Kolbe tries help Springboks inflict another rugby win over struggling England

LONDON (AP) — South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe hurt England once again by scoring a try in each half to propel the Springboks to a 29-20 win at Twickenham on Saturday, extending the English run of defeats to five.

It was England’s third straight loss to a southern hemisphere power in this autumn series, after 24-22 to New Zealand and 42-37 to Australia, and some familiar faces administered the late crucial blows in an engrossing match that was in the balance after an hour.

Kolbe, one of the try-scorers in the Boks’ World Cup final win over England in 2019, finished off a crossfield kick for his first try in the 22nd minute and went over for the clinching score in the 63rd following a piercing break by center Damien de Allende.

South Africa pushed two scores ahead thanks to a conversion by replacement flyhalf Handre Pollard, whose last-gasp penalty sealed the Boks’ win over England in the World Cup semifinals last year, and the English couldn’t respond despite territory and playing against 14 men for the final 10 minutes.

Since repeating as world champions a year ago, the Springboks have won 10 of 12 tests and lost the other two by only a point each. England, meanwhile, has lost six of its last seven tests and has a concerning penchant for finishing tight games weakly.

It is leaving England coach Steve Borthwick under increasing pressure, especially if his team fails to beat Japan next week in their last outing of the year.

A frenetic first half featured five tries, two for England — through Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill — and three for the Boks, via scrumhalf Grant Williams’ darting run, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit's chargedown and grounding, and Kolbe.

The second half was more tight and tense, with each team having a try ruled out and England taking a 20-19 lead through Marcus Smith’s penalty in the 52nd.

England lacked composure with a huge win in its sights and Pollard, on for Mannie Libbok, returned the favor with a trademark penalty from halfway to regain the lead for the Boks.

Kolbe took De Allende’s pass and sprinted down the wing to score the try that broke English hearts, and Pollard naturally slotted the extras from the touchline.

Replacement prop Gerhard Steenekamp’s 69th-minute sin-binning for repeated team infringements might have cost South Africa, but its defense stayed strong and England made errors and bad decisions.

The last time England lost three in a row at home was in 2006.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

England's Marcus Smith is tackled by South Africa's Grant Williams during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

South Africa's Damian de Allende, is tackled by England's Tommy Freeman during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

South Africa's RG Snyman tries to break through the England defence during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

South Africa's Manie Libbok converts a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit goes over the line to score a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

England's Ollie Sleightholme runs onto score a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Referee Andrew Brace indicates a try as England's Sam Underhill, raises his arm to celebrate after he scores during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

England's Ollie Lawrence loose the ball as he is tackled by South Africa's Kurt-Lee Arendse during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

South Africa's Eben Etzebeth, right leaps for a high ball with England's Ollie Sleightholme , center and England's Chandler Cunningham-South during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

England's Sam Underhill, , left, us tackled by South Africa's Jasper Wiese during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

South Africa's Grant Williams fends off the challenge by England's Jack van Poortvliet during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

South Africa's Jasper Wiese, is brought down by England's Maro Itoje during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

England's Tommy Freeman, left, and South Africa's Kurt-Lee Arendse leap for a high ball during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit leaps for the ball at a line out during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

South Africa's Siya Kolisi is tackled by England's Ellis Genge during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe, runs over the line to score a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

TURIN, Italy (AP) — Taylor Fritz is starting to make reaching big finals a habit. And he feels like he belongs with the very best players in tennis.

The American followed up his runner-up finish at the U.S. Open by beating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3) on Saturday to advance to the final at the ATP Finals.

The last American to win the elite eight-man event was Pete Sampras, who beat Andre Agassi in 1999.

“I have believed that I belong, that I’m one of the best players. It’s not results-based. It’s more I can feel how I’m playing,” Fritz said. “This week is huge.”

Fritz also reached the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters last month, losing to Novak Djokovic.

