Hodgson the hero of England's win
 |  Hodgson goes over for England's first try against South Africa |
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LONDON, England -- Charlie Hodgson gave a virtuoso display as world champions England beat Tri-Nations kings South Africa 32-16.
The Sale fly-half more than made up for the absence of injured Jonny Wilkinson by notching 27 points.
It was an impressive display in England's first major match under new coach Andy Robinson following last week's 70-0 rout of minnows Canada.
But for South Africa it was a second straight defeat after their 17-12 reverse against Ireland last week and their sixth in a row against England.
Their points came through three Percy Montgomery penalties and a late converted try by replacement wing Bryan Habana.
At half-time England were 20-6 up, after their first two visits to the Springbok 22 both resulted in converted tries.
Hodgson's boot gave England the lead in the opening minute when he landed a 27 meter penalty from in front of the posts after South Africa were caught offside.
The Springboks made the early running but centre De Wet Barry and fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen both spoilt promising moves by knocking on a ball made wet by persistent rain.
However, the Boks leveled in the 11th minute when Montgomery was successful with a long-rang penalty from the left touchline.
England had struggled to make inroads into South African territory but their first attempt yielded seven points in the 16th minute.
Lock Steve Borthwick won a lineout on the right hand side and the ball was worked back from scrum-half Andy Gomarsall to Hodgson, who made use of the space created by Barry's surge forward to tackle the Gloucester number nine.
Burst through
Hodgson then burst through the gap, beat Montgomery's attempted tackle and that of wing Breyton Paulse for a try under the posts. He converted and England were 10-3 up.
And 10 minutes later England stretched their lead with a brilliantly-worked try. Hodgson fielded the ball deep inside his own half but, instead of cutting inside, he relieved the pressure by passing to left wing Josh Lewsey.
The Wasps flyer burst off the touchline and slalomed through the South African midfield and sprinted into the Boks' 22 before he was hauled down.
From the ensuing ruck the ball came out to centre Henry Paul and his well-weighted crossfield kick was well caught by right wing Mark Cueto, who dived forward to take the ball, before crossing over unopposed in the corner.
Hodgson, whose goalkicking had been fallible against Canada, made no mistake with the difficult conversion.
Montgomery's second penalty reduced the deficit before Hodgson made it four goalkicks from four just after the half-hour mark to leave England well-placed.
Early in the second half England prop Graham Rowntree was penalized for a scrum offence and Montgomerys's third penalty, from 27 meters, reduced the hosts lead to 20-9.
But England hit back minutes later when Hodgson kicked a penalty from the left touchline after Spingbok flanker Schalk Burger offended by playing the ball with his hands in a ruck.
Hodgson then nudged England further ahead with a 53rd minute drop goal after charging runs by centre Mike Tindall and flanker Joe Worsley plus a burst from No 8 Martin Corry took England deep into South Africa's half.
And England's No 10 pounced again in the 58th minute with his fourth penalty.
England's forwards matching the much-vaunted physicality of the Springbok pack and their efforts were rewarded again in the 70th minute when Hodgson was again on target with another penalty.
South Africa then eventually broke England's defense when Habana sprinted clear down the left before scoring under the posts.
Off day
Hodgson, playing his 13th international in place of injured captain Jonny Wilkinson, said he was eager to prove himself after an "off day" against Canada.
"I was very nervous to be honest," he said. "There was a lot of talk about how this could make or break me as a fly-half. I just wanted to put in a good performance and thankfully, with the help of the rest of the lads it came today."
Hodgson said he was keen to replace Wilkinson at fly-half.
"That's my ultimate aim," Hodgson said. "The better I play, the more pressure it puts on selection. If I can keep performing well with Sale and England, then hopefully it can happen."
