Kolbe's double piles the pain on England

WHEN South Africa’s pocket-rocket, Cheslin Kolbe, sent England to their third loss in a row at Twickenham for the first time since 2006 with a stellar 63rd-minute finish, it brought the curtain down on a dismal Autumn series for Steve Borthwick’s team.

- NICK CAIN

It was their fifth defeat in succession, and whatever happens against Japan next weekend can do nothing to alter the impression that England have regressed rather than advanced. Their inability to mount strong enough finishes to clinch matches in the final quarter was again exposed, just as it was against New Zealand and Australia, with a Springbok side which was not at its best – and was reduced to 14 men for the last 12 minutes when Gerhard Steenekamp was yellow-carded – worthy winners.

Not only did South Africa outscore England four tries to two, they also exposed the fault lines in their selection and preparation. Kolbe’s try was a case in point. It was sparked by a Damian de Allende break in which he punctured England’s misfiring midfield defence by brushing off Henry Slade’s tackle, before giving Kolbe a run-in which saw him sidestep Ollie Sleightholme. Handre Pollard’s superb touchline conversion put the seal on the victory.

Slade’s inclusion in the starting line-up for all three matches despite being ring-rusty after injury, followed by the ill-fated mid-series 12-13 switch with Ollie Lawrence, was asking for the trouble that the Springboks duly dished out. South Africa going unpunished on the scoreboard after conceding five late penalties in succession, with Luke Cowan-Dickie’s dummy throw at a five-metre line-out, and a Harry Randall knock-on from more poor line-out drill, simply piled on the pain.