The Springboks were stunned 12-11 by a weakened England team at Twickenham after an error-strewn performance.
All their hosts had to do was kick over four of their five penalties to outscore Rassie Erasmus’ manne who just could not take advantage of their countless first-half visits into the enemy’s 22-metre area.
And insult was added to injury when the South Africans were denied a last-gasp penalty to win the match by referee Angus Gardner after the Australian official failed to punish England captain Owen Farrell for a blatant shoulder charge on Andre Esterhuizen.
But that was not how the Boks lost this game – they have only themselves to blame.
After a storming start, SA flyhalf Handre Pollard slotted a sixth-minute penalty from as the powerful Bok pack scrummed England into the Twickers turf.
With the forwards dominating possession and territory, England lock Maro Itoje was sin-binned for offside after a Pollard crosskick released Sbu Nkosi on the right wing.
HIT AND MISS: Handre Pollard. Photo: ANDY RAIN/EPA
But from a resultant lineout setup five metres out from the hosts’ try-line, hooker Malcolm Marx missed his jumpers with the opportunity for an early try was lost.
And to make matters worse, they failed to take advantage of their man advantage and allowed Farrell to tie up the game with a 19th-minute penalty.
There were numerous handling errors with the try line in sight as SA looked to hammer the Poms.
They pinned England back and on 29 minutes had another attacking lineout five metres out, but Marx’s long throw-in missed his teammates again as another chance went a-begging.
But the finally made it count after one of centre Damian de Allende’s many marauding runs saw some quick hands out wide play speedster Nkosi into the right-hand corner for the only try of the match.
Pollard failed to convert and a 37th-minute Farrell penalty saw the scoreboard show 8-6 at the break.
Whatever was said at halftime gave the Roses gees to turn the game on its head, as they game out with dorings steeking.
CENTRAL FIGURE: Damian de Allende, right, was yster. Photo: KIM LUDBROOK/EPA-EFE
The rattled Boks fell 9-8 behind to a 50-metre Elliott Daly penalty. Pollard and Farrell then exchanged kicks to make it 11-9 and 12-11.
Then in the 75th minute, a huge Bok scrum won them a chance to take the lead, but Pollard’s effort grazed the outside of the right upright.
The Boks then attacked through 21 phases before Lood de Jager coughed up the ball five metres from the try line just before the hooter.
But the Boks continued to press for a win until Farrell’s charge on Esterhuizen, the ref somehow saw it differently and Boks ran out of chances to rescue this match.