Match Facts

South Africa have won three of their last four matches against England (L1), including each of their last two – three of the last five games between England and the Springboks have been decided by single-point margins.

England have won three of their last four games against South Africa at Allianz Stadium, although the Boks did win last time out in Twickenham, securing a 27-13 victory in 2022.

England have lost each of their last four Test matches, their longest such run since losing five straight games in 2018, however, each of those losses have come by margins of just seven points or fewer and they scored 37 points against Australia last week (37-42), the second most they’ve ever scored in a losing effort, behind a 39-42 loss to South Africa in 2018.

South Africa have won nine of their last 10 Test matches against European teams in Europe (L1), including each of their last four, with their only loss in that period coming by a margin of just five points (8-13 v Ireland in September 2023).

South Africa have won seven of their last eight Test matches (L1), including each of their last two by margins of 41 and 17 points respectively – the team leading at half-time has gone on to win each of the Springboks’ last 12 matches, since overturning a 6-12 deficit to defeat England in last year’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals (16-15).

Among Tier 1 men’s nations, only Argentina (64.8%) have crossed the gainline from a higher share of their carries than England (64.3%) or South Africa (64.2%) in 2024 – England (50.7%) and the Springboks (44.9%) have also prevented their opponents from crossing the gainline more often than any other sides this year.

England have averaged more kicks in play per game than any other men’s Tier 1 team in 2024 (30.0) and have retained possession from 16% of those kicks, the second highest rate of any team, only behind South Africa (22%).

South Africa have both the highest dominant carry (40%) and dominant tackle (10%) rates of any nations in men’s Tier 1 rugby this year, while England made the most dominant tackles of any side in the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations (66).

England duo Maro Itoje and Ben Earl are two of just four players to have played 800+ minutes of men’s Tier 1 rugby in 2024 (800 each, also Damian McKenzie and Ardie Savea) – Earl has made the most carries of any player this year (160), while Itoje ranks first for both turnovers won (13) and total ruck hits (367).

Of the 166 players to have featured for 320+ minutes in Tier 1 men’s rugby this year, Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa) has averaged the most tries scored per 80 minutes (1.2), while England’s Marcus Smith has assisted the most tries per 80 (1.3) – Mapimpi has scored in two of his previous three Tests against England, however, Smith is yet to score or assist a try against the Springboks in two appearances.