Former Oxford University captain Nick Mallett claimed nothing separates England from the three southern hemisphere superpowers after his Springboks emerged narrow 18-13 winners at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
England, who lost fly-half Jonny Wilkinson 90 minutes before kick-off through illness and saw a possible penalty try ruled out by the video referee, ran their World Cup conquerors desperately close.
Ultimately, they were undone by six Braam van Straaten penalties - five of them inside the first 24 minutes - as England's poor discipline was ruthlessly punished.
The teams meet again in Bloemfontein next Saturday, and Springboks' coach Mallett has no doubt Martin Johnson's men will provide another mighty challenge. That was one of the hardest Test matches I've been involved in, said Mallett, assessing a punishing encounter which contained an amazing 24 minutes and four seconds of injury time. There was nothing really in the game. Both defences were tight and I knew it would be very close. There is nothing that separates England from the southern hemisphere - they would give New Zealand and Australia a very hard run for their money.
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