England suffer record home defeat

5:32pm Saturday 22nd November 2008

South Africa inflicted a record 42-6 home defeat on England at Twickenham on Saturday.

The world champions secured their sixth straight win over England with tries from Danie Rossouw, Ruan Pienaar, Adi Jacobs, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana

Pienaar finished with a total of 20 points, while all England could muster were two penalties from Danny Cipriani.

The Springboks had stuttered to victories over Wales and Scotland and head coach Peter de Villiers claimed during the week his side were mentally fatigued and struggling for motivation.

It proved to be the smokescreen many expected as South Africa produced a ruthless attacking performance and monumental defensive display.

Once again, England contributed to their own demise and were booed on the final whistle after an embarrassingly impotent performance.

The 36-point margin smashed England's previous heaviest Twickenham defeat, a 41-20 defeat to the All Blacks in 2006.

Team manager Martin Johnson told Sky Sports 2 afterwards: "We did not execute in their 22. We have learnt a brutal lesson."