South Africa and England collide on the opening weekend of rugby’s new Nations Championship with a mighty meeting of rivals at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The world champions are in Test action for the first time this year seeking more success under Rassie Erasmus, and are close to fully loaded for the arrival of Steve Borthwick’s side. England face a gruelling itinerary over the next three weekends as they bid to bounce back from their worst-ever Six Nations, and are on a run of four consecutive defeats as they prepare for action again.
Maro Itoje has been rested for the July fixtures, leaving Jamie George to lead the travelling party. This is a first meeting with the Springboks in South Africa since 2018, with Borthwick and his squad likely to face a cauldron-like atmosphere despite initially slow ticket sales for the game – and they have been forced into a late change with George Furbank ruled out. The Springboks, though, have suffered a huge double blow with Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth ruled out.
Follow all of the latest from the Nations Championship clash with our live blog below:
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South Africa vs England LIVE
- South Africa host England at Ellis Park in Nations Championship | Live on ITV
- Steve Borthwick's side arrive on four-match losing run after worst-ever Six Nations
- TRY! South Africa 17-14 ENGLAND (George Martin, 42 minutes)
- TRY! South Africa 17-7 ENGLAND (Ellis Genge, 36 minutes)
- TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 17-0 England (Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 minutes)
- TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 12-0 England (Cheslin Kolbe, 6 minutes)
- TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 5-0 England (Thomas du Toit, 3 minutes)
Second half...
17:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleBen Earl made 15 carries in that first half – a busy boy. When do England turn to Henry Pollock and the rest of the bench? Steve Borthwick will surely have a strategy but will be cautious to avoid a repeat of the World Cup semi-final, when he replaced his props, hooker and George Martin and found the scrum battle decisively go South Africa’s way.
Back out there.
HT: South Africa 17-14 England
17:37 , Harry Latham-CoyleWalking in the vague vicinity of George Martin is frightening enough. This feels like the first time we’ve really seen him on the charge for England, and it didn’t look fun trying to stop him.
What power and what a score! 🏉💪
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) July 4, 2026
England, with one last chance before HT, get there, and it's George Martin with a fantastic try. Fin Smith adds the extras, and England, who looked dead and buried after 20 minutes, reduce the deficit to 3.
HT: 🇿🇦 17-14 🏴 pic.twitter.com/Dshorzj59E
HT: South Africa 17-14 England
17:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleThumping stuff at Ellis Park as another Nations Championship Test match delivers. England’s coaches might have feared the worst as the Springboks ran rampant in the first 13 minutes, but the tourists have hit back superbly thereafter – with a bit of help from a harsh card shown to Kurt-Lee Arendse.
Springboks still favourites? You’d say so, but their depth has been eroded by those injuries to Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth pre-match, while Ox Nche has already been replaced by Gerhard Steenekamp.
HALF TIME: South Africa 17-14 England
17:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle
TRY! South Africa 17-14 ENGLAND (George Martin, 42 minutes)
17:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleAn elephantine charge across the savannah! George Martin is into the corner!
Mighty and mean from the giant second row, stomping with musth over the top of former Leicester Tigers teammate Jasper Wiese and two more for good measure. Clever from England to leave their megafauna on the edge, but that is some individual score from the second row.
Fin Smith converts to cap an excellent end to the half. England alive!
South Africa 17-7 England, 40 minutes
17:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleSuperb from Fin Smith! The fly half spots space in the South Africa backfield and skuds a grubber out for a 50:22. The Springboks seem confused, but TMO Richard Kelly is certain the ball was not carried back – an excellent chance for England before the interval.
South Africa 17-7 England, 38 minutes
17:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleYowzer! So nearly a gift for Grant Williams, filling Kurt-Lee Arendse’s brief and plucking a pass from Jack van Poortvliet towards the right edge. Van Poortvliet holds his head in his hands, first in disbelief that he has thrown that pass, then in disbelief that he has dropped it.
Just a knock-on, this time. Arendse is back with us.
South Africa 17-7 England, 38 minutes
17:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleI said I felt England needed a couple of tries in the sin-bin period – we’re ticking towards that time now.
