Finally a performance to give English fans a glimpse of 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 some 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 superbly taken tries proved to be the difference.
