South Africa maintained their four-year winning streak against England yesterday, bouncing back from their shock loss against Scotland to score a 21-11 victory at Twickenham.

The world champions, who had not lost to England for four years, rarely looked in danger of losing that proud record as they ran in tries from flanker Willem Alberts and wing Lwazi Mvovo to win a bruising contest.

Fly-half Morne Steyn added three penalties and a conversion, with England’s points coming from two first-half penalties from Toby Flood and a late interception try from Ben Foden.

Victory was no less than South Africa deserved after a ferociously committed effort that left England battered – both flanker Tom Croft and fly-half Flood departed injured long before the final whistle.

South Africa captain Victor Matfield said he hoped the result could be the springboard for a successful World Cup in 2011 after a disastrous Tri-Nations campaign earlier this year.

“When we beat England here in 2006 we turned things around and won the World Cup the following year, so hopefully this is an omen,” Matfield said.

England’s captain Lewis Moody described the defeat as “bitterly disappointing.”

“Fair play to South Africa – they played exceptionally well today. We’re bitterly disappointed,” Moody said.

The defeat came as a setback to England manager Martin Johnson, who had seen his young team notch victories over Australia and Samoa in the past fortnight following an earlier defeat by New Zealand.

Carter sets record

Hosea Gear scored two tries and Dan Carter became Test rugby’s leading all-time points scorer as New Zealand completed a ‘grand slam’ with a 37-25 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium yesterrday.

Victory gave the All Blacks their third clean sweep of the Home Nations (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales) in five years and was their fourth in all after previous ‘slams’ in 1978, 2005 and 2008.

This latest success meant the Tri-Nations champions, coached by former Wales boss Graham Henry, ended 2010 having lost just once in 14 games (26-24 to Australia in Hong Kong in October) and cemented hosts New Zealand’s status as favourites to win the 2011 World Cup.

It also extended their winning run over Wales to 24 consecutive matches since a 13-8 loss back in 1953.

Other results: Italy vs Fiji 24-16; Scotland vs Samoa 19-16.