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LONDON - A late try by prop Phil Vickery gave England a 23-21 victory over South Africa today as the rugby world champions avoided a record eighth successive defeat and made it seven wins in a row over the Springboks.
England were up against it all afternoon with tries from Butch James late in the first half and Akona Ndungane early in the second giving the tourists a 21-13 lead.
Although still ragged and error-prone, the hosts hauled their way back with a Mark Cueto try and, after finally showing some forward authority, ended the pain eight minutes from time when Andy Goode converted Vickery's short-range score.
The win ensured the current England team would not be labelled as officially the worst in their 135-year history and set up an intriguing return when the teams meet again next Saturday.
However, when the emotion clears, there will be precious little for coach Andy Robinson to smile about as the victory came after another performance full of basic errors, confused tactics and appalling kicking.
South Africa, with up to a dozen leading players left at home, were much improved from last week's thumping in Dublin but still fell to a sixth successive away defeat and a seventh successive loss to England.
"There are a few smiles in the dressing room and that's been a while," England fullback and man-of-the-match Josh Lewsey told Sky Sports.
"The boys have had a lot of stick this week and they showed a lot of character and it was great to come off with the crowd cheering rather than booing."
Captain Martin Corry added: "What a relief, I'm incredibly proud of that second half effort."
All the pent-up frustration of the last week was on show from the opening whistle as Corry's chase helped earn England a 3-0 penalty lead, which was immediately cancelled when he was penalised for a blatant late tackle on James.
A superb tackle by Lewsey then saved England when he thundered Jean de Villiers into the corner as he dived for the line after intercepting a Charlie Hodgson pass.
Hodgson restored the lead with a second penalty but an aimless Lewsey kick enabled Francois Steyn to level it again with a 45-metre drop goal.
That score seemed to inject some belief into the Springboks and, after Lewsey had again come to the rescue to deny Steyn a try, they claimed the first try of the game.
Again it was gifted as a feeble Ben Cohen kick was run back with interest, De Villiers making the vital ground before unloading for James.
As the South African halfback converted expertly from the touchline, his opposite number Hodgson was taken off on a stretcher. England ended the half 13-6 down and struggling for direction.
It got worse two minutes after the restart when a deft chip by James set up winger Ndungane for his first international try.
England did their best to blow their next opportunity when replacement halfback Goode dropped the ball in the act of diving over the tryline but it went backwards and quick-thinking Cueto scooped up and dotted down.
After an exchange of penalties, England finally came alive.
For the first time in the entire November series their pack showed the sort of self-belief and belligerence that was their trademark three years ago as they repeatedly battered the Springbok line before Vickery, in his first appearance for a year, barrelled over.
After the back-to-back November games, the teams meet again twice next May and June in South Africa, before facing off for the second successive tournament in the pool stage of the World Cup.
- REUTERS
