Here is an evaluation of where England stand.Reasons to be hopefulMarcus Smith seizes his chanceHaving come off on the hour mark of the first game against New Zealand before being moved to full-back for the last quarter of the Wallabies loss,

England coach Steve Borthwick said that the yet another painful defeat, this time 29-20 to South Africa on Saturday to continue their miserable Autumn series, will help his team in the long run as they continue their development.

England head coach Steve Borthwick is confident he has the backing of the Rugby Football Union despite presiding over a fifth successive defeat after South Africa triumphed 29-20 at Allianz Stadium.

The Rugby Football Union insist the former England captain retains its “100 per cent support” ahead of the side’s first match against South Africa since the Springboks’ dramatic 16-15 World Cup semi-final win in 2023.

It was becoming a game of one-on-one battles and invariably South Africa were winning them. Etzebeth was tormenting the box-kicking of Jack van Poortvliet, creating a try for Pieter-Steph du Toit, who scored off a chargedown of his own, the ball implausibly tip-toeing along the touchline without going out.

England coach Steve Borthwick said that the yet another painful defeat, this time 29-20 to South Africa on Saturday to continue their miserable Autumn series, will help his team in the long run as they continue their development.