Paul de Villiers, the newest Springbok, does them a favour by knifing off his feet with England under pressure 15 metres from their own line. Good work from Marcus Smith to extricate himself from danger beforehand.
TRY! South Africa 17-7 ENGLAND (Ellis Genge, 36 minutes)
17:25 , Harry Latham-CoylePunchy and powerful and finally England have joy!
Ellis Genge goes it alone – literally, not telling his teammates he is tapping and thus very fortunate that he ploughs over the top of Thomas du Toit to the line. Some collision, that; and a crucial England try.
Genge looks to be ticking, wandering back with a scowl as Fin Smith’s conversion bisects ‘em.
South Africa 17-0 England, 35 minutes
17:23 , Harry Latham-CoyleBetter from the visitors! Away to the left with Tommy Freeman offloading well, and a roaming Feyi-Waboso providing extra hands from the blindside wing. Cadan Murley is hauled back by Damian Willemse only 10 metres short.
South Africa 17-0 England, 33 minutes
17:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleA little grubber from Seb Atkinson into the space left vacant by South Africa’s absent left winger nonetheless wastes more time on the sin bin period. Too much on it for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to stay interested, and the Springboks are just finding ways to relieve the strain, with colossal carries or through booming boots, which are sailing at altitude.
South Africa 17-0 England, 32 minutes
17:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleEllis Genge prevents the pressure building with a high tackle on Paul de Villiers. South Africa boot the ball upfield from the penalty.
Here’s that Arendse incident. I really don’t know...
Sin-bin South Africa 🟨
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) July 4, 2026
Kurt-Lee Arendse is sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-in.
Can England take full advantage? pic.twitter.com/x9n3C234bs
South Africa 17-0 England, 31 minutes
17:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleSo nearly a horror moment from Cheslin Kolbe! The wing literally jumps out of the way of the ball, believing it have set the satnav for the touchline, only for it to stall. Ollie Chessum steals in but brushes a boot on the chalk – if not, England’s big blindside flanker was over for the score. Cor, that was close.
South Africa 17-0 England, 30 minutes
17:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland need a couple of tries in the next 10 minutes, you’d say. A canny kick into the space that Arendse would usually cover is clever, but the hop is unkind to Cadan Murley, a bucking bullfrog that leaps instead into the arms of Jesse Kriel.
YELLOW CARD! Kurt-Lee Arendse is sent to the sin bin! South Africa 17-0 England, 28 minutes
17:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleTMO Richard Kelly wants a look at this...christ, that’s harsh! It’s a yellow card for Arendse, who had got himself ahead of the ball and then thrust up a hand! There is a linebreak opportunity, I suppose, but I’m not sure what the officials want him to do at such short range.
Referee James Doleman sends him away for ten minutes on the not-so-naughty step.
South Africa 17-0 England, 28 minutes
17:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleSolid enough from England, who then win the ball back in the air with Cadan Murley doing superbly.
Eesh! Don’t throw those, Marcus – full-back Smith just about puts enough oomph into his delivery to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to prevent Kurt-Lee Arendse nabbing it and heading off in pursuit of the posts. A knock-on from Arendse, but so nearly seven more.
South Africa 17-0 England, 26 minutes
17:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleRuan Nortje can’t claim it at the tail as Malcolm Marx doesn’t quite find the right parabola. Respite, of sorts, for England – though there is a scrum to feed 20 metres out.
South Africa 17-0 England, 24 minutes
17:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlmost a strike from deep! Grant Williams bursts between England’s lineout defenders and into the opposition half, with Pieter-Steph du Toit there in support. The tourists scramble really well to corral him, and force a knock on.
But little is going their way! A fine clearing kick from Marcus Smith is replied to in kind by an even better one from Damian Willemse, like a tall six-iron arcing on to the putting surface and just checking as he intended. Out over the touchline it tumbles inside the 22 – that’ll be South Africa’s throw.
What a nudge! 🏉
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) July 4, 2026
Marcus Smith hits a fine clearance kick from his own 22, but Willemse one-ups him and returns it for a 50-22.
