It was a long time in the melting pot but England's first victory over a major Southern Hemisphere side since the 1995 World Cup was as sweet and satisfying as they come. Lawrence Dallaglio's battling players could not have chosen a more auspicious occasion on which to confound their critics: stopping the world champions from setting a new Test record of 18 consecutive wins and in doing so reasserting their own power and pride of performance.

The result was paramount. After a number of tantalising near-misses against the elite nations, England desperately needed to finish in credit. That they did so with an injury-ravaged side - three players finished on the treatment table - speaks volumes for their sheer guts and self-belief.

True to form, though, England put their fans on the rack several times, back-pedalling when kicks were charged down by the Springboks and contriving to give away penalties that might have meant their downfall.

When there was still time to save the match, South Africa's full-back Percy Montgomery missed a simple short-range penalty and, as the seconds ticked away, Stefan Terblanche was denied a clear run to the posts only when Dan Luger charged down Andre Snyman's pass.

On such slender margins are reputations made and historic wins created. England, though, deserved to see off the Springboks because their hunger was greater, their tactics sharper and their organisation, under fierce pressure, ultimately more durable.

Victory will ensure that the coach Clive Woodward takes England into next year's World Cup. Searching questions had been asked of his stewardship, particularly over team selection which seemed arbitrary at times. However, his insistence on unflinching honesty over individual shortcomings finally bore fruit, notably in the case of the out-half Mike Catt, who curbed his carelessness and played probably his most composed England game.

Beating the Springboks may prove a watershed for England, who badly needed the injection of confidence that only comes with taking a distinguished scalp. Their next major challenge will be on March 20th at home to France, who promise once again to be their most serious rivals, notwithstanding recent improvement in Wales and Ireland under the guidance of New Zealand coaches. Five Nations rugby could be about to emerge from the dark ages.

When asked whether he believed a substantial gap in quality remained between Northern and Southern Hemisphere rugby, Woodward hedged his bets. "If there is a gulf it has more to do with the structure of our game than the ability of the players," he said, returning to a familiar source of complaint. "I don't think we'd lose many games if we operated on a level playing field; man for man we can achieve what they do."

On the evidence of their Tests against South Africa and Australia, who won by one point, England have forwards such as Dallaglio, Martin Johnson, Tim Rodber and Richard Cockerill who can stand toe to toe with any pack in the world. However, the jury is still out on the backs who, Guscott and Dawson apart, tend to blow hot and cold. As for the Springboks, they may find it a good deal harder next year to reach the dizzy heights of 1998, their annus mirabilis, when they won the Tri-Nations series for the first time and averaged five tries a game through 18 Tests.

Nick Mallett, their impressive coach, believes the All Blacks will move on from last summer's five Test defeats and re-emerge as the biggest threat to South Africa's hopes of retaining the world title. For the moment England have shrugged off their reputation as dangerous floaters who fail to deliver. Their supporters can wind back the video tape and re-run the try of their dreams; a high cross-kick by Catt finds Luger leaping above Terblanche to lay off the ball to Guscott who glides away from two tackles to put England back on terms. Beal, for his part, will prefer to forget the early missed tackle that allowed the left-wing Pieter Rossouw to put the Springboks in charge.

Fast forward to a final quarter of unrelenting tension and a denouement that defied the odds. Dawson, with the easy grace of a Michael Lynagh, hammered home two penalty goals for ruck offences from 30 and 40 metres. Then England hung on by their fingernails through five minutes of stoppage time for a victory that Dawson described as "right up there with the Lions winning in South Africa".

England: N Beal; D Luger, P de Glanville, J Guscott, T Underwood; M Catt, M Dawson; J Leonard, R Cockerill, D Garforth, M Johnson, T Rodber, L Dallaglio (capt), N Back, R Hill.

South Afric Stewart, P Rossouw; H Honiball, J van der Westhuisen; R Kempson, J Dalton, A Garvey, K Otto, M Andrews, J Erasmus, B Skinstad, G Teichmann.

Referee: P O'Brien (New Zealand).