South Africa maintained their dominance over England with a 22-17 victory on Saturday in the Test debut of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
It was the eighth win on the trot since 2006 for the `Boks over the Red Roses and a fiercely physical clash was won in the second half when fly-half Morne Steyn and new captain Jean de Villiers scored tries.
Steyn had a rare off day with his goal kicking, fluffing three of seven shots, but landed a couple of late penalties to give his team a 10-point advantage before left wing Ben Foden halved it with a stoppage-time try.
Fly-half Owen Farrell succeeded with his four penalty attempts for England, who tackle South Africa twice more during a three-week tour, in Johannesburg next Saturday and on June 23 in Port Elizabeth.
A number of players finished the match bloodied and bruised with South Africa-born England inside centre Brad Barritt retiring before the hour mark because of a badly swollen eye.
“We came out all guns blazing in the second half but, unfortunately, they got an early score and managed to build pressure on us,” England flanker and skipper Chris Robshaw admitted.
“Obviously, we wanted to win the first Test, but it is onwards and upwards now with a lot of hard work ahead. In the closing stages we put our stamp on the game and must learn to do that for the full 80 minutes.”
A tight opening half offered few try-scoring chances and ended 6-6 with all the points coming via penalties with Farrell twice putting the visitors ahead and Steyn twice levelling.
Six Nations runners-up England impressed at the breakdown, slowing down South African ball, but were penalised several times by referee Steve Walsh for early engagement at scrums.
England were expected to have the upper hand at the line-outs against debutants Eben Etzebeth and Juandre Kruger, but they went with the throw until just before halftime when England ‘stole’ one after a deflection.
Steyn had a chance to put the Springboks ahead in first-half stoppage time, but easily the most difficult kick of the half from close to the touchline drifted right of the posts.
South Africa were a transformed team from the start of the second half, winning more breakdown ball, and far quicker, and by the hour mark had established a 16-6 advantage through a couple of tries.
