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England suffer fifth straight loss as familiar flaws return against Boks

South Africa and England players hug at the end of their rugby Nations Championship match between South Africa and England at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on July 4, 2026. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP)
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England endured a fifth straight Test defeat after a rollercoaster night at Ellis Park ended with South Africa turning on the power to emerge emphatic 45-21 winners.

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The Springboks lost captain Siya Kolisi and second row enforcer Eben Etzebeth to injury just hours before kick-off but still started like a freight train to build a 17-0 lead inside 12 minutes.

England initially looked overawed by the occasion as they sought only their second victory at the spiritual home of South African rugby, but once shaken from their stupor they roared back into contention with tries by Ellis Genge and George Martin.

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Martin’s marauding finish down the left touchline was a highlight of the night, but the world champions then went up a gear with their path to victory made simpler when England were forced to play with the last seven minutes with 13 men after Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper had been sent to the sin-bin.

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4 Comments
B
BH 41 mins ago

Whilst this was always going to be a massive test i felt that if we lost whilst firing some shots and showing that the performance / tactics had moved on from those of the 6N indicating progress i would not have minded that outcome.


But it appears nothing was learned and nothing changed, we looked like rabbits in the headlights for the first twenty, disjointed and out of synch, yes we did well to pull it back for a three point margin at half time but the caveat to this is SA had a winger in the bin for ten mins, but the second half we were blown away.


Poor kick chase (again as in the 6N), poor discipline and a leaky defence, add to this players out of position and a rigid, turgid game plan.

I cannot fault the effort of the players but the coaches are just not producing the goods, comparing the rugby played in the earlier games today the style imposed by SB & Co appears out of date and alien to the players, who for their clubs can play fast heads up rugby looking for space but appear to be constrained by the tactics.


I am not disappointed by the loss just the manner of it.

C
Conrad 52 mins ago

Formidable from the boks and largely not having to move out of second gear. Not rattled by the late changes and disruption.


Walked through England in the first quarter which was enough to lay down a game winning marker.


Far too often England are getting 40 PTS put on them.

G
GrahamVF 54 mins ago

That was possibly one of the worst England performances in recent years.

R
Rodney Ford 44 mins ago

Sometimes you’re only as good as your opponent allows you to be.

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