Kolbe tries help Springboks inflict another rugby win over struggling England

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South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe, runs over the line to score a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe,, left gets past England’s Jamie Georg during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe, gores over the line to score a try as England’s Tommy Freeman looks on during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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South Africa’s Siya Kolisi is tackled by England’s Ellis Genge during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit leaps for the ball at a line out during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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England’s Tommy Freeman, left, and South Africa’s Kurt-Lee Arendse leap for a high ball during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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South Africa’s Jasper Wiese, is brought down by England’s Maro Itoje during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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South Africa’s Grant Williams fends off the challenge by England’s Jack van Poortvliet during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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England’s Sam Underhill, , left, us tackled by South Africa’s Jasper Wiese during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth, right leaps for a high ball with England’s Ollie Sleightholme , center and England’s Chandler Cunningham-South during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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England’s Ollie Lawrence loose the ball as he is tackled by South Africa’s Kurt-Lee Arendse during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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Referee Andrew Brace indicates a try as England’s Sam Underhill, raises his arm to celebrate after he scores during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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England’s Ollie Sleightholme runs onto score a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit goes over the line to score a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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South Africa’s Manie Libbok converts a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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South Africa’s RG Snyman tries to break through the England defence during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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South Africa’s Damian de Allende, is tackled by England’s Tommy Freeman during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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England’s Marcus Smith is tackled by South Africa’s Grant Williams during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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England’s Ollie Lawrence reacts after the end of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, South Africa won the game 29-20. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

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England players reacts after the end of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, South Africa won the game 29-20. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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South Africa’s Grant Williams right celebrates with teammates after the end of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, South Africa won the game 29-20. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

LONDON (AP) — South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe hurt England once again by scoring a try in each half to propel the Springboks to a 29-20 win at Twickenham on Saturday, extending the English run of defeats to five.

It was England’s third straight loss to a southern hemisphere power in this autumn series, after 24-22 to New Zealand and 42-37 to Australia, and some familiar faces administered the late crucial blows in an engrossing match that was in the balance after an hour.

Kolbe, one of the try-scorers in the Boks’ World Cup final win over England in 2019, expertly finished off a crossfield kick for his first try in the 22nd minute and sprinted over for the clinching score in the 63rd following a piercing break by center Damien de Allende.

South Africa pushed two scores ahead thanks to a conversion by replacement flyhalf Handre Pollard, whose last-gasp penalty sealed the Boks’ win over England in the World Cup semifinals last year, and the English couldn’t respond despite territory and playing against 14 men for the final 10 minutes.

Since repeating as world champions a year ago, the Springboks have won 10 of 12 tests and lost the other two by only a point each. England, meanwhile, has lost six of its last seven tests and has a concerning penchant for finishing tight games weakly.

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“What we’re seeing is it’s such a game of fine margins,” England captain Jamie George said. “Large parts of all the last five games, we’ve looked good at times and the final piece wasn’t there.”

It is leaving England coach Steve Borthwick under increasing pressure, especially if his team fails to beat Japan — led by Borthwick’s predecessor, Eddie Jones — next week in their last outing of the year.

“Fundamentally, I think we are close,” George said. “I know it’s ironic saying this on the back of a few losses on the bounce but I think we have the right people and the right sort of characters. I’m optimistic about the future of this team.”

A frenetic first half featured five tries, two for England — through Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill — and three for the Boks, via scrumhalf Grant Williams’ darting run, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit’s chargedown and grounding, and Kolbe.

The second half was more tight and tense, with each team having a try ruled out and England taking a 20-19 lead through Marcus Smith’s penalty in the 52nd.

England lacked composure with a huge win in its sights and Pollard, on for Mannie Libbok, returned the favor with a trademark penalty from halfway to regain the lead for the Boks.

Kolbe took De Allende’s pass and sprinted down the wing to score the try that broke English hearts, and Pollard naturally slotted the extras from the touchline.

Replacement prop Gerhard Steenekamp’s 69th-minute sin-binning for repeated team infringements might have cost South Africa, but its defense stayed strong and England made errors and bad decisions.

“We didn’t quite get to play the way we wanted to play,” Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said, “but when we needed something, we always found a way to get through. That’s the mindset of the team.

“That’s the ultimate thing — finding a way to win … it’s all about the will, understanding that you’re going to have to go to different places to get the win.”

And that’s where the English are falling down as they face up to losing three in a row at home for the first time since 2006.

“I know it’s tough but we’ve been there,” Kolisi said in words of encouragement for England. “It takes time but it will definitely turn around.”

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby