Steve Borthwick pick his England team to play South Africa in their blockbuster Nations Championship opener on Saturday.
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England will be led by Jamie George, with Ollie Chessum and Ellis Genge named as vice-captains, as Steve Borthwick's side begin their Nations Championship campaign against the Springboks at Ellis Park.
Borthwick said: “Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we’re excited to embrace.
“We’ve prepared well since we arrived here last week and I sense a real excitement within the squad to get our Nations Championship campaign underway.”
England's opening clash in Johannesburg is followed by a meeting with Fiji at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, before they travel to Argentina to take on Los Pumas at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero in Round Three.
Every match of the inaugural Nations Championship will be shown live on ITV Sport.
POLL:
SOUTH AFRICA v ENGLAND
Saturday 4 July 2026
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 4.40pm BST
15. George Furbank (Harlequins, 14 caps)
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps)
13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 27 caps)
12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 4 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, 6 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 80 caps) – vice-captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 110 caps) – captain
3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
5. George Martin (Saracens, 21 caps)
6. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps) – vice-captain
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 68 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 51 caps)
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 58 caps)
17. Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 34 caps)
20. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
21. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
22. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 30 caps)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 50 caps)
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Henry Pollock didn’t hesitate naming the best back-rower of all-time
The rankings, filmed in collaboration with Premier Sports, featured a fascinating mix of modern greats and all-time legends — and it’s safe to say plenty of supporters will have their own opinions on where Pollock got it right… and where he got it wrong.
5. Ardie Savea
One of the most complete forwards of the modern era, Savea blends explosive power with elite handling and pace rarely seen in a flanker.
A standout for the All Blacks, he has consistently delivered in high-pressure moments, evolving from an impact player into a world-leading figure and national captain. His ability to dominate collisions, win turnovers, and link play makes him a prototype for the modern back-rower.
4. Peter O'Mahony
O’Mahony is the embodiment of traditional openside grit, built on relentless physicality and an unshakeable competitive edge.
A key leader for Ireland and Munster, he has built his reputation on breakdown excellence, aerial ability at the lineout, and an uncanny knack for disrupting opposition rhythm. His influence often goes beyond statistics, setting the emotional tone for his side.
3. Courtney Lawes
A uniquely versatile forward, Lawes has excelled at both flanker and lock at the highest level. Famed for his bone-rattling tackles and defensive organisation, he has also developed a subtle all-court game, contributing as a carrier and lineout option.
A British & Irish Lion and England stalwart, his longevity and adaptability have been key to his elite status.
2. Siya Kolisi
Kolisi’s legacy is defined by both excellence and leadership. As captain of South Africa’s World Cup-winning sides, he has led with composure, physicality, and tactical intelligence.
On the field, he combines strong carrying, defensive work rate, and breakdown presence, while off it, he stands as one of rugby’s most influential figures globally.
1. Richie McCaw
Widely regarded as the greatest flanker in rugby history, McCaw set the benchmark for consistency, intelligence, and competitive edge.
The long-time All Blacks captain led his country to back-to-back World Cup triumphs and amassed over 140 Test caps. A master of the breakdown and a relentless competitor, his influence on games—and on the position itself—remains unmatched.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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