After sacrificing a 21-point lead in the first Test, it was deja vu all over again for England as they blew a 12-0 lead without troubling the scorers again.
The penalty count was again in double figures – there were 13 in total – and South Africa were comparatively ruthless and kept their composure to move into an unassailable 2-0 lead.
“We lost momentum in that second half,” captain Owen Farrell said.
“There were some big moments in that game where we weren’t composed enough. We’ll have to learn from it.
“We want to learn our lessons now and start winning now. We’re going to have to regroup for next week.”
England have still not won a Test match since February 10 when they ground out a 12-6 victory over Wales in miserable conditions at Twickenham.
Neither Jones, who had revelled in piling pressure on Rhys Patchell, or his seemingly unbeatable charges could have imagined the four months that would follow and the turmoil in the midst of which they would find themselves come the second Test in South Africa.
At the same point, the Springboks themselves had endured some chastening results – a 57-0 defeat to New Zealand in September, a 38-3 loss against Ireland.
But the introduction of Rassie Erasmus and the southern hemisphere’s home advantage left England, as they so rarely are, huge underdogs coming into the Bloemfontein game.
Even before the game started there was all manner of fire and fury as Tendai Mtawarira – “BEAST” to everyone in the crowd – was honoured with a lone run onto the field ahead of his team-mates on the occasion of his 100th cap.
Through a fog of thick green smoke followed three traditional dancers with a challenge to present and once the anthems were out the way, some rugby broke out.
Just as they had in Johannesburg, England started fast, which given the events of the last meeting, drew trepidation from their fans.
Mike Brown and Jonny May, who produced the kind of world-class finish to which we have become used from the Leicester winger.
His 16th international try gave the visitors a 12-0 lead – but they would not score another point.
The ill-discipline that has plagued England in their losing streak continued with repeat offender Mako Vunipola and fellow prop Kyle Sinckler racking up four penalties between them while first-time starter Brad Shields also added a couple.
The early lead had evaporated before England could even reach half-time.
The fightback had been started by the brilliant Duane Vermeulen, whose powerful run off the back of Mtawarira’s line-break was too much for the covering Elliot Daly to even consider interfering.
Handre Pollard added the conversion and two penalties later, South Africa had the lead by a point at the break.
One can only imagine the manner of the half-time team talk in the England dressing room. Knowing Jones as we now do, it can be assumed it was one laced with anger.
But the Australian’s words appeared to have fallen on deaf ears as Vermeulen once again shredded the English defensive line.
The resulting pressure and a refreshed South Africa front row pinned the England scrum on their own line and referee Romain Poite had no choice but to award a penalty try.
England did think they had struck back when Brad Shields stretched over the line for a first Test try, but the TMO showed Franco Mostert had knocked it out of his hands first.
Any lingering hope they had of a late fightback evaporated when Nathan Hughes was sin-binned for cynically and foolishly playing the ball when on the ground.
Danny Cipriani had only been on the pitch two minutes when they were reduced to 14. His return to the side felt utterly insignificant as a result.
