England and South Africa in England

Going England's way more and more

Rugby is an English game, and England taught the world to play it - with great success in various parts of the world. One set of people who adopted and adapted to the game quickly were South Africans. The game there still is a passion. The trip back to rugby's fons et origo still is always a wonderful occasion, something of a pilgrimage. Till recently, playing against England was far more important than victory.

The contact started in 1891 and was followed in 1896 and 1903. In those three years teams came to South Africa calling themselves the England Touring Team. The team fell under the aegis of England's Rugby Football Union, though the players were not all English, nor all international players. They were forerunners of the Lions but differently constituted.

The 1891 team was captained by a Scot, the 1896 by an Englishman who never played for England and the 1903 team by a Scot. In 1896 the Irish played a big part.

They were missionary teams who came to have fun and teach South Africans, who proved good pupils.

The following is a record of matches between South Africa and England in England, all bar one at Twickenham. At the end there is a summary of all results between England and South Africa.

1. England and South Africa drew 3-3 at Crystal Palace in London on 8 December 1906

This was the first South African team abroad and the first to wear the Springbok. The badges, blazers, jerseys were made in England as was the nickname.

There is a delightful irony in this match.

Freddie Brooks, who was born in Bombay, played for Rhodesia in the 1906 Currie Cup tournament, which doubled as trials to choose the team for the first ever overseas tour by a South African team. He was a candidate for selection but was not included as it was felt that he had not been long enough in Rhodesia.

Brooks then went off to England and was playing there when the Springboks toured. The Springboks had several injuries, including the loss of their genius centre Japie Krige. The suggestion was made to Paul Roos, the principled captain, that they bring in Brooks.

Sternly he explained that rugby was like life. One had to face adversity square on. As a team they would be better off facing adversity pulling together.

England selected Brooks who scored the try which drew the match! It was his only match for England.

The match was played at Crystal Palace in these pre-Twickenham days, because it was big enough for a big crowd. England had played New Zealand there the season before.

The field was a quagmire. South Africa scored first when Alf Marsberg kicked a ahead and Billy Millar dribbled over the line for the try. In the second half Brooks scored the equaliser.

Afterwards there was a suggestion that the match be replayed because of the draw. Winston Churchill supported the idea!

Scorers:

For England:
Try: Books

For South Africa:
Try: Millar

Teams:

England: EJ Jackett, FG Brooks, JGG Birkett, HE Shewring, T Simpson, AD Stoop, RA Jago, WA Mills, TS Kelly, R Dibble, BA Hill, J Green, A Alcock, CH Shaw, VH Cartwright (captain).

South Africa: SJ Joubert, JA Loubser, HA de Villiers, SC de Melker, AFW Marsberg, DC Jackson, FJ Dobbin, PA le Roux, WS Morkel, DJ Brink, JWE Raaff, DFT Morkel, PJ Roos (captain), HJ Daneel, WA Millar.

Referee: JD Tulloch (Scotland).

2. South Africa beat England 9-3 at Twickenham on 4 January 1913

It was England's first defeat at Twickenham. The ground, Billy Williams's dream, was acquired in 1907. It had been a market garden and was sometimes referred to as Billy Williams's Cabbage patch - hence the pub near the ground. Six Tests had been played there before the second Springboks came to play.

England started off like a house on fire, thanks to the brilliance of Ronnie Poulton. Poulton was a player of rare genius, showing great promise as a schoolboy at Rugby School. He first played for England as a teenager and eventually became the team's captain - one of the greatest players of all time, despite a short career.

In the opening minutes against South Africa he broke through, head back, blond hair flying, swerved twice and scored under the posts. Billy Millar, the Springbok captain, later referred to the try as "the most magnificent I have ever seen". Poulton was at it again soon afterwards but this time Boet McHardy collared him a yard from the Springbok line.

Jackie Morkel's try levelled the scores at half-time. The only scores in the second half were two penalties by big, bald forward Dougie Morkel.

Poulton changed his name to Poulton-Palmer to inherit a vast fortune from his uncle George Palmer of Huntley & Palmer, the biggest biscuit business in the world, founded in 1868. George Palmer introduced the first biscuit tins to the world.

