1. Robshaw's indecision is final
Chris Robshaw was criticised for not going for three points on three occasions against Australia and there were two occasions in the final seven minutes on Saturday when he dithered about kicking for goal or touch. The first, near halfway, saw a 21-second delay between the awarding of a penalty and Owen Farrell kicking the ball to touch. When England were awarded a penalty after 77 minutes 23 seconds, it was half a minute before the referee Nigel Owens pointed to the posts and 13 seconds later Robshaw asked if he could change his mind. By the time Patrick Lambie took the restart, there were 61 seconds left, almost the time procrastination had cost England. Robshaw's final decision was questioned, but England had only scored one try in two matches, the number the Springboks had conceded in three.
2. Restarting over - England had no variety
England mixed up their restarts against Australia, causing problems when Toby Flood kicked short, but there was no variety on Saturday. They kicked long every time, usually to the No8 Duane Vermeulen, who rarely found himself under pressure. They were awarded a penalty from the kick-off when Ruan Pienaar's box kick was charged down by Geoff Parling and seemed content to receive kicks from the Springboks. In contrast, the visitors' try came indirectly from the kick-off for the second half which landed on the home 22. Ben Morgan knocked on, South Africa were a minute later awarded a penalty which they kicked to touch and the only try of the game came fortuitously from it for Willem Alberts.
England mixed up their restarts against Australia, causing problems when Toby Flood kicked short, but there was no variety on Saturday. They kicked long every time, usually to the No8 Duane Vermeulen, who rarely found himself under pressure. They were awarded a penalty from the kick-off when Ruan Pienaar's box kick was charged down by Geoff Parling and seemed content to receive kicks from the Springboks. In contrast, the visitors' try came indirectly from the kick-off for the second half which landed on the home 22. Ben Morgan knocked on, South Africa were a minute later awarded a penalty which they kicked to touch and the only try of the game came fortuitously from it for Willem Alberts.
3. Set pieces were in pieces
England sorted out the problems they had encountered in the scrum against Australia and it was a productive area on Saturday, earning them three points from the first and Flood missed a penalty after the third: Farrell's second penalty came after England had run a free-kick from a scrum. England earned six penalties/free-kicks from the scrum compared to South Africa's one. In contrast, the lineout malfunctioned. Tom Youngs's 100 % throwing record for the month went on his first throw and there were four more blemishes to come, usually when he tried to find Tom Wood. The conditions were wet, but he was always supplied with a dry ball and the Springboks won all their lineouts.
England sorted out the problems they had encountered in the scrum against Australia and it was a productive area on Saturday, earning them three points from the first and Flood missed a penalty after the third: Farrell's second penalty came after England had run a free-kick from a scrum. England earned six penalties/free-kicks from the scrum compared to South Africa's one. In contrast, the lineout malfunctioned. Tom Youngs's 100 % throwing record for the month went on his first throw and there were four more blemishes to come, usually when he tried to find Tom Wood. The conditions were wet, but he was always supplied with a dry ball and the Springboks won all their lineouts.
4. Not passing muster - backs must get involved
It was a rainy day and handling was difficult, but there was not one move in the match that saw the ball going through the hands of both England's centres, Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi. Chris Ashton has not scored a try in 11 internationals, and while he often comes infield looking for the ball, it rarely finds him out wide. Tuilagi passed the ball once all afternoon, finding Ashton after he intercepted a pass in South Africa's 22. Alex Goode is England's second playmaker from full-back and he was the one outside back who put team-mates into space. The Springboks showed little adventure: their outside-centre Juan de Jongh only touched the ball once, but England will on Saturday face a team that regards passing as an essential skill, no matter the number on the back of a jersey – New Zealand.
It was a rainy day and handling was difficult, but there was not one move in the match that saw the ball going through the hands of both England's centres, Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi. Chris Ashton has not scored a try in 11 internationals, and while he often comes infield looking for the ball, it rarely finds him out wide. Tuilagi passed the ball once all afternoon, finding Ashton after he intercepted a pass in South Africa's 22. Alex Goode is England's second playmaker from full-back and he was the one outside back who put team-mates into space. The Springboks showed little adventure: their outside-centre Juan de Jongh only touched the ball once, but England will on Saturday face a team that regards passing as an essential skill, no matter the number on the back of a jersey – New Zealand.
5. Bok to basics – South Africa keep it simple
This is far from a vintage South Africa side, but they have had to contend with the retirement of senior players after the World Cup, John Smit, Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha in particular, while the likes of Heinrich Brussow, Bismarck du Plessis and Juan Smith have been out with long-term injuries. At the end of the most arduous year in Southern Hemisphere rugby, they did what they had to in all three Tests in Europe this month but no more. They kept it simple against England, passing the ball 64 times compared to England's 146 and kicking more often. They were comfortable absorbing pressure, and had it not been for a scrum missing players of the stature of Tendai Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis, they would probably have won by more.
This is far from a vintage South Africa side, but they have had to contend with the retirement of senior players after the World Cup, John Smit, Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha in particular, while the likes of Heinrich Brussow, Bismarck du Plessis and Juan Smith have been out with long-term injuries. At the end of the most arduous year in Southern Hemisphere rugby, they did what they had to in all three Tests in Europe this month but no more. They kept it simple against England, passing the ball 64 times compared to England's 146 and kicking more often. They were comfortable absorbing pressure, and had it not been for a scrum missing players of the stature of Tendai Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis, they would probably have won by more.
Paul Rees
