17 Jun 2012

Boks survive English fight back

9:11 am on 17 June 2012

South Africa survived a brave second-half comeback from England at Johannesburg to triumph 36-27 and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.

The Springboks dominated the first half to open a 25-10 half-time advantage only to see their lead trimmed to four points before right wing JP Pietersen scored a late match-sealing try and a ninth consecutive win over their rivals.

World Cup winner Pietersen was a deserved man of the match as his run from deep in his half started a move that ended when he dived over for a try that gave the Springboks a nine-point cushion with seven minutes left.

A late chance for England to close the gap was squandered when they threw too long at a line-out close the Springbok try-line and the ball was cleared to the collective relief of most in a 65,000 crowd.