A theme of this sporting weekend is English teams facing feared rivals at altitude.
Before the footballers take on Mexico at 01:00 on Monday, the rugby union side are also up in the heavens when they face South Africa in Johannesburg.
Ellis Park may not be as high as the Estadio Azteca, but the Red Rose have been doing their best to temper the impact of the thinner air and will need all their energy against the two-time defending world champions.
This is both teams' first game in the new Nations Championship, with England 'away' against Fiji in Liverpool next week before facing another arduous journey to Santiago del Estero to take on Argentina on 18th July.
The Springboks stay at altitude to face Scotland in Pretoria next weekend before heading to the coast to take on Wales in Durban.
They may be missing some key players, yet Rassie Erasmus' side are tough to oppose on the Highveld.
South Africa v England Tips Summary
Best Bet - South Africa -15.5 @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Grant Williams to score a try @ 6/5
Bet Builder - Cheslin Kolbe to score a try, Tommy Freeman to score a try & Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to score a try @ 16/1
South Africa v England Prediction
Best Bet: South Africa -15.5 @ 1/1
England's miserable Six Nations, in which they finished fifth, was bookended by their only win of the tournament on the opening weekend against Wales and an encouraging performance in defeat to France on Super Saturday.
Steve Borthwick kept his job and saw an 'A' team beaten 35-19 by a France XV on 19th June.
Although he insists he wants his team to play open, expansive rugby, this game against the Springboks might be more his style.
England have selected a team to run the ball but have to play in the right areas, so Borthwick may encourage his players to kick away possession in low-percentage areas, while the set-piece will need to hold the Boks at bay.
Maro Itoje is rested, so Jamie George captains England, while South Africa are enduring an injury shortage at lock, with Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager each sidelined.
Manie Libbok will need to find his kicking boots after being favoured ahead of Handre Pollard in Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's absence.
However, they still possess massive physicality up front and pace galore behind the scrum, as they displayed in beating the Barbarians 80-31 on 20th June. They also ended 2025 by beating Wales 73-0.
England are talking a good game, yet their Six Nations form and sheer class of this South Africa side hint at a tough trip to Joburg.
Alternative Bet: Grant Williams to score a try @ 6/5
Scrum-half Grant Williams gets the first shot at cementing the Boks' number nine jersey when he runs out in Johannesburg.
The 29-year-old had a good campaign in a mixed URC season for the Sharks and is set to join Japanese team Kobelco Steelers.
Williams was a try-scorer in his previous appearance against England, a 29-20 victory in November 2024.
After being loose around the ruck area in the Six Nations, he will exploit any space left by the tourists.
South Africa v England Bet Builder Tip
Cheslin Kolbe to score a try
Tommy Freeman to score a try
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to score a try
Pays @ 16/1
Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse each win their 50th caps for South Africa and Kolbe is fancied to mark the occasion with a try.
A fine campaign in Japan with Tokyo Sungoliath concluded with him topping the point-scoring charts. He took the goalkicking duties, which might be something to look out for if Libbok misfires, and also scored 10 tries.
Kolbe has previously scored three tries in as many appearances against England and could go over again.
However, the Red Rose possess plenty of scoring threat, with Tommy Freeman, picked in the centre when the wing might have been a better option, always seeming to get over the line.
Freeman's seven-match run of scoring in an England shirt ended after two games of the Six Nations, but he still crossed three times.
Teammate Immanuel Feyi-Waboso missed that tournament through injury, but he scored a try in the series opener against New Zealand in 2024 and is a player with something to prove.
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Key Match Stats
South Africa recorded victory in 13 out of 15 games in 2025
England won one of five matches in the Six Nations, losing their last four
The Springboks have won the last three meetings
England won their last away match against South Africa 25-10 in 2018
South Africa's last two victories have been by a combined margin of 122 points
Cheslin Kolbe has scored three tries in three Test appearances against England
View the South Africa v England predicted line-ups and team news on site.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
