Two of international rugby's marquee nations renew their rivalry at 11:40 a.m. ET on July 4 as South Africa hosts England in the opening round of the inaugural Nations Championship at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The Springboks begin the new competition as the world's top-ranked team and reigning Rugby World Cup champions, while England arrives looking to build on encouraging performances against elite opposition over the past year.
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The matchup also marks the beginning of another chapter in one of rugby's fiercest rivalries. From Rugby World Cup finals to dramatic November internationals, South Africa and England have consistently delivered high-stakes test matches, and Saturday's opener should be no different.
Before kickoff, here are five things to know about South Africa vs. England.
South Africa Begins Its Nations Championship Title Defense At Home
If there's a favorite entering the inaugural Nations Championship, it's South Africa.
The Springboks enter the tournament as the defending, back-to-back, Rugby World Cup champions and the world's No. 1-ranked team, giving them the highest expectations of any nation in the competition.
Opening at home also provides a major advantage, as South Africa has turned its home venues into one of the most difficult places in international rugby for visiting teams to earn victories.
England faces one of the toughest assignments of the tournament's opening weekend.
Felix Jones Returns To South Africa
One of the biggest storylines has nothing to do with the players on the field.
Former England assistant coach Felix Jones is back with South Africa after being on Steve Borthwick's staff earlier this year. He's now back with the Springboks as a defence coach. Jones sited Borthwick's "inflexibility" as a reason for the split.
Rassie Erasmus Continues To Build Toward The 2027 Rugby World Cup
Although every Nations Championship match matters, South Africa also has one eye on the future.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus continues to balance experienced World Cup winners with emerging talent as he builds depth for another Rugby World Cup campaign in 2027.
Veteran leaders remain central to the Springboks' success, but Erasmus has consistently used July internationals to evaluate players capable of contributing over the next two seasons.
Saturday offers another opportunity to see how South Africa's next generation fits alongside its established stars.
England Wants To Show It Can Beat Rugby's Best Away From Home
England has steadily improved under Steve Borthwick, but one challenge remains.
The English have shown they can compete with the world's top teams, yet victories away from home against elite opposition remain difficult to secure. Especially after a poor Six Nations showing in 2026. Before that tournament, England had won 12 matches over the past year.
Beating South Africa in the Nations Championship opener would immediately establish England as one of the tournament's leading contenders while providing a signature result early in the international season.
It would also represent one of the biggest road victories of Borthwick's tenure.
The Rivalry Has Produced Some Of Rugby's Biggest Moments
Few international rivalries can match the history between South Africa and England.
The nations have met in multiple Rugby World Cups, including the 2007 and 2019 finals, with South Africa lifting the Webb Ellis Cup on both occasions.
Every meeting carries added emotion because of that history, and the Nations Championship opener adds another meaningful chapter to one of rugby's defining rivalries.
With championship aspirations on both sides, another physical, tactical battle is expected.
How To Watch Every Match Of The 2026 Nations Championship
Every match of the 2026 Nations Championship will stream live in the United States on RugbyPass TV, World Rugby's streaming platform.
World Rugby Rankings On July 1, 2026
- South Africa — 93.94
- New Zealand — 90.33
- Ireland — 89.07
- France — 87.46
- Argentina — 84.97
- England — 83.91
- Scotland — 82.90
- Australia — 81.53
- Fiji — 81.14
- Italy — 79.64
- Wales — 75.07
- Japan — 74.09
- Georgia — 71.94
- Portugal — 69.64
- Uruguay — 69.19
- USA — 68.26
- Spain — 67.51
- Chile — 66.72
- Tonga — 66.66
- Samoa — 66.43
- Belgium — 61.03
- Romania — 60.67
- Hong Kong China — 59.61
- Zimbabwe — 58.80
- Canada — 58.75
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