenham Test

  • Marcus Smith's last-minute penalty secures England victory

  • Makazole Mapimpi try and Frans Steyn penalty had put South Africa in lead

  • Raffi Quirke scored for England but world champions dominated second half

  • Manu Tuilagi went off injured after diving over for early first-half try

  • Freddie Steward scored England's second try but hosts only led 17-12 at half-time

Live Reporting

Becky Grey

  1. England 17-12 South Africa

    And it doesn't even look like those replacements are needed yet.

    All of England's forwards end up standing in the scrum and concede a penalty, which Handre Pollard fancies trading for three points.

  2. England 17-12 South Africa

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport at Twickenham

    The bomb squad - South Africa's fabled replacement front row of Vincent Koch, Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff - are getting stripped and ready for action.

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    Wonder if we'll see that Simmonds, Slade centre partnership we all want as the replacements come on???

    Andy at Twickenham

    Scrum-half Raffi Quirke is the only other backline replacement on the bench, so you never know...

  4. England 17-12 South Africa

    Courtney Lawes manages to disrupt an already shaky-looking South Africa line-out.

    The captain's efforts result in an England scrum in what should have been a good attacking position for the Springboks.

  5. Kick-off

    England 17-12 South Africa

    Here we go again.

    This is going to be tasty.

  6. Half-time stats

    HT: England 17-12 South Africa

    England have had 57% of possession so far and have made 53 tackles to South Africa's 33.

    The hosts have made 112m; the visitors 54m.

    The only downside? England have conceded seven penalties and South Africa four.

    Let's see if they can tighten that up for the second 40. The teams are ready to go again.

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    With the England performance so far and the World Cup in mind, hopefully we have seen the last of Owen Farrell in an England shirt...

    Dave Smith

    Whatever happens from here, there are some fantastic signs of life from England. They'll be desperate to win it, but the variety and verve of some of their attacking play, from a comparatively young and inexperienced team, bodes very well.

    CH, Warwick

  8. Half-time reality check

    HT: England 17-12 South Africa

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  9. Story of the half

    HT: England 17-12 South Africa

    Well that was all very exciting.

    Manu Tuilagi got England off to a perfect start with his early try, but was forced to leave the field injured straight after and was replaced by Max Malins.

    Manu TuliagiGetty Images

    England's impressive attack continued and new star Freddie Steward made it over the whitewash too.

    Freddie StewardGetty Images

    But from there it was all down to the kickers, with South Africa's Handre Pollard already up to 12 points in a performance dangerously reminiscent of his World Cup final reliability.

    Handré PollardGetty Images

  10. HT: England 17-12 South Africa

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Great game this, England are playing with ambition and enterprise.

    England are the better side so far but against South Africa you know you've got to be that for the 80 minutes to get the result.

  11. Half-time

    HT: England 17-12 South Africa

    That will be all for now.

    A dominant first half for England against the world champions and it doesn't feel right that they only have a five-point lead to show for it.

  12. England 17-12 South Africa

    It's all go.

    Bongi Mbonambi overthrows his line-out on South Africa's 22. England gather and Marcus Smith decides it's time for a drop-goal.

    It doesn't quite go to plan as Smith slices the ball low through the air. Wonder if that was discussed or if it was a maverick Marcus moment.

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    Paul Tooze: Does the refereeing need to be tougher in the Premiership to eradicate England's indiscipline?

    Ian: I hate the box kick.

    Paul David Opie: No scores in future tweets I promise. What time is Blamire's try due?

    We already forgive you Paul.

  14. England 17-12 South Africa

    Cheeky. Jamie Blamire pops a short line-out to Kyle Sinckler at the front.

    It comes to nothing as South Africa win a penalty on the floor on their own 22. Will we see another score before half-time?

  15. England 17-12 South Africa

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport at Twickenham

    That shuddering hit from Ox Nche on Bevan Rodd brought the whole of the Springbok bench and water carriers to their feet.

    The cheer/bomb squad are less impressed as England burgle a breakdown shortly after.

    Rassie's high-decibel feedback missing from their arsenal today.

  16. England 17-12 South Africa

    Handre Pollard gets the chance to clear his lines and end England's challenge.

    After the line-out, the hosts win the ball back on the floor, kick it away and soon win a penalty.

    This has been a breathless first half, but England fancy more as Henry Slade kicks to the corner.

  17. England 17-12 South Africa

    Twickenham gives the kind of 'weyyy' you might hear in the school canteen as a teenager when Cobus Reinach duffs his kick and gives England yet another attacking opportunity with a line-out in the 22.

    Joe Marchant gets the hosts to within 5m before Bevan Rodd takes a huge hit and is bounced way back by Ox Nche.

  18. England 17-12 South Africa

    Freddie Steward gathers Handre Pollard's clearing kick and England relaunch their attack again.

    More quick hands across the field almost get Max Malins away down the right wing again, but he is taken into touch by Damian de Allende.

  19. England 17-12 South Africa

    England have a renewed focus on attack after their fifth-place Six Nations finish earlier this year.

    It seems to be working, but their discipline has gifted South Africa too many points so far.

    The Springboks have a tricky line-out to negotiate on their 5m line, though.

    England v South AfricaGetty Images

  20. Penalty - England 17-12 South Africa

    Handre Pollard

    Think I might be with the crowd at this stage. Let's have a few more of those tries.

    Another from pin-point Pollard reduces England's lead to five.