England suffered a heavy 45-21 defeat by South Africa and were outclassed, shipping seven tries at Ellis Park.
Steve Borthwick’s side dragged themselves back into the game through Ellis Genge and George Martin in the first half but the Springboks ran away with it after the break.
The world champions shone in the backs in particular, with Grant Williams controlling proceedings from scrum-half.
England meanwhile, will be left licking their wounds with a number of stars enduring a day to forget.
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s Alex Bywater gives his score out of 10 for both sides.
Henry Pollock and Co suffered a heavy defeat by South Africa at Ellis Park
SOUTH AFRICA
Damian Willemse – 8.5
Won his 50th cap and did well to reclaim his own early kick. Majestic from that point onwards, summed up by 50:22 effort.
Cheslin Kolbe – 8
Also brought up a half century of Test appearances and was soon over for his team’s second, stepping Cadan Murley with ease. Surprisingly on kicking duties.
Jesse Kriel – 7.5
Orchestrated South Africa’s impressive blitz defence and his second-half score put the Springboks out of sight.
Damian de Allende – 7.5
His midfield partnership with Kriel has experience and undoubted international pedigree. England’s centre pairing does not.
Kurt-Lee Arendse – 6.5
Customary try was his team’s third score. Yellow carded for what was deemed a deliberate knock on but the decision felt harsh.
Manie Libbok – 5.5
He’s a strong attacker but the fact Kolbe was on place kicking duties showed that he’s not considered good enough in that area. England never tested him defensively.
Grant Williams – 8.5
He might not have the profile of Faf de Klerk or Cobus Reinach but his passing and tactical kicking were superb. Scored a try and was always on the front foot.
Grant Williams controlled the game from No 9 with his tactical kicking
Ox Nche – 7.5
Barnstorming run as part of his team’s fast start showed he’s more than just a scrummager but his game didn’t last any longer after that due to injury.
Malcolm Marx – 7
Is officially the world’s best player but didn’t have it all his own way at the line-out. Made the most of England being down to 13 with 27th international try at the end.
Thomas du Toit – 7.5
He’s scored try upon try for Bath in English club rugby and was on the scoreboard within two minutes.
Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt) – 8
Took over the captaincy and moved to lock from the flank as part of late South African changes. As usual, an exceptional performance.
Ruan Nortje – 7.5
With his lock partner and new captain not a specialist there, he really stepped up as his team’s primary source of line-out possession.
Paul de Villiers – 6.5
In for a Test debut after his country’s iconic skipper Siya Kolisi was ruled out. With his team three tries to the good, he was penalised.
Cameron Hanekom – 6
Once linked with playing for Wales but South Africa never wanted to let him go as he’s a player of such promise. Decent effort after being promoted as part of pack reshuffle.
Jasper Wiese – 8
He really came into his own as a player when in English rugby with Leicester. Bumped off by his former Tigers team-mate George Martin but he sums up South Africa’s approach – hard, direct and uncompromisingly physical.
Replacements: Gerhard Steenekamp 7.5 (for Nche 9), Marco van Staden 7 (for De Villiers 46), Ben Jason-Dixon 7 (for Hanekom 46), Zachary Porthen 7.5 (for Du Toit 50), Jan-Hendrik Wessels 6 (for Steenekamp 66), Andre Esterhuizen 5 (for Wiese 66), Cobus Reinach 5 (for Williams 68), Canan Moodie 5 (for Arendse 68), Jasper Wiese 8 (for Esterhuizen 76)
Jasper Wiese was hard and uncompromising with his carrying game as usual
ENGLAND
Marcus Smith – 4.5
Into the starting XV at the 11th hour after George Furbank’s awful luck continued when he was ruled out with appendicitis. Couldn’t stop Arendse from scoring and somehow stopped from a try of his own.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – 5
One brilliant high ball catch. Didn’t get the chance to show his razor-sharp attacking game with no space to work with.
Tommy Freeman – 5
We’re still none the wiser as to whether or not he is a top-class international centre. You feel he must return to the wing where there are no doubts over his talent and he moved in the second half. Yellow carded late on.
Seb Atkinson – 4
Smart kick with South Africa down a man but had to collect the offload from Fin Smith. Had he done so, he would have walked over.
Cadan Murley – 4
Made to look a fool by the mesmeric Kolbe but he’s not the only one to suffer that fate. A couple of nice aerial reclaims but still big doubts as to whether he’s Test class.
There are still doubts over whether Cadan Murley (left) is an international quality winger
Fin Smith – 6.5
With his team 17-0 down after just 13 minutes, he went on a promising run with his team’s first real bit of possession. Wasn’t flustered and will be better for this.
Jack van Poortvliet – 5
Started ahead of Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer. The fact he touched the ball ahead of Jamie George scoring meant the hooker’s try was ruled out. Replaced by Mitchell soon after the break.
Ellis Genge – 7
Apologised for high tackle on De Villiers and responded impressively to smash his way through Thomas du Toit to score. Not many have the power to do that.
Jamie George (capt) – 5
Back in charge of the national side with Maro Itoje rested. His team’s start was disastrous and he then had a try ruled out for offside as he was ruled to be in front of Van Poortvliet.
Joe Heyes – 6.5
He’s officially England’s player of the year and continued his impressive scrum work against the most formidable of opposition.
Alex Coles – 7
In the No 4 shirt with Itoje absent. Kept on going despite not having it all his own way, summed up by late consolation try.
George Martin – 7
Penalised early on with his team in reverse but his finish down the wing was superb for a tight-five forward. It was his first for his country.
Ollie Chessum – 6.5
He and George couldn’t stop Nche from powering through. Thought he’d benefitted from Kolbe dawdling with a try but had a foot in touch. Fine work to set-up Martin.
Tom Curry – 4
Fell victim to the new maul laws when penalised at the start of the second period and continued his quiet season in an England shirt before giving way for Guy Pepper.
Tom Curry came off for Guy Pepper without having made much of an impact on the game
Ben Earl – 4
Pointed to the heavens as he ran out of the Ellis Park tunnel and England were soon in need of divine intervention. Packed down at flanker on South African scrums.
Replacements: Alex Mitchell 5.5 (for Van Poortvliet 55), Guy Pepper 5 (for Curry 55), Henry Slade 6.5 (for Murley 56), Luke Cowan-Dickie 5.5 (for George 57), Henry Pollock 5 (for Martin 59), Beno Obano 5 (for Genge 59), Asher Opoku-Fordjour 5 (for Heyes 66), Charlie Ewels 5 (for Coles 75)
Steve Borthwick – 4
Coach survived taking charge of what was statistically England’s worst ever Six Nations but the pressure on him will continue after a fifth straight defeat. His team were blown away from kick-off and selection of Tom Curry over Henry Pollock didn’t pay off.
