Some general observations and specific highlights.
FIRST HALF
Not a whole lot to comment on but the following:
02:00 as the Boks play wide, Arendse blocks initial counter at the tackle, Div & Cam arrives next to secure the ruck, both push Thomas over for the try.
05:06 Ox busts, Nortje first to the tackle, Hanekom right there to pick up and keep the forward momentum going. Nortje just seems to magically appear wherever the ball is.
14:50 an excellent try saver by DDA on Marcus Smith, who looked over for all money
Wiese, Div, Nortje and, to a lesser extent as the half wears on, Cam relentlessly hunts and secures the breakdowns. Nortje to me is a far bigger contributor than Steph, who misses numerous tackles and doesn't nearly deliver the same value as Nortje in regards to securing and controlling possession at the breakdowns. England proceeds to control the possession well for the rest of the first half after the Bok blitzkrieg. Notably the Boks don't compete much on the England breakdowns/rucks, although Wiese and Marx always look for the poach if they're right there at the tackle and Div slows it down well when he can without getting himself penalized - he also gets a few good carries and makes some good tackles. I think he's delivered a fine, competent performance so far.
I have to say, Cam looked a little off the boil to me. Started well but faded as the half went on. The way Marcus Smith just slips through him at the end of the first half, he looks almost spent by that point.
SECOND HALF
Wiese wins an early jackal penalty. Strong carry in the 22 to set up the long pick and go phase attack on the line that ends in Grant's try. Cam and Div also make dominant carries in this sequence. PSDT on the other hand struggles to make ground on the carry twice.
In the next sequence England is in the Bok 22, Chessum beats a PSDT tackle for big go forward. Curry did slightly obstruct Steph initially. Eskom makes three tackles in this sequence. Fin Smith takes PSDT on the outside from close and Atkinson can't hang on to his offload, otherwise try England.
51:20 PSDT charges the line only to be hit back in the tackle by Genge and Earl. This leads to Williams box kicking, possession lost.
51:44 Murley beats DDA comfortably on the outside, Kriel gets him.
Next sequence, Boks in the 22, Marx post contact over the gainline, Nortje first to secure for quick ball, PSDT and Steenkamp clears the next breakdown, next breakdown Nortje there again. Ball goes wide for Kriel's try. Speed of possession was the key to this try, along with BJD standing in a receiving position keeping two defenders honest while Marx receives just behind him. Beautifully worked try with the Boks first angling in to keep the defenders from going wide and then Marx just needs to run at the space between the remaining two before releasing Kriel with an open line.
61:34 PSDT gathers a box kick off the loose bounce and throws the ball straight to Alex Mitchell. Nortje still keeps showing up at just about very breakdown. Boks in this period, minute 60 on, slowing the game down considerably with more kicking. This is when England starts crawling back into it.
65:08 Pollock breaks from the lineout and puts Earl into space with a well timed pass, starting a sequence of England go forward that ends in a try two minutes later. 66:06 he breaks inside and makes the gainline in Wessels' tackle. I thought he was supposed to be hiding and doing nothing, who knew. England throws a few wayward passes in this sequence but keeps going forward.
67:40 another short Pollock carry sets up the ball for the Sladester to cut through Marx and PSDT's collective effort and end up just short of the line as who else but Nortje is there first to stop his progress. Coupled with the Fin Smith offload earlier this is twice England had beaten the Bok defense in the red zone targeting PSDT - the Sladester's effort still pays off as Coles is over from that ruck possession.
Freeman now gets yellow for a poor effort on Willemse and the game slips away from England just as they look to be clawing back.
71:20 Porthen with a belligerent carry into the 22. It's off his offload that Pepper tackles Marx early earning a somewhat harsh yellow and that's the end of their challenge having to play 10 minutes with 13. Boks maul over a minute later.
74:46 Pollock dominates a Nortje/PSDT double tackle to win the gainline. I am highlighting him specifically to make a mockery of the "he was scared, he did nothing" idiots.
Good work by Marx on the breakdown gets the Boks possession. Mitchell barely avoids a third England yellow in 5 minutes as he tries to kick the ball out of Reinach's hands at the ruck but misses. BJD scores, end of game.
Conclusion - yes, it was a much closer game than the score suggests. The two yellows screwed England in the last 10 just as it seemed like they were starting to control the game. Freeman needs his feathers ruffled for that poor upright hit on Willemse, it was amateur hour in the modern game.
The Boks were good but England pushed them on multiple occasions and were definitely not completely dominated physically. The scoreline blowing out in the last 10 with two tries against 13 men made it seem like a more comfortable win than it was.
The Boks did excellent work on their own rucks, Div, Wiese, Nortje, Marx and for some of the first half Cam prominent in this respect with BJD and Eskom too later in the second half. England seemed to get quicker possession from the rucks after Div left though, but that's just a perception.
Grant was sharp as a tack, Manie was better than I thought at first viewing, DDA did some fine work on defense in the background, Kriel was Kriel. Our wings didn't get much to work with, both took the chance they each got. Willemse was excellent.
Willemse may have gotten MOTM, but Nortje is my MVP for the Boks. Absolutely everywhere. When there's no one around, a moment later he appears. PSDT for me was a weak link, especially on defense and in particular in the two red zone plays I highlighted above.