South Africa vs England rugby: Kick-off time, lineups, team news, TV channel

England face South Africa in Johannesburg in the opening match of the inaugural Rugby Nations Championship, a new biennial global tournament that has replaced traditional summer tours and autumn internationals. The Springboks, reigning world champions and back-to-back Rugby Championship winners, are heavy favourites against Steve Borthwick's England side. It is England's first match following a historically poor Six Nations campaign that raised doubts about Borthwick's position ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.