Soon after this Test, World War I broke out. Both Poulton-Palmer and Jackie Morkel were killed. Poulton-Palmer was shot by a sniper in Belgium, just 25 years of age. There is a story that his last words were: "I shall never play at Twickenham again."

The Luyt brothers were the first set of three brothers to play together in a rugby Test.

Billy Millar's team beat all four of the Home Unions.

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Try: J Morkel
Pens: D Morkel 2

For England:
Try: Palmer

Teams:

England: WR Johnston, CN Lowe, RW Poulton, FM Stoop, VHM Coates, WJA Davies, WI Cheesman, JAS Ritson, SEJ Smart, CH Pillman, AL Kewney, LG Brown, JE Greenwood, NA Wodehouse (captain), JA King.

South Africa: PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, JWH Morkel, RR Luyt, EE McHardy, FP Luyt, JD McCulloch, JD Luyt, JAJ Francis, AS Knight, SH Ledger, WH Morkel, H Shum, TF Janse van Vuuren, DFT Morkel (captain).

Referee: JD Tulloch (Scotland).

3. South Africa beat England 7-0 at Twickenham on 2 January 1932.

They called Gerry Brand 'Firebrand' after this Test. Just before the final whistle he kicked a drop-goal with his powerful left foot. From point to pitch it was measured at 85 yards - 78 metres.

For the rest the Springbok forwards and the imperious boot of Bennie Osler ruled the match.

Bennie Osler's Springboks beat all four of the Home Unions.

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Try: Bergh
Drop: Brand

Teams:

England: RJ Barr, CC Tanner, RA Gerrard, JA Tallent, CD Aarvold (captain), RS Spong, WH Sobey, LE Saxby, AJ Rowley, J McD Hodgson, CSH Webb, RGS Hobbs, AD Carpenter, GG Gregory, DJ Norman.

South Africa: GH Brand, M Zimerman, FW Waring, BG Gray, JH van der Westhuizen, BL Osler (captain), P du P de Villiers, GM Daneel, JAJ McDonald, LC Strachan, WFvRvO Bergh, PJ Nel, PJ Mostert, HG Kipling, MM Louw.

Referee: WL Freeman (Ireland).

4. South Africa beat England 8-3 at Twickenham on 15 January 1952

The field was slippery, and the Springboks were better value than the score suggests, having two tries disallowed.

Hennie Muller was the captain in the absence of Basil Kenyon who damaged an eye at Pontypool Park early in the tour. The Kenyon-Muller team beat all four of the Home Unions.

John Kendall-Carpenter was in charge of the first Rugby World Cup Committee.

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Try: Du Toit
Con: Muller
Pen: Muller

For England:
Try: Winn

Teams:

England: WG Hook, JE Woodward, AE Agar, LB Cannell, CE Winn, NM Hall (captain), G Rimmer, J MacGK Kendall-Carpenter, AO Lewis, DF White, DT Wilkins, JRC Matthews, RV Stirling, E Evans, WA Holmes.

South Africa: JU Buchler, PGA Johnstone, MT Lategan, RAM van Schoor, JK Ochse, JD Brewis, PA du Toit, HSV Muller (captain), SP Fry, CJ van Wyk, EE Dinkelmann, JA du Rand, HPJ Bekker, WH Delport, AC Koch.

Referee: WCW Murdoch (Scotland).

5. South Africa beat England 5-0 at Twickenham on 7 January 1961

It was a wet winter, defences were tight and there was little enthusiastic rugby as the strong Springbok pack took control. The crowd booed the Springboks as flyhalf Dave Stewart kicked ball after ball into touch, as the laws of the day allowed.

England, packing 3-2-3, wheeled a scrum about 35 yards from their line but lost the ball. Johan Claassen picked up and fed Doug Hopwood. The genius of a No.8 sold a dummy to nobody and scored.

Avril Malan's team won all four matches against the Home Unions.

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Try: Hopwood
Con: Du Preez

Teams:

England: D Rutherford, JRC Young, MP Weston, WM Patterson, J Roberts, ABW Risman, REG Jeeps (captain), WGD Morgan, LI Rimmer, PGD Robbins, JD Currie, RWD Marques, CR Jacobs, SAM Hodgson, TP Wright.