All going the Springboks' way.. pic.twitter.com/qPP3QfRvsY
South Africa 17-0 England, 23 minutes
17:11 , Harry Latham-CoyleSeb Atkinson has carried with good bite from inside centre, but England are just losing the collision battle too often. Tommy Freeman hurries into a one-handed toss that isn’t quite quarterback quality.
A kick to touch grants South Africa a lineout.
South Africa 17-0 England, 22 minutes
17:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleA free kick, inevitably, means we’ll have to wait for what could be a box-office set-piece battle against statistically the two best scrums in men’s international rugby. England play away and attempt to inject tempo.
South Africa 17-0 England, 21 minutes
17:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleEvery loose ball seems to be falling South Africa’s way. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is beaten by the similarly springy Kurt-Lee Arendse and there are Springboks hands there to clutch it in the catching cordon.
An error! Gerhard Steenekamp fumbles on the rumble. Time for a scrum skirmish.
WATCH: How the Springboks scored their third
17:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleFrom one wing to the other! 🪽
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) July 4, 2026
South Africa win a free-kick, and this time it's Kurt-Lee Arendse who finishes in the corner. 🏉
How can England cope with this? 🫣 pic.twitter.com/Pu53ZsSGBY
South Africa 17-0 England, 19 minutes
17:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt feels like this could get ugly for England. An aerial miscollection ends up with Pieter-Steph du Toit roaming free with Malcolm Marx in the sidecar, and only an errant offload and fumble prevent the pair from speeding out into the suburbs. Blimey.
NO TRY! South Africa 17-0 England, 18 minutes
17:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleWould you believe it? George is bound in while Jack van Poortvliet has his hands on the ball as well – NO TRY, offside, penalty to South Africa!
All that toil for nowt. One dares not overreact but that feels a potentially fatal moment after that fast start.
TRY! South Africa 17-5 ENGLAND (Jamie George, 18 minutes)
17:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleA captain’s score just when England needed it! Boy, did that take some heavy artillery, the England forwards out on their feet pretty much as hooker Jamie George just about gets the ball to ground. It’s a good job he scored it...or did he? TMO Richard Kelly wants to check he is legal before he picks up...
South Africa 17-0 England, 17 minutes
17:01 , Harry Latham-CoyleHere come the rest of the heavy mob, George Martin, Alex Coles, Joe Heyes and the rest all searching for close-in channels. Surely there is space somewhere? South Africa hold firm for now.
South Africa 17-0 England, 16 minutes
17:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleKnocked on inches out...but there’s a penalty! Marcus Smith got close, Ben Earl closer still, and when the ball pops free there are a few agonised looks on English faces. Back for an offside infringement, though, which Ellis Genge will tap off the floor and carry again.
South Africa 17-0 England, 15 minutes
16:59 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland just haven’t managed to get their strike runners into the game. This is better, though, Tommy Freeman and Ben Earl on the offensive after Fin Smith had sauntered into space. Into the 22...
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 17-0 England (Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 minutes)
16:58 , Harry Latham-CoyleRuthless. Relentless. Remarkable.
It’s three tries inside 13 minutes, and another clinical score. The blueprint is simply, rugged, wretched, rough carrying around the corner and then clinical handling to exploit the space out wide. Kurt-Lee Arendse is the end man on the line and too quick and powerful for Marcus Smith, despite a strong shot from the full-back.
Just about the only thing not working for the Springboks is Cheslin Kolbe’s boot – a second missed conversion from the tee, though they won’t much mind if this continues.
South Africa 12-0 England, 12 minutes
16:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleOllie Chessum gets up to steal the lineout, but only b ecause England closed the gap. Free kick, and off the Springboks go with advantage coming, too...
South Africa 12-0 England, 11 minutes
16:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland can’t get out of their own way. Cadan Murley wins a high ball cleanly for the first time, but is penalised for holding on as the cackling South African jackals arrive with menace and multitude. Jasper Wiese the man to get the turnover.
Back into the right-hand corner.
South Africa 12-0 England, 9 minutes
16:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleDreadful news – Ox Nche is done for! It looked like he rolled his ankle at the end of that break before the try, with George Martin a pretty hefty man to land on the leg. The prop doesn’t look happy to be hauled off but he’s limping as he argues with the medics.
