England should be kicking themselves for failing to gain a victory from a tough three-match series.
Yes, a 14-14 draw would have been acclaimed by previous tour parties, but for this young squad it will be judged a disappointment.
Man of the series: Johnson was outstanding in England's back row
England gained many positives yet they could have won two games in a series where the Springboks’ sharper streetwise mentality, killer instinct and better discipline proved crucial.
Stuart Lancaster’s squad now know the standards needed at the very top.Exeter flanker Tom Johnson was my player of the series, while I would have made Tom Palmer man of the match on Saturday.
Johnson’s work rate was phenomenal despite one or two defensive lapses. His ability to win turnovers showed that he could play at openside if England have Leicester’s Tom Croft back fit next autumn.
The emergence of Johnson, a very similar player to captain Chris Robshaw, has made back-row selection very competitive, especially if Northampton’s Tom Wood is fit.
Star man: Palmer (left) stood out in Port ElizabethPalmer is an impressive, athletic lock and his return to Wasps next season should also improve his line-out role through working alongside an expert in Marco Wentzel.
England’s choice at half-back will also be fiercely debated, though Danny Care must now be the No 1 scrum-half.
Care gave England a more balanced approach than Ben Youngs, despite the Leicester player’s two tries in the second Test.
Manu Tuilagi benefited from Care’s quicker distribution, thriving on extra space.
Toby Flood looks to have grabbed the fly-half jersey despite his limited game time on Saturday. He possesses a more varied game than replacement Owen Farrell, who will surely benefit if his father Andy returns to the England coaching team.
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