South Africa: LG Wilson, JP Engelbrecht, JL Gainsford, AI Kirkpatrick, HJ van Zyl, DA Stewart, P DeW Uys, DJ Hopwood, FCH du Preez, GH van Zyl, JT Claassen, AS Malan (captain), PS du Toit, GF Malan, SP Kuhn.

Referee: GJ Treharne (Wales).

6. England beat South Africa 11-8 at Twickenham on 20 December 1969

This was England's first-ever victory over the Springboks and they came from behind to do it.

The Springboks led 8-0 but then the England pack took over, dominating the line-outs and the loose till John Pullin scored a try in the corner which Bob Hiller converted.

It was, of course, more than a rugby occasion as, like all other aspects of the tour, there were political demonstrations which used the Springboks to express their abhorrence of apartheid.

The Springboks lost to Scotland as well and drew with Ireland and Wales.

Scorers:

For England:
Tries: Larter, Pullin
Con: Hiller
Pen: Hiller

For South Africa:
Try: Greyling
Con: Visagie
Pen: Visagie

Teams:

England: R Hiller (captain) (CS Wardlow), KJ Fielding, JS Spencer, DJ Duckham, PM Hale, IR Shackleton, NC Starmer-Smith, RB Taylor, BR West, AL Bucknall, AM Davis, PJ Larter, KE Fairbrother, JV Pullin, CB Stevens.

South Africa: HO de Villiers, SH Nomis, OA Roux, E Olivier (MJ Lawless), AE van der Watt, PJ Visagie, DJ de Villiers (captain), TP Bedford, AJ Bates, PJF Greyling, IJ de Klerk, AE de Wet, JFK Marais, DC Walton, JL Myburgh.

Referee: KD Kelleher (Ireland).

7. England beat South Africa 33-16 at Twickenham on 14 November 1992

As apartheid's walls came tumbling down Naas Botha took the first Springbok team to Europe for 21 years, and it was not a success.

They were unhappy in France where they shared the series, and then looked to be cruising to victory at Twickenham till England came roaring back, powered by their pack and inspired by a wonderful try by Jeremy Guscott.

Scorers:

For England:
Tries: T Underwood, Guscott, Morris, Carling
Cons: Webb 2
Pens: Webb 2

For South Africa:
Try: Strauss
Con: Botha
Pens: Botha 2
Drop: Botha

Teams:

England: JM Webb, T Underwood (PR de Glanville), WDC Carling (captain), JC Guscott, R Underwood, CR Andrew, CD Morris, BB Clarke, PJ Winterbottom, MC Teague, WA Dooley, MC Bayfield, VE Ubogu, BC Moore, J Leonard.

South Africa: JT Janse van Rensburg, JT Small, DM Gerber, PG Müller, J Olivier, HE Botha (captain), GD Wright, AJ Richter, FC Smit, CP Strauss, AW Malan, H Hattingh, KS Andrews, WG Hills, JJ Styger.

Referee: SR Hilditch (Ireland).

8. South Africa beat England's 24-14 at Twickenham on 18 November 1995

South Africa went to Twickenham as the holders of the Rugby World Cup, winners at first time of trying as New Zealand were in 1987. It was a match which the Springboks won far more easily than the score suggests.

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Williams 2, Van der Westhuizen
Pens: Stransky 3

For England:
Try: De Glanville
Pens: Callard 3

Teams:

England: JEB Callard, DP Hopley, WDC Carling (captain) (PR de Glanville), JC Guscott, R Underwood, MJ Catt, KPP Bracken, BB Clarke, RA Robinson, TAK Rodber (LBN Dallaglio), MC Bayfield, MO Johnson, VE Ubogu, MP Regan, J Leonard.

South Africa: AJ Joubert, J Olivier (JT Small), JC Mulder, HP le Roux, CM Williams, JT Stransky, JH van der Westhuizen, JF Pienaar (captain), FJ van Heerden, RJ Kruger (RAW Straeuli), MG Andrews, JJ Wiese, TG Laubscher, J Dalton, A van der Linde.

Referee: JM Fleming (Scotland).

9. South Africa beat England 29-11 at Twickenham on 29 November 1997

The match was broken apart by a magical try by centre André Snyman. He was at flyhalf when he received a pass, hesitated, shuffled, accelerated and sped over the 22 for a try near the posts.

