By Mitch Phillips

South Africa ended their seven-game losing run against England and claimed their first away win for a year as four drop goals by Andre Pretorius helped them to beat the world champions 25-14 at Twickenham.

England led 14-3 after half an hour following a Mark Cueto try and three Andy Goode penalties but lost their way in the face of a determined Springbok fightback.

A thundering try by giant prop CJ Van der Linde and the boot of the impressive Pretorius edged them into a 19-14 lead early in the second half and England failed to score anything in the final hour.

South Africa made sure of their first win at Twickenham for nine years when Pretorius stroked over two more late drop goals. It brought back painful memories of the 1999 World Cup, when Jannie de Beer's five drop goals sent England out of the quarter-finals. No other international has hit more than three.

"It was a massive win for us," said South Africa coach Jake White. "This team has matured even in a week and it's hugely encouraging looking forward to the World Cup."

England will wonder how they came to be trailing at half-time after putting together their most assured half-hour of the November series. But coach Andy Robinson said he was not planning to quit in the face of heavy criticism. "I'm not walking away from this, I don't believe I should," he said.

"I think we are moving forward," added Robinson, whose team lost to New Zealand and Argentina before beating South Africa 23-21 last weekend.

Three Goode penalties were fair reward for England's early control and they stretched the lead to 14-3 with Cueto's somewhat controversial try. The winger eventually collected after Goode's cross-field kick caused chaos and although he seemed to lose control as he touched down, Irish referee Alan Lewis was inches away and awarded the score.

England, however, went to sleep at the end of the first half - as they had in all three previous games this month.

Pretorius added two penalties to an earlier drop goal and only terrific last-ditch defending by Ben Cohen and then a combination of Mathew Tait and Phil Vickery prevented Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers crossing for the visitors.

However, not even last week's hero Josh Lewsey could do anything to stop Van der Linde in the last minute of the half when the huge prop neatly clutched a Pretorius pass and thundered through the England fullback to score his first try in his 33rd international. Pretorius converted and the Springboks turned round 16-14 ahead.

A week ago South Africa led by seven at the break and quickly stretched it to 12 and they again dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half with back rowers Danie Rossouw and Juan Smith ever-more influential with their powerful running. Pretorius landed a drop goal but England missed chances to hit back as Goode sent two long-range penalties wide and Cueto dropped the ball after catching another Goode skier.

England had some lengthy possession but showed precious little invention and it was no surprise when the visitors broke clear in the latter stages. Pretorius, cool and composed on his return for the injured Butch James, popped over two more in the last seven minutes to finally end South Africa's dire run against the team they will face again in the pool stages of next year's World Cup.