England celebrate mastery over South Africa

First five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson kicked 21 points as England powered to a record 29-9 victory over South Africa at Twickenham yesterday.

Wilkinson slotted seven penalties in yet another virtuoso kicking performance as Clive Woodward's side posted their biggest win over the Springboks.

Deep into injury time, wing Dan Luger added a try that had proved so elusive a fortnight earlier in victory over world champions Australia when he ran the length of the field after intercepting a pass from Springboks captain Bobby Skinstad.

Although not as brutal as England's 25-17 win over South Africa at Twickenham last year, when flanker Neil Back required 22 stitches in a head wound, the match was still a mighty physical contest.

A delighted Woodward said: "It was like a boxing match, with lots of big hits, and we came out on top. It was one of the most physical games I have ever seen.

"The biggest thing [about the three November tests] is that we have bounced back from Ireland because we were really shattered by defeat in Dublin," said Woodward, referring to the loss that cost England a Six Nations grand slam.

As they had done against the Wallabies, England again relied on the boot of Wilkinson.

The 22-year-old Newcastle first-five, who scored all his side's points in the 21-15 win over Australia, was near-flawless once again, with England's other score a Mike Catt drop goal.

Defeated Springboks coach Harry Viljoen paid tribute to England.

"They are one of the top two teams in the world. They are a very smart outfit and a very hard unit to beat," Viljoen said.

South Africa, looking to bounce back from defeat by France, had to be content with three Braam van Straaten penalties in the centre's final test before joining English premiership side Leeds.

England, 9-6 up at halftime, saw South Africa's Louis Koen miss with a drop goal attempt early in the second half.

Then a previously sterile match sparked into life as England's backs made rare forward progress.

Lions centre Will Greenwood was tackled into touch out on the left by Springboks fullback Conrad Jantjes when he had Jason Robinson in support.

But the visitors infringed soon afterwards and Wilkinson landed his fourth penalty in four attempts in the 48th minute.

That quickly became five out of five when South Africa halfback Joost van der Westhuizen was caught offside at a ruck and England were 15-6 ahead.

Their increasing territorial dominance was rewarded on the hour when South African-born second five-eighth Catt dropped a goal from the 22m line to make it 18-6.

But a third penalty from van Straaten almost immediately afterwards gave the Springboks a toe-hold at 18-9 down.

And a minute later South Africa might have reduced the gap still further had not a van Straaten effort from five metres inside his own half faded to the left.

And the penalties kept on coming, Wilkinson making it six out of six in the 65th minute to put England 21-9 up and relative safety.

* Samoa recorded their third consecutive victory over Italy yesterday, winning 17-9 at the Fattori Stadium in Alghero.

Lome Fa'atau scored Samoa's first and only try after just four minutes.

Italy got their only points from the boot of first five-eighths Diego Dominguez, who improved his total number of test points to 949.

Thanks to Dominguez's boot, Italy were ahead 9-8 shortly before the break, but a penalty goal by Tanner Vili gave Samoa an 11-9 edge at halftime.

The margin of victory for Samoa could have been bigger had their kickers not missed nine out of 13 kicks at goal.

* France turned on the style to post a record 77-10 victory over a shell-shocked Fiji in Saint-Etienne yesterday.

The French ran in 12 tries to the Fijians' sole effort.

- AGENCIES