HIGHLIGHTS: Three southern hemisphere defeats!

It was a disappointing end to the year for the ‘big three’ teams from the southern hemisphere as England edged the Springboks, Wales battled past a 14-man Australia, while the All Blacks were hammered by France.

AS IT HAPPENED | SPRINGBOKS V ENGLAND: SCORES, COMMENTARY

Check out all the highlights below:

Despite the Boks’ last-minute loss they will still end the year as the No 1-ranked team in world rugby.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi also praised the mental strength of the team both in their second half fightback to take the lead and for maintaining their spirit during a COVID-ravaged year season: “Mentally this is a strong team – to go through what we have gone through was really tough,” said Kolisi.

“But we have taken everything that has been thrown at us head on and we kept working – but we know this game is about results and we’ll come back strongly next year.”

Coach Jacques Nienaber said he had learnt much this season and was already plotting how to improve in the next season.

The Boks ended the season with eight wins from 13 matches, with one of the highlights undoubtedly the series victory achieved against the British & Irish Lions.

“This year was one where we always knew that we’d be finding out where we were after missing out on 2020. I think we can definitely improve and we’re not where we want to be. I don’t want to go into detail but there are things that we want to work on – our execution of opportunities can be better for one.”

Nienaber praised his team’s comeback after the scoreboard pressure England applied with two first half tries but admitted they had been usually exposed by England’s attack.

“We usually only concede an average of try per match so conceding three doesn’t sit well us,” he said.

“They played well and made it a proper Test match for their home crowd, but it is very painful to have lost at the death once more.”

The Springboks are next in action in a three-test series against Wales in South Africa in July.

PLAYER RATINGS | WHO STOOD OUT – AND WHO FLOPPED – FOR THE SPRINGBOKS