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Garvey, Snyman, Andrews. Swanepoel
Cons: Honiball 2, Montgomery
Pen: Honiball

For England:
Try: Greenstock
Pens: Catt 2

Teams:

England: MB Perry, J Bentley (AS Healey), WJH Greenwood, NJJ Greenstock, DL Rees, MJ Catt (PJ Grayson), MJS Dawson, RA Hill (CMA Sheasby), NA Back, LBN Dallaglio (captain), GS Archer, DJ Grewcock (SD Shaw), DJ Garforth, R Cockerill, J Leonard.

South Africa: PC Montgomery, JT Small, AH Snyman, DJ Muir, PWG Rossouw, HW Honiball, W Swanepoel, GH Teichmann (captain), AG Venter (RB Skinstad - Temp), AD Aitken, MG Andrews, K Otto, AC Garvey, J Dalton, JP du Randt.

Referee: CJ Hawke (New Zealand).

10. England beat South Africa 13-7 at Twickenham on 5 December 1998

England's victory brought to an end South Africa's winning streak of 17 Tests, which equalled the world record. It also shattered the dream of a fifth Grand Slam.

It was a match that England thoroughly deserved to win as its pack got a grip on the match.

Pieter Rossouw scored first when he waltzed round Nick Beal but England equalised with a try of great athleticism. Mike Catt kicked a high ball to his left. Dan Luger got and gave to Jeremy Guscott to score a wonderful try.

Scorers:

For England:
Try: Guscott
Con: Dawson
Pens: Dawson 2

For South Africa:
Try: Rossouw
Con: Montgomery

Teams:

England: ND Beal, T Underwood (DL Rees), JC Guscott, PR de Glanville (AD King), DD Luger, MJ Catt, MJS Dawson, RA Hill, NA Back, LBN Dallaglio (captain), TAK Rodber (DJ Grewcock), MO Johnson, DJ Garforth, R Cockerill, J Leonard.

South Africa: PC Montgomery, CS Terblanche, AH Snyman, JC Stewart, PWG Rossouw, HW Honiball, JH van der Westhuizen (W Swanepoel), GH Teichmann (captain), RB Skinstad, J Erasmus, MG Andrews (AG Venter), K Otto, AC Garvey (A-H le Roux), J Dalton, RB Kempson (A-H le Roux - Temp).

Referee: PD O'Brien (New Zealand).

11. England beat South Africa 25-17 at Twickenham on 2 December 2000

South Africa started running well and England scored points to give them a 19-9 lead at the break in this Test that was too uncompromising for the good of the game. Braam van Straaten's try early in the second half breathed some hope into the visitors but eventually their efforts flagged.

Scorers:

For England:
Try: Greenwood
Con: Wilkinson
Pens: Wilkinson 6

For South Africa:
Try: Van Straaten
Pens: Van Straaten 4

Teams:

England: MB Perry, BC Cohen, MJ Tindall, WJH Greenwood (AS Healey), DD Luger (IR Balshaw), JP Wilkinson, MJS Dawson, LBN Dallaglio, NA Back (ME Corry - Temp), RA Hill (MP Regan - Temp), DJ Grewcock, MO Johnson (captain), JM White (PJ Vickery), PBT Greening (MP Regan), J Leonard.

South Africa: PC Montgomery, BJ Paulse, RF Fleck, JC Mulder (G Esterhuizen - Temp), CS Terblanche, AJJ van Straaten, JH van der Westhuizen (DJ van Zyl), AN Vos (captain), AG Venter, CPJ Krige, MG Andrews, PA van den Berg (AJ Venter) (WG Brosnihan), W Meyer (A-H le Roux), JW Smit, RB Kempson.

Referee: DTM McHugh (Ireland)

12. England beat South Africa 29-9 at Twickenham on 24 November 2001

This was - till then - England's biggest win over South Africa as the Springboks yet again plodded to Twickenham at the end of another long year.

The England pack dominated and Jonny Wilkinson's boot punished.

There was only one try but it brought Twickenham to its feet as Dan Luger gathered a silly pass by Bob Skinstad and raced the length of the field for the score which broke the Springboks.

