The Springboks’ failure to finish off their opportunities and some ill-discipline, which resulted in crucial penalties for England, cost them the match at Twickenham on Saturday, according to Rassie Erasmus, the SA Rugby Director of Rugby.

England edged South Africa 12-11 in a tightly fought battle played before a capacity crowd in London. The home side’s flyhalf and co-captain, Owen Farrell, deliverd a flawless goal kicking display and slotted three penalties, while Elliot Daly (fullback) was on target with a long-range penalty.

A preliminary Springbok training squad 20 for the forthcoming Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to the United Kingdom and France was announced on Sunday, with Duane Vermeulen, Trevor Nyakane and Lood de Jager making a return to the group, while Tendai Mtawarira was ruled out of the tour due to injury.

The majority of the squad players have already assembled on Sunday for camp, which will last for a week before they depart in two groups to London next Saturday. Overseas-based players and those involved in the 2018 Currie Cup Final, sponsored by Nashua and DirectAxis Financial Services, were not considered for the Stellenbosch camp.

The Springbok Sevens team claimed third place and the bronze medal at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, played at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Sunday. The Blitzboks secured a 24-19 win over Fiji to claim a second medal in two months and cap off another stellar season.

The team won the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in June for a second consecutive year and added bronze to their medal tally. The team finished fourth at the Commonwealth Games – their lowest placing in a major sporting event for the season.

The Australian Women's Sevens side have finished third to claim the bronze medal at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco.

The side’s first task was against France in a rematch of the World Series semi-final in Paris last month.  The Aussies got out to a strong lead in the first half but France produced a remarkable comeback to pip the World Series champions after the full-time whistle and register a 19-12 win.