Gerhard Steenekamp repalces him. More disruption for South Africa – not that it has mattered so far...
South Africa 12-0 England, 9 minutes
16:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland look shellshocked. We’ve not yet played 10 minutes in Johannesburg and the errors are already coming with regularity. Jamie George gathers the ranks for a calming word or seventy after Ox Nche goes down in need of treatment.
What a start from the Springboks! 🇿🇦
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) July 4, 2026
Nche somehow evades the tackle and gets South Africa into a perfect position. The ball is then spread out to Kolbe, and do we need to say any more? pic.twitter.com/tJRt06qHEm
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 12-0 England (Cheslin Kolbe, 6 minutes)
16:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleTwo in five minutes! This is scintillating Springboks rugby!
Cheslin Kolbe’s the scorer, but give the credit to Ox Nche. The loosehead absolutely cannons through the defensive line, exploding out of the tackles of two forwards in Jamie George and Ollie Chessum – England’s captain and vice-captain.
Statement made, South Africa take full advantage, with Kolbe’s fast feet too much for Cadan Murley to handle. Not that anyone would have had a prayer in that sort of one-on-one situation.
South Africa 5-0 England, 4 minutes
16:48 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland just a little ragged early on, the ball hitting the deck again as Cadan Murley fails to make a clean catch. Marcus Smith sweeps up well, but the backfield is beaten again as the ubiquitous Damian Willemse gathers his own up-and-under.
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 5-0 England (Thomas du Toit, 3 minutes)
16:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleYou don’t stop Thomas du Toit from there! Tank-like for Bath over the last few seasons and now back in Springboks green and simply too strong for the English fringe fighters. The tighthead burrows in.
Cheslin Kolbe is dusted down and on goalkicking duties...away to the right. But it’s some start from South Africa – and ominous for England.
South Africa 0-0 England, 2 minutes
16:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleOver the top of the lineout and Cheslin Kolbe is taken out in the air! A penalty coming against Ben Earl, but South Africa fancy more...
South Africa 0-0 England, 2 minutes
16:44 , Harry Latham-CoylePenalty to South Africa! A fumble on the floor from England and Tommy Freeman plays the ball in an offside position, before holding on for good measure.
Posts? Nah – to the corner Manie Libbok prods them.
South Africa 0-0 England, 1 minute
16:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleBen Earl is belted back by Kurt-Lee Arendse after taking a high hanging kick off. Strong start from the Springboks.
Jack van Poortvliet goes to the air but Immanuel Feyi-Waboso overruns it, allowing Damian Willemse to claim in relative comfort.
KICK OFF!
16:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleA blast of the whistle from referee James Doleman and Manie Libbok gets the action underway.
Anthems
16:39 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe England squad give full-throated accompaniment to their national anthem, belted out impressively by tenor Thabiso Masemene. Few others strike up the tune.
Jodi Fredericks has the backing of a rather larger choir right around this grand old cathedral of rugby. Siya Kolisi joins in from among the coaching staff, the regular Springboks skipper no doubt disappointed to miss out on another change to tangle with England. Spine tingling. Let’s get going!
South Africa vs England
16:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe Impi warriors welcome the South African squad on to the pitch, one of the trio getting a little too close to comfort to the England squad and getting a glower from Ellis Genge. I fancy that the prop will be up for this.
South Africa vs England
16:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt does feel like the door has creaked open another crack or two for England with those injuries. Make no mistake, victory here would be some achievement – Ellis Park looks fit to burst, with only a small smattering of white shirts among the green and gold throng.
Final touches ✅#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/UVn1G2T6wz
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 4, 2026
How does the late disruption change things?
16:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa have shown in the past that they are capable of dealing with this sort of late disruption, but that pack certainly looks very different with no Eben Etzebeth or Siya Kolisi in it. Pieter-Steph du Toit is a handy man to have as a deputy both as captain and lock, but his move from the blindside changes the complexion of the back five – England will surely feel confident they can challenge them at the lineout particularly with their three long-limbed jumpers.
