Holders taken to the cleaners

England 0 South Africa 36 : South Africa humiliated defending champions England in their pivotal Pool A match at the Stade de…

England 0 South Africa 36: South Africa humiliated defending champions England in their pivotal Pool A match at the Stade de France with a comprehensive and clinical performance.

The Springboks took a daunting 20-0 halftime lead after tries by flanker Juan Smith and winger JP Pietersen.

Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who had an outstanding all-round game, put Pietersen into the corner for a second try in the 63rd minute.

England, whose last World Cup loss was against the Springboks on the same ground in the 1999 quarter-finals, must now beat Samoa and Tonga to ensure a quarter-final place.