Williams added: “I loved the way we played that last quarter. We didn’t do anything too flashy, we were happy to sit in that goal-for-goal knowing we’d done the work and it was the smarts that got us over the line.”

However, the 28-year-old feels the Roses are “going to need to step it up a gear” in order to beat the Proteas in the final match.

England coach Jess Thirlby made several changes to her starting seven following the opening defeat, with the likes of Helen Housby at goal attack, Lois Pearson moving to wing attack and Williams at wing defence.

She thought her side “were smarter with the ball, moved it a little bit better around some excellent defence”.

England and South Africa are in the same six-team pool for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Roses will be looking to defend their title after beating host nation Australia in 2018.