South Africa humiliated defending champions England 36-0 in their pivotal World Cup Pool A match at the Stade de France on Friday.
The Springboks took a daunting 20-0 halftime lead after tries by flanker Juan Smith and winger JP Pietersen.
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who had an outstanding all-round game, put Pietersen into the corner for a second try in the 63rd minute.
England, whose last World Cup loss was against the Springboks on the same ground in the 1999 quarter-finals, must now beat Samoa and Tonga to ensure a quarter-final place.