In June 2012, the England national rugby union team went on a three-test tour against the South Africa national rugby union team, known colloquially and referred to hereafter as the Springboks. This was one of a series of mid-year tours in 2012 by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations.
The series was among the first to mark a return to the format of traditional tours, after the International Rugby Board (IRB) decided in 2010 to revive the concept, which could include mid-week matches against representative or club sides. This was first such tour since South Africa had hosted New Zealand in 1996.
England last toured South Africa in 2007 and played two test matches, losing both 58 – 10 and 55 – 22. The last time the two sides met was in 2010 at Twickenham, when the Springboks won 21 – 11, marking their seventh straight win against England. Leading up to this series, both nations had played each other 32 times. The Springboks had won 19 games, England 12, and one had been drawn. England's last win against the Springboks was in 2006, when they won 23 – 21 at Twickenham. Their last victory in South Africa came in 2000, when they triumphed in Bloemfontein 27 – 22.
Fixtures Date Home Result Away Venue 27 May 2012 England XV 57–26 Barbarians Twickenham, London 9 June 2012 22–17 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 13 June 2012 SA Barbarians South 26–54 England XV Griqua Park, Kimberley 16 June 2012 36–27 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 19 June 2012 SA Barbarians North 31–57 England XV Olën Park, Potchefstroom 23 June 2012 14–14 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Squads
England On 10 May, England coach Stuart Lancaster announced his initial 42-man squad for the tour to South Africa consisting of 23 forwards and 19 backs. Thirteen uncapped players were included in the squad.
Forwards: Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Carl Fearns (Bath Rugby), Joe Gray (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Highlanders), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors), Tom Palmer (Stade Français), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins), George Robson (Harlequins), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Backs: Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers), Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Alex Goode (Saracens), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), George Lowe (Harlequins), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), David Strettle (Saracens), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Christian Wade (London Wasps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
On 29 May, it was announced that Saracens prop Matt Stevens would miss the tour because of a shoulder injury suffered during the match against the Barbarians. Rupert Harden from Gloucester Rugby was called up to replace him. On 1 June, it was announced that London Wasps lock Joe Launchbury had been ruled out of the tour after suffering a knee injury in a training session. He was replaced by Jamie Gibson from London Irish. Harlequins fullback Mike Brown suffered a fracture and ligament damage to his right thumb during the First Test in Durban on 9 June. He was sent home and replaced by Nick Abendanon from Bath Rugby. Harlequins wing George Lowe damaged ligaments in his left ankle during the mid-week match against the SA Barbarians South on 13 June. He was sent home and replaced by Jonny May from Gloucester. After an outstanding performance in the Second Test in Johannesburg, scrumhalf Ben Youngs was found to have a shoulder injury and was replaced by Karl Dickson from Harlequins.
South Africa On 2 June, new Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer announced his squad of 32 players for the series. Nine uncapped players were included in the squad.
Forwards: Willem Alberts (), Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks), Keegan Daniel (The Sharks), Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks), Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks), Eben Etzebeth (Western Province), Ryan Kankowski (The Sharks), Juandré Kruger (Blue Bulls), Werner Kruger (Blue Bulls), Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks), Coenie Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs), Jacques Potgieter (Blue Bulls), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Blue Bulls), Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls), Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), Flip van der Merwe (Blue Bulls), Franco van der Merwe (Golden Lions)
Backs: Bjorn Basson (Blue Bulls), Jean de Villiers (Western Province), JJ Engelbrecht (Blue Bulls), Bryan Habana (Western Province), Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions), Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls), Patrick Lambie (), Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), JP Pietersen (The Sharks), François Steyn (The Sharks), Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls), Jano Vermaak (Blue Bulls)
On 4 June, veteran centre Jean de Villiers was appointed as the 54th Springbok Captain. He became the most experienced player to lead the national side, having been capped 72 times before being given the captain's armband. De Villiers would captain South Africa until at least the end of this tour. Due to injury concerns over fullback Zane Kirchner (knee) and prop Coenie Oosthuizen (shoulder/neck) after the First Test in Durban, Dean Greyling and Gio Aplon were called up to replace them. It was later revealed that Oosthuizen was suffering from a bulging disc and would be sidelined for three months. Sharks centre François Steyn was unavailable for the Third Test in Port Elizabeth because his wedding was on that day. Injury concerns over Patrick Lambie after the Second Test resulted in Western Province fullback Joe Pietersen being included in the squad.
