Boks Dish Out 'Brutal Lesson'

Nov 23 2008 Jim Casey Reports

England 6 S Africa 42

SORRY England slumped to a record home defeat after being steamrollered by the world champions at Twickenham.

And coach Martin Johnson admitted his side had been taught a "brutal lesson".

Danie Rossouw, Ryan Pienaar, Adi Jacobs, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana all scored tries for South Africa.

Lacklustre England could only muster two Danny Cipriani penalties - five years to the day since Johnson lifted the World Cup.

In comparison, the outstanding Pienaar finished with 20 points.

The margin of victory bettered New Zealand's 41-20 win at Twickenham in November 2006.

Dejected Johnson said: "We never stopped trying but did not execute in their 22 and have learned a brutal lesson.

"They are my best players. We must have faith in them."

England conceded two quickfire tries in a shambolic first half.

Rossouw went over from short range and Pienaar then charged down a clearance from Cipriani to score under the posts.

The Boks led 20-6 at the break and Jacobs piled on the misery before Fourie and Habana put the icing on the cake late on.

Skipper John Smit said: "It's amazing - a wonderful day."