South Africa 45 21 England – England suffered their fifth consecutive Test loss following a dramatic encounter at Ellis Park, where South Africa showcased relentless dominance to secure a resounding 45-21 victory. The match, which marked the opening fixture of the 2026 Nations Championship, was a stark contrast to their thrilling 33-26 defeat against France in March, raising concerns about their ability to maintain form in high-pressure environments.

Despite the absence of captain Siya Kolisi and second-row Eben Etzebeth just hours before kickoff, South Africa stormed out of the blocks, establishing a commanding 17-0 lead within 12 minutes. The home side’s physicality and speed were evident from the outset, with their forwards overwhelming England’s defense and backs exploiting gaps in the opposition’s structure. Thomas du Toit opened the scoring in the 137th second of the match, but the real threat came from Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse, who created dangerous…