The Springboks showed their trademark pragmatism to batter England physically and dominate possession, forcing a series of simple errors that checked the momentum built by the home side's wins over Australia and Samoa.

Morne Steyn kicked two penalties and hit the post with two more before replacement Willem Alberts and Lwazi Mvovo touched down in the final quarter.

“I think the guys showed what we can do and that's what South African rugby is all about,” South Africa captain Victor Matfield said. “Our ball carriers, our scrum, everything were working really well.” Ben Foden got a late breakaway try for England to make the score more respectable, although Mike Tindall hacked an attempted quick conversion wide of the posts.

A series of big hits left Chris Ashton, Toby Flood, Tom Croft, Dan Cole and Mark Cueto all needing attention, and, although Flood kicked two penalties, he was shaken and indecisive by the time he limped off in the 23rd minute following a blow to the head.

“The realities of test match rugby are that if you don't do the fundamentals of the game for 80 minutes, you're not going to win,” England team manager Martin Johnson said.

“It's disappointing because we felt if we got the ball into attack we could do something. It's just frustrating and annoying.

“It was a real tough end to the series. We lost a couple of players, which was a disruption, but we've got to handle it as well.” South Africa took two thirds of first-half possession and succeeded where Australia and even New Zealand failed this month by forcing England backward in the tackle.

England remained dangerous when keeping the ball moving and went in at halftime level at 6-6, but South Africa shook off last week's surprise loss to Scotland to dominate the contact areas and force the late tries.

“We were bitterly disappointed about the way we played last week,” Matfield said. “We knew we were putting them under pressure. We were just happy the guys kept playing the way we know they can play.

“In 2006, we also had a bad year and we turned things around, so hopefully this is an omen for us.” Matfield and Bakkies Botha ruled the lineout, and it was from a throw that Alberts' score eventually came. England defended its line through a series of phases, but South Africa eventually worked space on the right for Alberts to go over.

Steyn missed the conversion to leave the tourists just eight points ahead and, although England labored in vain to pierce the green-and-gold defensive line, Mvovo scored his first international try with 10 minutes left - dancing through three tired tacklers to touch down.

“We made too many mistakes,” England captain Lewis Moody said. “We had a great game against Australia and a win last week, so we're bitterly disappointed. We'll sit down next week and sort it out.” South Africa's seventh straight win over England salvaged some pride after a disastrous Tri-Nations and a tour hit by injuries and the suspension of two players under anti-doping rules.

But England had started well with Nick Easter running from deep following a turnover to set up Croft for a surge up the wing that was only halted by the concession of a penalty that Flood stroked over for 3-0.

But Ashton was stunned while making a seventh-minute tackle on Matfield and was almost forced from the field by referee George Clancey.

“He's nearly asleep here,” Clancey said. “He's slurring his words.” Ashton stayed on but it was the first of several blows that discomposed a side that produced quick, decisive running rugby for a record win over the Wallabies two weeks ago.

“It always helps when the guy who is one of the game breakers isn't at his best and he took that blow to the head,” Matfield said.

Steyn made it 3-3 following a penalty at the scrum and, although Flood restored his team's three-point advantage, the flyhalf soon began hesitating and kicking away possession in the manner that had blighted England's performances against Tri-Nations opposition the previous two years.

Croft departed in the 21st with a shoulder injury and Flood followed him almost immediately.

Clancey continually penalized England for rudimentary errors and Steyn shook off his two missed penalties - both of which hit the left post - to pull South Africa level at 6-6.

Steyn's third penalty put South Africa ahead at the start of the second period and, once England had failed to score despite 20 consecutive phases on the line, the Springboks finally turned their domination into points.