South Africa vs. England - prediction, team news, lineups

South Africa big England astatine the Ellis Park Stadium connected Saturday day successful the opening circular of the inaugural Nations Championship.

The Springboks posted a resounding 80-31 triumph against the Barbarians successful their erstwhile outing, portion the visitors tasted constrictive decision to France successful Paris.

Match preview

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup accelerated approaching, South Africa volition beryllium licking their lips astatine the imaginable of a 3rd successive crown, with the Springboks by acold and distant the strongest planetary broadside connected the planet.

Currently apical of the World Rugby rankings by a convincing three-point margin, Rassie Erasmus’s broadside are connected a relentless streak, winning each of their erstwhile 9 fixtures and finishing atop the Rugby Championship array successful each of the latest 2 tournaments.

Since narrowly edging retired New Zealand successful the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, the Springboks person besides mislaid conscionable 4 of 29 matches, 3 of which person been by a converted effort people oregon less.

While they are beardown crossed each areas, South Africa person particularly flourished successful onslaught implicit that span, failing to people 30 oregon much points connected lone 9 occasions and posting upwards of 50 an awesome 7 times.

As they hole to big an inconsistent England broadside this weekend, the Springboks volition beryllium assured that they tin marque it 4 victories successful a enactment against Steve Borthwick’s men and yet get their payback aft falling to decision erstwhile these teams past met successful South Africa.

After a thoroughly disappointing Six Nations campaign, finishing lone supra Wales successful fifth, England volition beryllium looking to bring backmost the consciousness bully origin arsenic they participate the inaugural Nations Championship.

Despite winning their archetypal lucifer of the tournament, thumping Steve Tandy’s men 48-7 astatine Twickenham Stadium, Borthwick’s men past mislaid each of their remaining Six Nations fixtures, ending with a 48-46 decision successful Paris courtesy of Thomas Ramos’s punishment conversion with the timepiece successful the red.

Although their mediocre performances warranted a slump successful results implicit the people of the campaign, England’s crook successful signifier came arsenic somewhat of a astonishment to many, with the 2020 tourney champions heading into this year’s variation connected an awesome 11-game winning run.

During that purple patch, Borthwick’s broadside had established themselves amongst the champion teams successful the world, beating the likes of New Zealand, Argentina and Australia, but yet came up good abbreviated against their nearest neighbours heading into springtime.

However, portion the expectations volition surely beryllium minimal heading into their contention with the scintillating Springboks, claiming triumph connected South African ungraded is not retired the representation for the visitors, who did truthful connected their astir caller visit, winning 25-10 successful Cape Town 8 years ago.

South Africa form:

England form:

Team News

Both Damian Willemse and Cheslin Kolbe drawback their 50th appearances for South Africa this weekend, with the hosts besides including the likes of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende crossed the backline.

The Springboks battalion is arsenic beardown arsenic ever too, with Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit constructing a formidable beforehand row, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi starring behind, portion Jasper Wiese starts astatine the rear.

Unfortunately for South African fans, they volition person to hold until aboriginal into the lucifer to spot nationalist force Henry Pollock participate the field, with the 21-year-old getting himself into respective altercations with Springbok internationals erstwhile playing for Northampton Saints.

Alternatively, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry and Ben Earl marque up the backmost enactment of an English scrum that besides features a returning George Martin aft the 2nd enactment required enarthrosis country past year.

Amongst the backs, Borthwick has opted with Jack van Poortvliet implicit Alex Mitchell astatine scrum-half and handed lone a 15th planetary headdress to George Furbank, who captained Northampton to Gallagher Prem glory past month.

South Africa starting lineup:

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Mani Libbok, 9 Grant Williams; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortje, 6 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese

Replacements:

16 Jan-Hendrick Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zach Porthen, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Andre Esterhuizen, 23 Canan Moodie

England starting lineup:

15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Alex Coles, 5 George Martin, 6 Ollie Chessum, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl

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 Marcus Smith

We say: South Africa 35-20 England

England are undoubtedly a amended broadside than their Six Nations run gives them recognition for, but they look arguably the hardest trial successful rugby erstwhile they question to South Africa this weekend.

Although the 2 sides person had immoderate adjacent encounters implicit the erstwhile fewer years, the Springboks person mostly travel retired connected apical and we spot that being the lawsuit erstwhile again connected Saturday successful a convincing triumph for the hosts.