The rain spoiled a Newlands' reported 'farewell'
We should have known the conditions were going to play a massive part in the clash when the ceremonial 'Impis' (Zulu warriors) ran onto the field before kick off and slipped like a bunch of teenagers figuring out their roller skates. After two great spectacles in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, where it was cold but dry, the teams just couldn't get going at a wet and windy Newlands.
Springboks must play their game despite conditions
The Springboks definitely put too much emphasis on the conditions. The home side had their best moment of the match when the scored the first try of the game. Immediately after coach Rassie Erasmus changed his front row, the Boks started to get momentum and Jesse Kriel scored the first try of the match to give the South Africans the lead. It was a move that started with good passing and a line break. Other than that, the Boks kicked the ball aimlessly away even though they had other options. They need to back their skills in the wet when it's on to do so.
Penalty count played a major role in this series
In the first two matches, England put themselves under a lot of pressure because of ill-discipline. The visitors were comfortably ahead in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein in the first quarter, but the Boks forced them into mistakes to clinch the series. At Newlands, however, England were much smarter at the breakdown and managed to disrupt the Springboks' maul before it got on a roll. They also competed hard at the breakdown, and forced the Boks to go off their feet or come in from the side.
Danny Cipriani comfortably won battle with Elton Jantjies
The flyhalves each like a nice dry track to showcase their full range of skills. But those skills were always going to take a back seat in the wind and rain at Newlands, and it was about the player who would make the least mistakes and control the game. Cipriani didn't actually have a lot to do in the first half but he watched Jantjies drop a few balls and kick one straight into touch. Cipriani, though, played a much bigger role in the second half, and set up a try with a wonderful cross kick.