Pre-tour warm-up
FB 15Ben Foden RW 14Chris AshtonOC 13Brad BarrittIC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Christian WadeFH 10Charlie HodgsonSH 9 Lee Dickson N8 8 Phil Dowson (c) OF 7 Carl Fearns BF 6 Tom Johnson RL 5 Tom PalmerLL 4 Mouritz Botha TP 3 Paul Doran-Jones HK 2 Dylan HartleyLP 1 Matt Stevens Replacements:HK 16Lee Mears PR 17Matt Mullan LK 18Joe Launchbury FL 19Jamie Gibson SH 20Richard Wigglesworth CE 21Jonathan Joseph FB 22Alex Goode Coach: Stuart Lancaster FB 15 Mils MuliainaRW 14 Paul Sackey OC 13 Casey LaulalaIC 12 Mike Tindall LW 11 Iain BalshawFH 10 Stephen DonaldSH 9 Rory Lawson N8 8 Johnnie Beattie OF 7 Akapusi Qera BF 6 Ernst JoubertRL 5 Anton van ZylLL 4 Mark ChisholmTP 3 John AfoaHK 2 John Smit (c) LP 1 Neemia Tialata Replacements:HK 16 Benoît August PR 17 Duncan Jones LK 18 Pelu Taele N8 19 Raphaël Lakafia SH 20 Jérôme Fillol FH 21 Felipe Contepomi WG 22 Sailosi Tagicakibau Coach: John Kirwan Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Simon McDowell (Ireland) As per tradition, the Barbarians' side featured uncapped players: Jérôme Fillol, Ernst Joubert and Anton van Zyl.
Test matches First Test – 9 June The First Test of the series was played at Kings Park Stadium in Durban. The event was a historic occasion, because it was the first time that England and South Africa had played each other in Durban; England had played at Kings Park during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, but they did not face South Africa in the tournament. In the 27 test matches the Springboks had played there since 1962, they had won 16 matches, lost 8 and drawn 3.
The Springboks named three uncapped players in the starting line-up: locks Eben Etzebeth and Juandré Kruger, and flanker Marcell Coetzee. Uncapped prop Coenie Oosthuizen was named on the bench.
England selected two uncapped players to make their debut in the starting line-up: flanker Tom Johnson and prop Joe Marler. Uncapped back Jonathan Joseph was named on the bench.
FB 15Zane Kirchner RW 14JP PietersenOC 13Jean de Villiers (c)IC 12Frans SteynLW 11Bryan Habana FH 10Morné Steyn SH 9 Francois Hougaard N8 8 Pierre Spies OF 7 Willem AlbertsBF 6 Marcell Coetzee RL 5 Juandré KrugerLL 4 Eben Etzebeth TP 3 Jannie du Plessis HK 2 Bismarck du Plessis LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira Replacements:HK 16Adriaan Strauss PR 17Coenie Oosthuizen LK 18Flip van der Merwe FL 19Keegan Daniel SH 20Ruan Pienaar FB 21Patrick Lambie WG 22Wynand Olivier Coach: Heyneke Meyer FB 15Mike Brown RW 14Chris AshtonOC 13Manu TuilagiIC 12Brad Barritt LW 11Ben FodenFH 10Owen FarrellSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Ben Morgan OF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 Tom Johnson RL 5 Geoff Parling LL 4 Mouritz Botha TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Lee Mears PR 17Paul Doran-Jones LK 18Tom Palmer N8 19Phil DowsonSH 20Lee Dickson FH 21Toby Flood FB 22Jonathan Joseph Coach: Stuart Lancaster Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland) Simon McDowell (Ireland) Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Four players made their full international debut for South Africa: Marcell Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth, Juandré Kruger and Coenie Oosthuizen. Three players made their full international debut for England: Tom Johnson, Joe Marler and Jonathan Joseph
First half There was heavy rain in Durban which eased before kick-off, as well as a blustery wind. As expected, both sides went in hard early. England looked composed enough, managing to repel a Springbok line-out from inside their 22 after they failed to handle Morné Steyn's kick-off. But a box kick from Youngs carried too far and ended up in the hands of speedy wing Habana, who slipped several tackles before being finally brought down on halfway. That moment aside, England's determination paid off when, six minutes in, the debutant Etzebeth was penalised for not rolling away after the tackle. Farrell converted the 40-metre penalty goal to open the scoring, 3 – 0. The home side finally came to life ten minutes into the match, and with 14 minutes gone on the clock, Morné Steyn levelled the scores from point-blank range 3 – 3 when England was penalised for being offside after some strong running by Sharks flanker Alberts. England continued to resist attack after attack from the Springboks, especially when, at the 20-minute mark, Hougaard found space in attack and passed to Spies, who was tackled by Tuilagi just inches short of the tryline. <br/ >
Finally, in a rare foray forward, Johnson, who impressed many observers on debut with his work rate, drew the defence before he passed to the number eight Morgan, who powered his way through South Africa's defence. Coetzee interfered illegally for the Springboks, and Farrell converted the subsequent penalty to regain the lead for England 6 – 3 at the 27-minute mark of the match. South Africa replied swiftly after England was again penalised for being offside. Steyn converted the penalty to again level the scores 6 – 6. <br/ >
Habana then injured himself when he chased a high kick from Morne Steyn and collided with England fullback Brown. A big chance for England went begging when Youngs found Ashton in midfield, who sidestepped Kirchner and took the ball up 30 metres only to spill it as he was brought down from behind by Hougaard. A series of deep kicks ensued as both sides tried to establish territory. In the final minute of the half, Johnson was penalised for using his hands in a scrum, but Steyn's penalty attempt drifted wide to leave the teams even at 6 – 6 at half time.
Second half