The South Africans led England two national anthems to one - and thereafter trailed in the wake of a team justified in considering themselves, this Christmas at least, the best in the world.

That is not something the England manager Clive Woodward might have dared think either at the end of the Lions tour, the beginning of the domestic season or at the start of these fixtures against the marauders from the south - all three of whom have dominated the international game for at least a decade.

But in entertaining a packed Fortress Twickenham three Saturdays in a row to a hat-trick of victories executed in different styles, England have not only established their right to be ranked alongside them, they have played passages of such quality rugby that they have raised genuine hopes of proving better than them at next year's World Cup.

This is not a time for false modesty. While these have not been perfect performances - what game of rugby ever is? - England's tight-knit squad have taken everything thrown at them. They held off the All Blacks, beat Australia with brio and, if anyone doubted the commitment of opponents here for one-off internationals rather than a proper series, they will have been disabused of that notion yesterday. It was a minor war, whatever the scoreline.

Just as the All Blacks never put in anything but 100-per-cent effort, so Australia play with huge pride and South Africa with a prickly, often brutish physicality. They do it best at home, but they injected this match with all the fire of the veldt.

It was committed. And nasty. But England, who can handle themselves in any streetfight these days, handled the assault with admirable discipline. In the first half especially, there were several moments of what a good defence lawyer would call provocation. In the bar, it might more accurately be described as thuggery. Five minutes in and both sides were at it, with Matt Dawson and James Dalton first into the ring.

When they chose to play some rugby, the South Africans were dangerous, Bolla Conradie providing the link and jink in one sharp drive up the middle. He paid for his impertinence with a bit of afters, though, as the match hit a high pitch of intensity. Conradie was led from the field in the 10th minute, not seeming to know where he was.

Robbie Fleck and Ben Cohen were next on the bill, and Paddy O'Brien was starting to lose patience as the sight of bodies strewn about the field made Twickenham resemble an assault course. 'That's it for both sides,' warned the New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien as Wilkinson posted the first of his penalties before being mugged out of the fray later.

But the karma was with England. When Cohen went up to take a huge Garryowen in the 18th minute, Jason Robinson was clattered in the collateral damage that ensued, but was back on his feet in time to see Dawson sweep the backline upfield and Cohen go over in the right-hand corner. It was a majestic attacking move, calmly executed by a man at the peak of his playing powers.

Outplayed and outthought now, the Boks cracked. When Jannes Labuschagne arrived later than a Virgin train to take out Wilkinson he was sent off, and rightly so. He obviously hadn't been listening to Mr O'Brien. Or anyone else for the past few years.

Down to 14 men and rattled, South Africa were hurt again two minutes later. Wilkinson, who looked groggy, had enough vision to see a gap behind the Springbok line and chipped over for Cohen, who pulled it down and grounded it in the tackle but was not awarded the try.

Then followed the most stirring few moments of the match. Camped on South Africa's line, England's pack sought retribution in the most effective way possible.

First they forced the opposition front row to turn in the scrum and won the ball back four yards out. Lawrence Dallaglio, on for the injured Lewis Moody, tried to carry the ball over in the maul, but South Africa held. Another inconclusive scrum followed. Another penalty and England chose the scrum over the three points again. They spun it wide this time and Wilkinson handed the final pass to Will Greenwood who crashed over under the posts, knocking Wessel Roux out of the way en route. Replies don't come more emphatic than that.

South Africa were frustrated and it showed. When Corne Krige blatantly hit Richard Hill off the ball he had the gall to protest his innocence. He was lucky to stay on. He cheekily used his status as the Springbok captain to carry on the discussion, too.

There was nothing wrong with AJ Venter's hit on Robinson a minute later, however, one of the best tackles of the past few weeks. Again England's patience held.

Husbanding an 18-3 lead at the halfway mark, a dominance grafted in the face of extreme provocation, they opened up in the second session with a combination of running rugby the Springboks were helpless to stop and unable to match.

For once, the strains of Swing Low didn't sound naff. This was another win to savour, victory over outclassed opponents who came to spoil and who ought to go home hugely disappointed with their bad manners. At least they will be able to say they played against one of the finest teams of recent years.

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