England’s rugby team is preparing to face world champions South Africa in Johannesburg next Saturday in a highly anticipated clash that will set the tone for their Nations Championship campaign. The squad, led by fly-half Marcus Smith, departed for South Africa on Wednesday, aiming to overturn recent struggles and make history in hostile territory.

England arrives in South Africa having endured a challenging Six Nations tournament, losing four of five matches, and enters the encounter as significant underdogs. The national team has not played against the Springboks on South African soil since 2018, a period during which head coach Rassie Erasmus has guided South Africa to two Rugby World Cup titles.

Speaking ahead of the trip, Smith emphasized the significance of the match, describing it as a singular opportunity. “It’s one shot,” he said. “England haven’t been there since 2018, so we could create history and deliver a result.” Smith acknowledged the difficulty of the task, noting South Africa’s dominance in world rugby, but expressed confidence in the England squad’s preparedness and mentality. He also highlighted that some members of the team carry valuable experience from club-level victories in South Africa, such as George Furbank’s Northampton side, which defeated the Bulls in Pretoria’s Champions Cup 18 months ago.

England faces an unprecedented scheduling challenge in this edition of the Nations Championship. Their itinerary includes matches across three continents within consecutive weekends: starting in South Africa, then traveling to Liverpool to play Fiji, before finishing in Argentina. This demanding schedule involves a cumulative 25,000 miles of air travel and four long-haul flights—an intense itinerary no northern hemisphere team has previously undertaken.

Assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth acknowledged the logistical difficulty but rejected the notion of using travel fatigue as an excuse for performance. He described the extensive travel as “something really exciting that none of the other teams have to do,” emphasizing the team’s collective spirit and readiness to embrace the challenge. “We’re a squad, we’ll stick together,” Wigglesworth said.

Smith also commented on the challenge posed by the new-format Nations Championship, which features a North vs. South competition not previously trialed. He expressed optimism about the spectacle the tournament will offer and the team’s ability to make a positive start.

Overall, England enters this campaign under intense scrutiny and pressure but remains focused on seizing the moment against one of rugby’s most formidable opponents in difficult conditions. The coming weeks will test their resilience and adaptability as they navigate both the demanding schedule and the high expectations from players and supporters alike.