Steve Hansen's diagnosis of England's collapse — five straight defeats after a 12-game winning streak — is blunt and specific: losing Andrew Strawbridge broke something. Hansen argues it's no coincidence that England's handling sharpness, their catch-pass game and the nuanced skill work that underpinned that winning run has visibly deteriorated since the New Zealander left in November 2025. Ewen McKenzie backs that read, adding that without Strawbridge's influence, Borthwick's side keeps drifting back toward conservative, 'old England' rugby rather than the expansive game their squad is actually built for. Both coaches flag discipline as the other glaring issue — and given what the Boks exposed at Ellis Park, that combination of tactical regression and ill-discipline is going to make England's Nations Championship a long road.
Hansen points the finger at one coaching departure for England's slide
Hansen pins England's five-game losing skid squarely on the departure of Andrew Strawbridge, arguing the Kiwi's specialist skill coaching was the engine behind their 12-game winning streak — and that without him, England have regressed technically and tactically.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Erasmus: 'We don't see the Nations Championship as a competition'
Erasmus says the Boks won't adjust their approach to chase Nations Championship log points — each Test is treated as a standalone match, with squad rotation across the window as the priority over competition standings.
Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks
Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.
Nché injury concern headlining Bok casualty list ahead of Scotland clash at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of Ox Nché, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, after all four picked up injuries during or before the 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.
SENSATIONAL Springboks 💥 | South Africa v England | Nations Championship 2026 | Highlights
Watch all the highlights as South Africa took on England at Ellis Park on day one of Nations Championship.