South Africa vs England match officials
16:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleReferee: James Doleman (NZ)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Pierre Brousset (Fra)
Television Match Official: Richard Kelly (NZ)
Foul Play Review Officer: Olly Hodges (Ire)
England centre Seb Atkinson ready to test himself against Damian de Allende
16:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleSeb Atkinson is ready to leave his mark on a player who has influenced his own game when he collides with Damian de Allende in England’s clash with South Africa.
Atkinson made his Gallagher Prem debut against Manu Tuilagi and then faced Springbok giant Andre Esterhuizen in his first league start, but at Ellis Park awaits arguably a tougher assignment than either of those midfield juggernauts.
De Allende has been a mainstay of South Africa’s successive World Cup triumphs and with 97 caps the 6’2”, 17 stone inside centre has the experience to match his physical prowess.
England centre Seb Atkinson ready to test himself against Damian de Allende
Can Manie Libbok seize his chance?
16:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleWere Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu fit, it feels a virtual certainty that he’d be stationed at No 10 for the Springboks – but the trust that Rassie Erasmus feels in Manie Libbok is clear from the fact that he is the only specialist fly half in the matchday squad. England will no doubt look to fluster a player they successfully disrupted to such an extent in the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final that he was hooked before half time – but a dry day in Johannesburg will suit Libbok more than a rainy night in Paris.
Henry Pollock will take on South Africa forwards with a smile – Steve Borthwick
15:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland star Henry Pollock is being backed by Steve Borthwick to come out smiling if targeted by South Africa’s giant forwards in Saturday’s Ellis Park collision.
Pollock is the England player Springbok fans love to hate and is happy to play the pantomime villain after departing for the July tour with an Instagram post saying “See you soon” followed by a South African flag and a drop of blood emoji.
Apart from being trolled by the world champions’ supporters online and the centre of attention amongst local media, the headline-grabbing 21-year-old has also been criticised by former players with Schalk Burger calling him a “TikTok dancer who plays a bit of rugby”.
Henry Pollock will take on South Africa forwards with a smile – Steve Borthwick
Team news – England
15:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleJamie George leads England with Maro Itoje rested from the Nations Championship. The return of George Martin to the second row is welcome in Itoje’s absence, allowing Ollie Chessum to remain on the blindside after a standout performance against France at the end of the Six Nations.
Henry Pollock is withheld on the bench as Tom Curry and Ben Earl are preferred in the starting back row, while George Furbank had been due to start at full-back but has been ruled out after being rushed to hospital with appendicitis.
England XV: 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George (capt.), 3 Joe Heyes; 4 Alex Coles, 5 George Martin; 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl; 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 10 Fin Smith; 11 Cadan Murley, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Tommy Freeman, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; 15 Marcus Smith.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Henry Pollock; 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Henry Slade.
Team news – South Africa
15:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa have been forced into a late double change with captain Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth ruled out. Pieter-Steph du Toit skippers the side with Paul de Villiers and Cameron Hanekom brought into the starting XV, the former on debut.
Ben-Jason Dixon joins the bench. Manie Libbok is trusted at fly half in the absence of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt.), 5 Ruan Nortje; 6 Paul de Villiers, 7 Cameron Hanekom, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Grant Williams, 10 Manie Libbok; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Damian Willemse.
Replacments: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon; 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Andre Esterhuizen, 23 Canan Moodie.
South Africa vs England
15:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleOne subplot to look out for today is the tactical battle. South Africa snapped up England analysis guru Joe Lewis at the conclusion of his contract, with coaches I’ve spoken to split on the impact the move might have. Lewis will have taken plenty of IP with him – but rugby is a game of more than just numbers, and Steve Borthwick will have come up with a bespoke plan of his own for this clash.
Springboks add key member of England staff ahead of Nations Championship meeting
South Africa issue strong statement on ‘erroneous’ reports of poor ticket sales for England clash
15:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa Rugby has hit out at what it describes as “erroneous and misinformed” suggestions that Ellis Park would be far from full for the Nations Championship clash with England rugby.
The Springboks take on Steve Borthwick’s side in their opening fixture of the new competition in Johannesburg in England’s first visit for eight years.
Reports had suggested, though, that the spiritual home of South African rugby would be far from full for the encounter after ticket prices were initially set high for the fixture.