Scorers:

For England:
Try: Luger
Pens: Wilkinson 7
Drop: Catt

For South Africa:
Pens: Van Straaten 3

Teams:

England: J Robinson, AS Healey, WJH Greenwood, MJ Catt (MJ Tindall), DD Luger, JP Wilkinson, KPP Bracken, JPR Worsley, NA Back (BJ Kay - Temp), RA Hill (LW Moody), DJ Grewcock, MO Johnson (captain) (BJ Kay), PJ Vickery, DE West, GC Rowntree.

South Africa: CA Jantjes, BJ Paulse, TM Halstead, AJJ van Straaten, DB Hall, LJ Koen, JH van der Westhuizen, RB Skinstad (captain), AJ Venter, AN Vos (CPJ Krige), MG Andrews (AG Venter - Temp) (AG Venter), V Matfield, W Meyer (IJ Visagie - Temp) (IJ Visagie), JW Smit (L van Biljon), A-H le Roux.

Referee: SJ Dickinson (Australia).

13. England beat South Africa 53-3 at Twickenham on 23 November 2002

It was South African rugby' greatest day of shame.

It was not just the third massacre of their European tour, not just their biggest defeat ever, but it was the disgrace of having a player sent off and much publicity of thugism on the field of the worst kind.

Jannes Labuschagne was the player sent off, the captain Corné Krige the player most singled out as the perpetrator of conduct unacceptable.

The game was a contest till Labuschagne was dismissed. After that it was justly a matter of how much the vastly superior England XV would score.

England scored eight tries, including a penalty try.

Scorers:

For England:
Tries: Cohen, Greenwood 2, penalty try, Back, Hill, Dallaglio.
Cons: Wilkinson, Dawson, Gomarsall 2, Stimpson 2.
Pens: Wilkinson 2

For South Africa
Pen: Pretorius

Teams:

England: J Robinson, BC Cohen, WJH Greenwood (TRG Stimpson), MJ Tindall, P Christophers, JP Wilkinson (AS Healey), MJS Dawson (ACT Gomarsall), RA Hill, NA Back, LW Moody (LBN Dallaglio), BJ Kay (DJ Grewcock), MO Johnson (captain), PJ Vickery, S Thompson, J Leonard.

South Africa: WW Greeff, BJ Paulse (RB Russell), RF Fleck, AD James, F Lombard, AS Pretorius (AA Jacobs), JH Conradie (N Jordaan), JC van Niekerk, PJ Wannenburg, CPJ Krige (captain), AJ Venter, JJ Labuschagne, PD Carstens (CJ van der Linde), J Dalton (L van Biljon), WG Roux.

Referee: PD O'Brien (New Zealand).

Results of all matches between England and South Africa since 1906:

England and South Africa drew 3-3 at Crystal Palace, London, on 8 December 1906
South Africa beat England 9-3 at Twickenham on 4 January 1913
South Africa beat England 7-0 at Twickenham on 2 January 1932
South Africa beat England 8-3 at Twickenham on 5 January 1952
South Africa beat England 5-0 at Twickenham on 7 January 1961
England beat South Africa 11-8 at Twickenham on 20 December 1969
England beat South Africa 18-9 at Ellis Park on 3 June 1972
South Africa beat England 33-15 at Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth, on 2 June 1984
England beat South Africa 35-9 at Ellis Park on 9 June 1984
England beat South Africa 33-16 at Twickenham on 14 November 1992
England beat South Africa 32-15 at Loftus Versfeld on 4 June 1994
South Africa beat England 27-9 at Newlands on 11 June 1994
South Africa beat England 24-14 at Twickenham on 18 November 1995
South Africa beat England 29-11 at Twickenham on 29 November 1997
South Africa beat England 18-0 at Newlands on 4 July 1998
England beat South Africa 13-7 at Twickenham on 5 December 1998
South Africa beat England 44-21 at Stade de France, Paris, on 24 October 1999
South Africa beat England 18-13 at Loftus Versfeld on 17 June 2000
England beat South Africa 27-22 at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, on 24 June 2000
England beat South Africa 25-17 at Twickenham on 2 December 2000
England beat South Africa 29-9 at Twickenham on 24 November 2001
England beat South Africa 53-3 at Twickenham on 23 November 2002
England beat South Africa 25-6 ay Subiaco Oval, Perth, on 18 October 2003