Sinfield says England’s altitude plan is in place for Ellis Park test

England believe they are ready for the altitude challenge at Ellis Park, where they face world champions South Africa in their Nations Championship opener on Saturday. Sir Kevin Sinfield says the squad’s early arrival in South Africa was designed to give players time to adjust before playing nearly 6,000ft above sea level.

The Johannesburg venue adds another layer to an already difficult assignment: England have not won there since 1972. Sinfield pointed to the work of the performance and medical staff, while also noting from his own experience that the conditions had an immediate physical effect after arrival before his readings moved closer to normal several days later.

The match begins a demanding stretch for England, with fixtures against Fiji in Liverpool and Argentina in Santiago del Estero also on the summer schedule. For now, Sinfield’s message is that the squad is focused on the Springboks and eager for the scale of the challenge.

Away from the Test build-up, Sinfield’s MND fundraising remains part of his wider story. Recently knighted for services to rugby and the MND community, he is preparing for another endurance challenge in September, running between Hull and Manchester and visiting all 12 English Super League grounds on the route.