England’s Ellis Park test could reset the mood around Borthwick

England’s meeting with South Africa at Ellis Park is a major test of whether Steve Borthwick’s side can turn post-Six Nations pressure into renewed belief. England have not won at the Johannesburg venue for 54 years, and the match comes after four straight Six Nations defeats followed an 11-match winning run in 2025.

The RFU has kept faith with Borthwick and his staff through to next year’s World Cup in Australia, but the scrutiny has not disappeared. England’s 48-46 defeat in Paris offered signs of a more attacking approach, and players including Alex Coles and Cadan Murley have indicated that the squad wants a clearer, more confident identity with the ball.

Selection suggests a balance between continuity and adjustment. Fin Smith, Seb Atkinson and Tommy Freeman are together again in midfield, while George Martin, George Furbank and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso return to the wider picture. Maro Itoje is being rested, with Jamie George leading a squad that also includes younger bench options.

South Africa remain the benchmark as double world champions, and Ellis Park’s altitude adds another layer to the challenge. For England, the result will not decide everything, but a rare victory in Johannesburg would sharply change the narrative around Borthwick’s regime before further summer fixtures against Fiji and Argentina.