South Africa issue statement on ‘erroneous’ reports on ticket sales for England clash
Are England ready for altitude?
15:15 , PAWhile not posing quite the same challenge as the 7,220 feet heigh Azteca Stadium where England face Mexico in the last 16 of the World Cup in the early hours of Monday, Ellis Park’s location 5,750 feet above sea level will still provide a formidable conditioning challenge.
Under Eddie Jones in 2018, England misjudged their preparation and having raced into a 24-3 lead in the opening 18 minutes, they ran out of gas and eventually lost 42-39. Borthwick’s men arrived in Johannesburg 10 days before their clash with South Africa and before setting off completed gruelling Wattbike sessions while wearing oxygen-restricting altitude training masks. The expectation is that this time they will be ready.
This piece, meanwhile, from Jack Rathborn and Kieran Jackson may have a football focus but is highly interesting.
‘It catches you off guard’: The true impact of Azteca altitude for England vs Mexico
England change confirmed
15:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s official – George Furbank has been ruled out for England, with Marcus Smith starting at full-back and Henry Slade on to the bench.
Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth ruled out!
15:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleHuge news from South Africa – captain Siya Kolisi and lock Eben Etzebeth are OUT! Pieter-Steph du Toit skippers the side with Paul de Villiers making his debut.
What is the Nations Championship? Rugby’s new-look north vs south competition
15:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleYou may, at this point, be wondering what the Nations Championship actually is – luckily, our one-stop shop explainer has everything covered:
What is the Nations Championship? Rugby’s new-look north vs south competition
South Africa's Nations Championship fixtures
14:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleSaturday 4 July: South Africa vs England (4.40pm BST, Johannesburg)
Saturday 11 July: South Africa vs Scotland (4.40pm BST, Pretoria)
Saturday 18 July: South Africa vs Wales (4.40pm BST, Durban)
Nations Championship schedule, kick-off times and how to watch
South Africa forced into late change?
14:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleSome reports in South Africa, seemingly well sourced, are suggesting that both Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth might be ruled out through injury. We’ll let you know if or when that is official.
England's Nations Championship fixtures
14:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleSaturday 4 July: South Africa vs England (4.40pm BST, Johannesburg)
Saturday 11 July: Fiji vs England (2.10pm BST, Liverpool)
Saturday 18 July: Argentina vs England (8pm BST, Santiago del Estero)
Steve Borthwick’s vague words underline the tall task facing England this summer
14:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleBacked by the RFU hierarchy after the Six Nations, Steve Borthwick was nonetheless vague on what would change for England over the next few weeks – partly because the task really is tall and itinerary so tough:
Steve Borthwick’s vague words underline the tall task facing England this summer
Alex Coles encourages England team to fill Maro Itoje void
14:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlex Coles insists England must be ready to fill the leadership and playing voids created by Maro Itoje’s absence when they clash with South Africa at Ellis Park.
Itoje has been rested for the July tour – the first time he has been stood down for a campaign since making his Test debut a decade ago – with Jamie George deputising as captain in his absence.
Alex Coles encourages England team to fill Maro Itoje void
England rocked by late George Furbank blow
14:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their clash with South Africa with George Furbank ruled out.
Furbank had been due to start at full-back in his first international appearance since 2024 after a wretched run of injuries.
But the 29-year-old, who led Northampton Saints to the Gallagher Prem title, has been dealt another setback after being rushed to hospital with appendicitis ahead of the game at Ellis Park.
England rocked by huge blow ahead of South Africa clash
Eben Etzebeth returns for South Africa as Springboks make fly half decision for England clash
14:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s a fearsome looking South Africa side, with Manie Libbok at fly half and Eben Etzebeth back from suspension in the second row.
Etzebeth returns for South Africa as Springboks make fly half decision for England
South Africa vs England LIVE
Friday 3 July 2026 13:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleSouth Africa and England begin their Nations Championship campaigns with a mouthwatering meeting at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. It is eight years since England last took on their rivals in the Springboks’ backyard, and Steve Borthwick’s side face a tall task as they look to end a run of four successive defeats after a horror Six Nations.
Kick off is at 4.40pm BST.
