Wasps prop Vickery, on as a second-half replacement for an injured Andrew Sheridan, touched down seven minutes from time, while his fellow substitute Andy Goode kicked the conversion that completed England's revival.

Head coach Robinson's team were close to being condemned as the worst England side in 135 years of test match rugby when they trailed 21-13 with time running out.

But Vickery's score . . . on his first England appearance since November last year . . .

temporarily lifted the gloom and staved off an unprecedented eighth defeat.

Wing Mark Cueto also claimed an England try, while Hodgson slotted two penalties before going off to be replaced by Goode, who landed two conversions and a penalty.

South Africa, without a Twickenham win since 1997, managed tries from out-half Butch James and wing Akona Ndungane, while James added two penalties and a conversion and full-back Francois Steyn booted a longrange drop goal.

But they will arrive for next weekend's second test likely to face an England side boosted by a long-overdue injection of confidence, even if basic skills like passing and kicking often let the home team down.

It was a day when victory meant everything for England . . . and performance had to come a distant second-best.

Hodgson hoisted England ahead inside 90 seconds through an angled penalty after Springboks lock Johan Ackermann drifted offside, with the home side showing immediate purpose.

South Africa, though, quickly drew level when captain Martin Corry tackled James high and late, offering the out-half an easy penalty chance that he gratefully accepted.

Hodgson then sent a kick drifting wide as England continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession without seriously threatening a try, but it was South Africa who should have moved ahead.

Hodgson's pass to centre Mathew Tait was read by Jean De Villiers, who appeared to be home and dry as he sprinted 70 metres unopposed, but full-back Josh Lewsey pulled off a stunning tackle that forced his victim into touch.

England responded through Hodgson's second successful penalty, but the overriding emotion at Twickenham was one of relief after the home side had narrowly avoided conceding an interception try in three successive autumn tests.

Lewsey's defensive qualities were far more convincing than his kicking game, and a superb tackle on Steyn prevented a possible Springbok score as England floundered in defence.

But South Africa were not to be denied as half-time approached, with England . . .

as against New Zealand and Argentina . . . conceding points during the closing seconds of the first period.

Robinson could only look on aghast, firstly when Hodgson was left prone on the turf while trying to halt De Villiers, then again in the same move, as slick passing sent James diving over.

James slotted the conversion while Hodgson was carried off, being replaced by Goode, and a ripple of boos broke out to accompany England's first-half exit, 13-6 adrift.

Matters deteriorated within three minutes of the restart when James' delicately-placed kick was gathered by Ndungane, who touched down unopposed.

Trailing by 12 points, the writing was on the wall for England and Robinson, with Sheridan following Hodgson in being carried off injured, which meant Vickery joining the action.

Vickery arrived with England enjoying a period of pressure that ultimately reaped its reward when Goode, despite being held up short, knocked possession backwards and Cueto claimed his 12th test try.

Goode added the extras, pulling England back to five points adrift, and there were overdue signs of a revival with South Africa temporarily one man down after De Villiers was sin-binned.

A James penalty edged South Africa eight points clear though, which was the cue for a triple England substitution as flanker Lewis Moody, hooker Lee Mears and lock Chris Jones were all sent on by an increasingly desperate Robinson.

Goode narrowed the deficit to five points with a penalty, then Vickery struck from close range, Goode converted and England could finally celebrate after nine months of turmoil since their last win against Italy in Rome.

ENGLAND J Lewsey; M Cueto, M Tait, J Noon, B Cohen; C Hodgson, P Richards; A Sheridan, G Chuter, J White; T Palmer, B Kay; J Worsley, P Sanderson, M Corry (c) Subs L Mears, P Vickery, C Jones, L Moody, S Perry, A Goode, T Flood

SOUTH AFRICA F Steyn; A Ndungane, W Olivier, J de Villiers, B Habana; B James, E Januarie; CJ Van der Linde, J Smit (c), BJ Botha, J Ackermann, J Muller, P Spies, D Rossouw, J Cronje Subs C Ralepelle, D Carstens, A van den Berg, H Lobberts, R Pienaar, A Pretorius, B Fortuin Referee S Walsh (New Zealand)