“I trust my game and I trust my level and I don’t feel nearly as uncomfortable in these situations anymore because I’ve been playing the top guys at big events a lot lately,” Fritz said. “I’m getting more comfortable in the moment. I’m really, really confident in my game.”

Fritz became the first American finalist since James Blake lost the 2006 final to Roger Federer.

If Fritz wins the trophy, it will mark an American sweep of the season-ending events after Coco Gauff won the WTA Finals last week.

In Sunday’s final, Fritz will face top-ranked Jannik Sinner — the player he lost to in the U.S. Open final — or Casper Ruud, who were playing later.

Sinner also beat Fritz in straight sets in the group stage this week.

Fritz's run in New York made him the first American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final in 15 years. He's playing at the ATP Finals for the second time. On debut two years ago, he beat Rafael Nadal in his opener and made it to the semifinals, losing to Djokovic.

“It’s awesome to come back and already go a step further,” Fritz said. “I’m all about always trying to do better than the year before.”

At the start of the week, Fritz told The Associated Press in an interview that his “career has always been a very steady progression and just improving a little bit each year.”

It was Fritz’s fourth consecutive victory over Zverev, who replaced Carlos Alcaraz at No. 2 in the rankings this week.

“He’s an uncomfortable player for me.” Zverev said. “It’s no secret.”

Fritz, who is No. 5, also beat Zverev at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, plus the Laver Cup.

Fritz is already assured of finishing the year in the top five for the first time and he’ll rise to No. 4 on Monday if Ruud doesn’t win the title.

Zverev has seen Fritz’s improvement up close — especially on one key stroke: "His forehand used to break down quite a lot. His forehand was always fast, very aggressive, but it was very, very shaky in important moments. He could hit a winner, but he could hit the fence as well. I feel like the ratio is a lot more towards winners now.”

It was a matchup of big servers between the 6-foot-5 (1.96-meter) Fritz and the 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) Zverev, and when Fritz broke Zverev for 4-2 in the first set, it marked the first time that Zverev lost a service game in four matches in Turin.

Eventually, though, the match turned into a physical duel from the baseline. Fritz rallied from 0-40 and held his serve for 3-2 in the third after a nine-minute game full of long rallies – winning one such exchange that lasted 30 strokes.

Fritz was then under pressure one service game after another but somehow managed to keep holding.

Fritz got ahead early in the tiebreaker and finished Zverev off with an audacious inside-out forehand winner on his first match point.

“I lose at least one of those (break) points and that’s probably it,” Fritz said. “That’s how it kind of goes with playing Sascha. Whoever takes their chances between the two of us is going to win the match just because you don’t get too many and we’re both big servers.”

Fritz finished with 15 aces to Zverev's 10 in a match that last 2 hours, 20 minutes.

Zverev, the finals champion in 2018 and 2021, entered the semifinals on an eight-match winning streak after taking the Paris Masters.

“I felt like statistically and shot-wise, my level maybe was even higher than his until the important moments. That’s where I kind of blew it,” Zverev said. “This one will hurt more than the other few.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Taylor Fritz of the United States celebrates after winning the ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match against Germany's Alexander Zverevat at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, November 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Taylor Fritz of the United States celebrates after winning the ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match against Germany's Alexander Zverevat at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, November 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Taylor Fritz of the United States celebrates after winning the ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match against Germany's Alexander Zverevat at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, November 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during a semifinal tennis match against Germany's Alexander Zverev at the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during a semifinal tennis match against Germany's Alexander Zverev at the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts during the semifinal tennis match against Taylor Fritz of the United States at the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Germany's Alexander Zverev returns to Taylor Fritz of the United States during their semifinal tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Germany's Alexander Zverev watches a video review during the semifinal tennis match against Taylor Fritz of the United States at the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Germany's Alexander Zverev returns to Taylor Fritz of the United States during their semifinal tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Taylor Fritz of the United States returns to Germany's Alexander Zverev during their semifinal tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during a semifinal tennis match against Germany's Alexander Zverev at the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)