Il Messaggiere - Kolbe at the double as South Africa condemn England to fresh defeat

The wing struck in both halves as the Springboks condemned Steve Borthwick's men to a fifth defeat in a row and third this month following last-gasp 24-22 and 42-37 losses at home to New Zealand and Australia.

South Africa led 19-17 at the break after an open first half featuring five tries, with Grant Williams, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kolbe all crossing for the Springboks.

Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill went over for England in their first meeting with South Africa since the Springboks' dramatic 16-15 World Cup semi-final win in France last year.

An exchange of penalties between England fly-half Marcus Smith and Handre Pollard left the Springboks 22-20 ahead going into the final quarter before Kolbe struck again in the 63rd minute.

South Africa replacement forward Gerhard Steenekamp was yellow-carded five minutes later but the Springboks saw the game out.

Such is South Africa's strength in depth, they made 12 changes to the team that started last week's 32-15 win over Scotland as double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, who came off the bench in Edinburgh, returned to skipper the team.

Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus had warned his side would face a "desperate" England and they proved his point with a try inside four minutes to the delight of a capacity crowd of 81,910.

Smith dummied a drop-goal and went wide before sending in Sleightholme, fresh from two tries off the bench against Australia, in the Northampton wing's first Test start after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was ruled out with a head injury suffered against the Wallabies.

In-form fly-half Smith then made light of a tricky conversion.

South Africa, however, soon made it 7-7 when scrum-half Williams, exploiting England's suspect ruck defence, burst between prop Ellis Genge and lock George Martin before side-stepping Steward for a superb solo try, with Manie Libbok adding the extras.

Smith's penalty edged England ahead but South Africa had their second try in the 17th minute.

Etzebeth charged down Van Poortvliet's box-kick, with Smith retrieving possession only for his kick to be charged down in turn by Du Toit before the flanker dived on the loose ball for a try. Libbok's conversion from out wide hit the post.

But the Springboks soon had their third try when fly-half Libbok's pinpoint cross-kick found Kolbe, the wing side-stepping recalled England full-back Freddie Steward in typical style with Libbok adding the extras.

England, to their credit, cut the deficit to two points when Underhill powered over from a close-range ruck for a 27-minute try converted by Smith.

South Africa could have gone further ahead before half-time but Libbok's 48-metre penalty fell short.

The Springboks thought they had their fourth try early in the second half but wing Kurt-Lee Arendse's effort was ruled out on review for a forward pass by full-back Aphelele Fassi.

It was a similar story for England, with centre Henry Slade's try disallowed after lock Maro Itoje's illegal neck roll in the build-up.

Smith, however, edged England a point ahead at 20-19 in the 51st minute with a simple penalty awarded for obstruction only for replacement stand-off Pollard to land a monster penalty from just inside half-way that bounced off the crossbar.

England spent much of the second half deep in South Africa territory yet it was the Springboks who went two scores in front.

Damian de Allende powered his way past Ben Earl and Henry Slade before the ball was worked to Kolbe, a try-scorer in South Africa's 2019 World Cup final win over England, duly went over.

Pollard converted Kolbe's 18th try in 39 Tests and the Springboks had the cushion of a nine-point lead.

South Africa finish their 2024 against Wales in Cardiff next week, when England will try to salvage a sliver of pride against a Japan team coached by former Red Rose boss Eddie Jones.

L.Bernardi--IM