England offer glimpse of brighter future but Kolbe double gives South Africa win

Today at 02:54 PM

• Autumn Nations Series: England 20-29 South Africa
• Steve Borthwick's side impress but are beaten again

Finally a performance to make English fans believe in a brighter future. The results are still not falling their way but a fifth defeat on the spin told only a fraction of the story of this compelling match. If the world champions ultimately walked away victorious, this was also the day that Steve Borthwick's side answered a good few uncomfortable questions about their ability and tactical direction.

If all Test matches were this thunderous and hypnotically watchable there would be no need to rustle up half-baked fantasy schemes to try and flog rugby to the unconverted. The quicksilver Marcus Smith was again the attacking ringmaster for England but in the end the matchwinner was the even more diminutive Cheslin Kolbe, whose two brilliantly-taken tries saw the world's No 1-ranked side home.