Jamie George is set to lead England against South Africa in a highly anticipated rugby test match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Sunday. The fixture marks a significant challenge for England as they face the reigning back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions in a hostile environment at altitude.
George, 35, returns to captaincy after an 18-month hiatus, replacing Maro Itoje who has been rested. He carries with him the memory of England’s narrow 16-15 loss to South Africa in the 2023 World Cup semifinal, a match defined by South Africa’s dominant scrum and a last-minute penalty kick from fly-half Handre Pollard that sealed England’s exit. The hooker admitted the defeat remains a motivating factor as England look to avoid a repeat and demonstrate significant improvement, particularly in the scrum.
“We let ourselves down last time, but it’s given us an opportunity to learn and ensure it doesn’t happen again,” George said. “They have the best scrum in the world, but our scrum has taken huge steps since then. We’ve put huge emphasis on it, and I’m confident we can give the best version of ourselves.”
England’s preparation since arriving in Johannesburg last Thursday has been confident, although local observers remain skeptical about England’s ability to contend with South Africa’s forward pack, which includes seasoned players Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, and Thomas du Toit.
The English side includes seven players from the 2023 World Cup semifinal squad, such as vice-captain Ollie Chessum and lock George Martin, who returns to international rugby after a serious shoulder injury last year. Martin has earned praise for his physicality and recent performances at the club level, with Chessum highlighting Martin’s impact: “That is George’s game... the world has seen a lot more of him since 2023.”
South Africa, captained by Pieter-Steph du Toit, field a strong lineup featuring key players Louis Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, and Damian Willemse. The Springboks are heavily favored, with bookmakers giving England a 13-point underdog status. England have not won at Ellis Park since 1972, underscoring the difficulty of the task ahead.
The match kicks off at 4:40 p.m. local time and will be broadcast on ITV4. England will be seeking to overturn history and prove they can compete with the formidable South African side on their home turf, while South Africa looks to maintain their dominance in front of a passionate home crowd.