South Africa began their Nations Championship campaign in style as they ran in seven tries during a comprehensive 45-21 triumph over England at Ellis Park Stadium. 

Blistering starts in both halves from South Africa proved to be the difference as England remained without a victory since defeating Wales in the opening round of the Six Nations in February. 

Steve Borthwick's side were blown away inside the opening 11 minutes, with Thomas du Toit, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse going over to hand the hosts a 17-point lead. 

But England fought back valiantly before half-time. Ellis Genge reduced the arrears in the 35th minute before George Martin brilliantly powered his way to the line soon after to leave the deficit at just three points heading into the break. 

However, the Springboks turned the screw in the second half, ruthlessly restoring their authority in the contest through Grant Williams and Jesse Kriel inside the first 16 minutes. 

It got even worse for England when Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper were sent to the sin-bin as the visitors were forced to navigate the final minutes with 13 men. 

And the double-reigning world champions made the most of that numerical advantage to add further gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages with tries from Malcolm Marx and Ben-Jason Dixon. 

Defeat in Johannesburg.#RSAvENG pic.twitter.com/2rweukhGTn

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 4, 2026

South Africa continue England dominance as pressure ramps up on Borthwick

After 11 straight wins in 2025, England's momentum crashed to a halt in the recent Six Nations, losing four times in a row for the first time in the tournament's history, with Borthwick already feeling the heat coming into the Nations Championship.

And England's performance here failed to relieve the pressure on their head coach, as they slipped to a fifth consecutive defeat. Their winless run at Ellis Park also continued, going without victory at the venue in Johannesburg for 54 years. 

England have only won four times in 17 matches in South Africa, and their Nations Championship campaign continues against Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on 11 July before heading back to the Southern Hemisphere to take on Argentina seven days later. 

That result means South Africa top the Southern Hemisphere table, while England are bottom of the Northern Hemisphere table, with the Springboks hosting Scotland next Saturday before welcoming Wales on 18 July.