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Thursday 7 June 2018 06:11, UK
As England strive for an upturn in form against South Africa after a lacklustre Six Nations campaign, we look back into the archive for five memorable encounters between the two sides.
South Africa were on a record-equalling run of 17 consecutive Test wins when they arrived in London in December 1998, but were stopped in their tracks by Sir Clive Woodward's England.
Nick Mallett's side were in relentless form heading into the clash after comfortable wins over Scotland, Wales and Ireland during their northern hemisphere tour, and had convincingly beaten England five months earlier on Woodward's 'Tour of Hell'.
There was nothing between the teams in the first half with the scoreline tied at 7-7 as England held their own against the all-conquering Springboks. Pieter Rossouw scored for the Boks, but England dominated the contest thereafter in terms of possession and territory.
The key moment came when Dan Luger knocked the ball back to Jeremy Guscott and the centre scored the decisive try, with Matt Dawson also out-kicking Percy Montgomery - the Bok missing one from directly in front.
There was a late scare when the visitors broke away and Stefan Terblanche was only denied a try after Luger intercepted the ball to end South Africa's 15-month unbeaten run. The victory was the first over a southern hemisphere nation under Woodward and is regarded as something of a watershed moment.
A year-and-a-half later, England's memorable victory over the Springboks in South Africa marked a key moment in Woodward's side's development on the way to 2003 World Cup success.
It was only England's third-ever win in South Africa and remains the last time they have been victorious in the country.
The game was dominated by the boot, with all of England's points kicked by 21-year-old Jonny Wilkinson.
A late rally by the Springboks set up a tense finale but the visitors held on for a first away win over southern hemisphere opponents under Woodward.
The team's belief soared following this victory and three years later England were celebrating after winning the World Cup for the first and only time in Australia.
Jake White's position as South Africa coach was under threat, yet his depleted side rose to the occasion on their return to Twickenham a week after losing 23-21 to England.
The world champions started the stronger of the sides but two penalties and a try in double quick time put the Springboks ahead at the break.
A lacklustre England failed to find the inspiration to get a point on the board in the second half - let alone secure a series victory.
The match would prove pivotal as the RFU hierarchy ended Andy Robinson's tenure following a poor run of results.
In contrast, White kept his job, and the success marked the start of a memorable Springboks campaign in 2007 which culminated in their World Cup victory.
The rivals had met in the pool stages of the 2007 World Cup and the Springboks had torn their English counterparts to shreds, with a 36-0 mauling at the Stade de France.
Just over a month later the sides met once again at the same stadium in the showpiece match, after England's unexpected semi-final win over France.
After a try-less first half, England appeared to have scored the opening try of the match soon after the restart through Mark Cueto, following Matthew Tait's break through the Springboks defensive line. But the wing was found to be in touch by the television match official.
England did reduce their 9-3 first-half deficit through a Jonny Wilkinson penalty for an earlier infringement but back-to-back Bok penalties enabled the pre-match favourites to reassert their advantage to a nine-point margin.
Needing two scores to move ahead, England were unable to break down their opponents as the Springboks secured their first World Cup triumph in 12 years.
After a Grand Slam in Eddie Jones' first Six Nations campaign and a 3-0 summer Test series win against Australia - their first ever three-Test series victory - the Autumn internationals provided a further opportunity to underline their improvement as a squad.
The Springboks, undefeated against England in a decade - a 12-game streak - came into the meeting weary after their heaviest defeat ever, to world champions New Zealand, in their final Rugby Championship match.
Jones, who described South Africa's style as "chess with steroids" in the build-up, saw his side record an 11th consecutive victory, their 10th since the Australian took charge after England's dismal World Cup campaign in 2015.
South Africa began strongly as they sought to impose their physical game style at the breakdown and with the set-piece but England soon found their stride in damp conditions, with Jonny May and Courtney Lawes crossing the whitewash before the break.
Ben Youngs, integral to the tempo at which England had played, showed good footwork to easily exploit a gap at the breakdown and provide the pass for George Ford to touch down the third try and end the match as a contest, with over half an hour to spare.
Tries from replacement Johan Goosen and full-back Willie Le Roux, either side of a fourth score for the hosts by Owen Farrell, were scant consolation for the Springboks.
