Steve McCormack: England's best win for several years

England wrecked South Africa's bid for a world record 18th consecutive Test win with one of their best performances of recent years at Twickenham.

It was also the first time in more than three years that England have beaten a southern hemisphere team.

Lawrence Dallaglio and Clive Woodward celebrate a famous win

An open game produced some scintillating moves but only one try for each side, with Jeremy Guscott going over for England.

But two second half penalties by England's new kicker, scrum-half Matt Dawson, proved the deciding factor.

England captain Lawrence Dallaglio was understandably jubilant with South Africa condemned to their first defeat in 15 months of international rugby.

Lawrence Dallaglio: We've shown we can compete with the best

Dallaglio said: "It was a tremendous victory for us and we have worked so hard over the last four weeks and at some stage we had to get the result.

"We always said we were going to have to take them on up front and take them on for 80 minutes. Even at the end we were still hanging on and it was a big day for defences on both sides."

Ian Robertson reports (Radio 5 Live)

The tempo of an eagerly awaited game was at times breathtaking with second phase ball releasing the backs of both sides on angled runs.

But England dominated the tight play with their forwards putting in considerable effort to tie-in the reigning world champions.

Early lead

Mike Catt hangs onto Andre Snyman

South Africa took an early lead when Percy Montgomery converted an eighth minute try by Pieter Rossouw.

But England hit back quickly through three-quarter Jeremy Guscott after Mike Catt's cleverly slanted high kick towards open space allowed him to collect the ball and make it over the try line.

Matt Dawson, taking on England's kicking duties, converted a difficult kick to make it all square after 14 minutes.

Springboks bounce back

Matt Dawson: Stand-in kicker proved up to the task

The start of the second half saw the Springboks moved their game up a gear. It was only through stout defence and some heroic tackling that England managed to keep the game even.

Montgomery missed two penalties and England clawed their way back into the match and two relatively straight forward kicks for Dawson presented England with a six-point cushion.

Clive Woodward: "I've never been involved in a game like that"

A late flourish by the South Africans, as they tried to cut loose from their own 22 metre line with some free-flowing moves, all proved to no avail.

England's dogged persistence, and a much-improved three-quarters performance, meant they were winners.

"It was the most fantastic game to play in an England shirt. We knew this was the hardest game in world rugby and to win it means so much," said Dawson.

Joost van der Westhuizen talks to Brian Alexander on the match

"This has to be on a par with the victories on the Lions tour. To beat the world champions at Twickenham is very special."

The pace of the game inevitably led to casualties. After 22 minutes England wing David Rees retired injured, to be replaced by Austin Healey and Phil De Glanville left the pitch in the second half.

Spingbok prop Robbie Kempson was yellow carded for throwing a punch off the ball in the 48th minute.

The teams

England: N Beal (Northampton), T Underwood (Newcastle), P de Glanville (Bath), J Guscott (Bath), D Luger (Harlequins), M Catt (Bath), M Dawson (Northampton), J Leonard (Harlequins), R Cockerill, D Garforth, M Johnson (all Leicester), T Rodber (Northampton), L Dallaglio (Wasps capt), R Hill (Saracens), N Back (Leicester).