Farrell fluffs chance to snatch victory for England

Replacement fly-half Owen Farrell fluffed a stoppage-time drop goal attempt as England drew 14-14 with South Africa Saturday in the final game of a three-Test series. The Springboks won the series 2-0 after victories in Durban and Johannesburg, but came under massive post-hooter pressure at a wet Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in this coastal city. With no way through the green and gold defence, the ball was passed back to Farrell, whose attempt was low and wide to the relief of most in a capacity 45,000 crowd. Usually deadly South African goal kicker and fly-half Morne Steyn had another off-day, missing three of six shots at goal and a late drop-goal attempt that prompted boos from some spectators. Steyn kicked three penalties and right-wing JP Pietersen scored his second try in as many Tests for the Springboks while scrum-half Danny Care crossed the line for England and Farrell (twice) and fly-half Toby Flood kicked penalties. The result ended a run of nine consecutive victories by South Africa over England since 2006 and was only the second draw between the countries with the first 106 years ago at Crystal Palace in London. England were ahead in less than two minutes as South Africa got caught offside and Flood kicked a simple penalty before missing a second, more difficult attempt soon after. With seven minutes gone the teams were level as another offside infringement offered Steyn the chance to kick his first penalty on a ground where he scored all 18 points in a triumph over New Zealand last year. An attempted clearance kick by Steyn that was blocked by impressive No 8 Thomas Waldrom led to England regaining the lead after 11 minutes through a try from Care. The charge down led to England bursting down the middle and when the home team were penalised, Care spotted a gap, took a quick tap penalty and dived over between forwards Jannie du Plessis and Eben Etzebeth. Flood saw his conversion drift just left of the far post and Steyn cut the deficit to two points with another successful penalty kick on 16 minutes as the English pack continued to be penalised at rucks and mauls. Steyn missed his third penalty kick while England found themselves down to a third-choice fly-half in Alex Goode as injuries sidelined Flood and replacement Owen Farrell. Farrell, axed after the first Test loss in Durban, returned after Steyn kicked a 28th-minute penalty to edge the Springboks 9-8 ahead and close the opening-half scoring. But it could have been a wider margin at the break as a multi-phase attack by the green and gold brought them close to the English line before 20-year-old Etzebeth knocked on. Both teams had penalty chances within the first 10 minutes of the second half and while Farrell made no mistake from close range, Steyn fluffed a more difficult opportunity. After numerous warnings to the English forwards for infringements, Australian referee Steve Walsh lost his patience on 51 minutes and yellow carded hooker and captain Dylan Hartley. South Africa spent a lot of time in the English half and were finally rewarded just past the hour mark when line-out possession led to an assault on the line and a skip pass from scrum-half Ruan Pienaar sent Pietersen over. Steyn failed to convert from far out, but the Springboks were ahead 14-11 only for England to level when Farrell kicked his second penalty from close range with eight minutes to go.