Summary

  • England thrashed by world champions South Africa in their opening Nations Championship fixture at Ellis Park in Johannesburg

  • Steve Borthwick's side have now lost five matches in a row and once again have discipline issues

  • South Africa stunned England with three tries in opening 12 minutes before Kurt-Lee Arendse is sin-binned

  • Ellis Genge and George Martin score late in first half as England cut deficit to 17-14 at half-time

  • Grant Williams and Jesse Kriel tries extend South Africa's lead before Alex Coles crashes over

  • England have Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper sin-binned as Springboks score two late tries and have one disallowed

  • England face Fiji in Liverpool next weekend before travelling to Argentina the following week

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Live Reporting

Alastair Telfer

  1. South Africa 31-14 England

    Henry Pollock is hit hard. The locals love it.

  2. South Africa 31-14 England

    South Africa are controlling their lead much better this time. England need some magic fast.

  3. South Africa 31-14 England

    Henry Pollock is lurking around for his first carry.

  4. South Africa 31-14 England

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live at Ellis Park

    What happened in the opening 15 minutes is happening again with South Africa completely on top.

    South Africa are controlling the set-piece and the flow of the game.

  5. South Africa 31-14 England

    To any England football fans, South Africa pulling away because of the altitude?

    It certainly plays a factor.

  6. try

    Converted try - South Africa 31-14 England

    Jesse Kriel (con Cheslin Kolbe)

    Sharp hands and over goes Jesse Kriel.

    Cheslin Kolbe drills it over from the touchline.

    Jesse KrielGetty Images

  7. South Africa 24-14 England

    Luke Cowan-Dickie is on for Jamie George.

  8. South Africa 24-14 England

    Alex Mitchell, Guy Pepper and Henry Slade are all on. Pepper is booed, South Africans may think he is Henry Pollock...

  9. South Africa 24-14 England

    Cheslin Kolbe is taken out in the air by Cadan Murley. England look frustrated.

  10. South Africa 24-14 England

    Prop Zachary Porthen is on for Thomas du Toit.

    The 22-year-old is highly rated.

  11. South Africa 24-14 England

    It looked a certain try. Fin Smith went for an offload to Seb Atkinson, but it goes loose. Atkinson was walking it in.

  12. South Africa 24-14 England

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live at Ellis Park

    Heavy carry one after another, such power from South Africa. England did well to hold them at bay for so long, but then Williams found the gap in an exhausted defence.

  13. South Africa 24-14 England

    England are awarded a penalty instantly from the restart. Into the corner it goes.

  14. try

    Converted try - South Africa 24-14 England

    Grant Williams (con Cheslin Kolbe)

    Grant Williams goes through a gap between Tom Curry and Ollie Chessum. So sharp.

    Grant WilliamsGetty Images

  15. South Africa 17-14 England

    England's defence holds firm, but South Africa keep coming.

  16. South Africa 17-14 England

    Another penalty is pinged into the corner.

  17. South Africa 17-14 England

    Jasper Wiese gets over the ball and wins a penalty. First chance to South Africa in the second half.

  18. Kick-off

    South Africa 17-14 England

    We are back under way. Fin Smith, who has been superb, lofts the ball into the sky.

  19. HT: South Africa 17-14 England

    Will England win their first game at Ellis Park since 1972?

    Hit the thumbs.

  20. HT: South Africa 17-14 England

    George Martin would have something to say about that, Paul.

    That remarkable finish was his first England try.