2018 England rugby union tour of South Africa

In June 2018, England played a three-test series against South Africa as part of the 2018 mid-year rugby union tests. The series was part of the sixth year of the global rugby calendar established by World Rugby, which runs through to 2019.^[1]

2018 England rugby union tour of South Africa
Coach(es)	Eddie Jones
Tour captain(s)	Owen Farrell
Top test point scorer(s)	Owen Farrell (33)
Top test try scorer(s)	Jonny May (3)
Summary	P W D L
Total	03 01 00 02
Test match	03 01 00 02
Opponent	P W D L
South Africa	3 1 0 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour	Argentina 2017
Next tour	Australia 2022

Fixtures

Date	Venue	Home	Score	Away
9 June	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	South Africa	42–39	England
16 June	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein	South Africa	23–12	England
23 June	Newlands, Cape Town	South Africa	10–25	England

Squads

Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 9 June, the first test match of the tour.

England

On 29 May, England finalised a 34-man tour squad for their 3-test series summer tour of South Africa.^[2]

On 11 June, Jack Singleton joined the squad as a third choice hooker option and injury cover for Luke Cowan-Dickie.^[3]

Coaching team:

• Head coach: Eddie Jones
• Attack coach: Scott Wisemantel
• Defence coach: Paul Gustard
• Forwards coach: Steve Borthwick
• Scrum coach: Neal Hatley

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Luke Cowan-Dickie	Hooker	(1993-06-20)20 June 1993 (aged 24)	7	Exeter Chiefs
Jamie George	Hooker	(1990-10-20)20 October 1990 (aged 27)	25	Saracens
Jack Singleton	Hooker	(1996-05-14)14 May 1996 (aged 22)	0	Worcester Warriors
Ellis Genge	Prop	(1995-02-16)16 February 1995 (aged 23)	5	Leicester Tigers
Joe Marler	Prop	(1990-07-07)7 July 1990 (aged 27)	56	Harlequins
Kyle Sinckler	Prop	(1992-03-30)30 March 1992 (aged 26)	10	Harlequins
Mako Vunipola	Prop	(1991-01-14)14 January 1991 (aged 27)	49	Saracens
Harry Williams	Prop	(1991-10-01)1 October 1991 (aged 26)	8	Exeter Chiefs
Jonny Hill	Lock	(1994-06-08)8 June 1994 (aged 24)	0	Exeter Chiefs
Nick Isiekwe	Lock	(1998-04-20)20 April 1998 (aged 20)	2	Saracens
Maro Itoje	Lock	(1994-10-28)28 October 1994 (aged 23)	19	Saracens
Joe Launchbury	Lock	(1991-04-12)12 April 1991 (aged 27)	52	Wasps
Tom Curry	Flanker	(1998-06-15)15 June 1998 (aged 19)	1	Sale Sharks
Chris Robshaw	Flanker	(1986-06-04)4 June 1986 (aged 32)	64	Harlequins
Brad Shields	Flanker	(1991-04-02)2 April 1991 (aged 27)	0	Hurricanes
Sam Simmonds	Flanker	(1994-11-10)10 November 1994 (aged 23)	7	Exeter Chiefs
Mark Wilson	Flanker	(1989-10-06)6 October 1989 (aged 28)	2	Newcastle Falcons
Ben Earl	Number 8	(1998-01-07)7 January 1998 (aged 20)	0	Saracens
Nathan Hughes	Number 8	(1991-06-10)10 June 1991 (aged 26)	14	Wasps
Billy Vunipola	Number 8	(1992-11-03)3 November 1992 (aged 25)	34	Saracens
Dan Robson	Scrum-half	(1992-03-14)14 March 1992 (aged 26)	0	Wasps
Ben Spencer	Scrum-half	(1992-07-31)31 July 1992 (aged 25)	0	Saracens
Ben Youngs	Scrum-half	(1989-09-05)5 September 1989 (aged 28)	74	Leicester Tigers
Danny Cipriani	Fly-half	(1987-11-02)2 November 1987 (aged 30)	14	Gloucester Rugby
George Ford	Fly-half	(1993-03-16)16 March 1993 (aged 25)	45	Leicester Tigers
Piers Francis	Fly-half	(1990-06-20)20 June 1990 (aged 27)	3	Northampton Saints
Owen Farrell (c)	Centre	(1991-09-24)24 September 1991 (aged 26)	58	Saracens
Alex Lozowski	Centre	(1993-06-30)30 June 1993 (aged 24)	4	Saracens
Henry Slade	Centre	(1993-03-19)19 March 1993 (aged 25)	10	Exeter Chiefs
Elliot Daly	Wing	(1992-10-08)8 October 1992 (aged 25)	18	Wasps
Nathan Earle	Wing	(1994-09-25)25 September 1994 (aged 23)	0	Saracens
Jonny May	Wing	(1990-04-01)1 April 1990 (aged 28)	34	Leicester Tigers
Denny Solomona	Wing	(1993-09-27)27 September 1993 (aged 24)	2	Sale Sharks
Mike Brown	Fullback	(1985-09-04)4 September 1985 (aged 32)	69	Harlequins
Jason Woodward	Fullback	(1990-05-17)17 May 1990 (aged 28)	0	Gloucester

South Africa

On 26 May 2018, head coach Rassie Erasmus named a 43-man squad for South Africa's June Internationals.^[4]

Coaching team:

• Head coach: Rassie Erasmus
• Attack coach: Mzwandile Stick
• Defence coach: Jacques Nienaber
• Scrum coach: Pieter de Villiers

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Bismarck du Plessis	Hooker	(1984-05-22)22 May 1984 (aged 34)	79	Montpellier
Bongi Mbonambi	Hooker	(1991-01-07)7 January 1991 (aged 27)	14	Stormers
Chiliboy Ralepelle	Hooker	(1986-09-11)11 September 1986 (aged 31)	24	Sharks
Akker van der Merwe	Hooker	(1991-06-17)17 June 1991 (aged 26)	1	Sharks
Thomas du Toit	Prop	(1995-05-05)5 May 1995 (aged 23)	1	Sharks
Steven Kitshoff	Prop	(1992-02-10)10 February 1992 (aged 26)	24	Stormers
Wilco Louw	Prop	(1994-07-20)20 July 1994 (aged 23)	6	Stormers
Frans Malherbe	Prop	(1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 27)	17	Stormers
Tendai Mtawarira	Prop	(1985-08-01)1 August 1985 (aged 32)	98	Sharks
Ox Nché	Prop	(1995-07-23)23 July 1995 (aged 22)	1	Cheetahs
Trevor Nyakane	Prop	(1989-05-04)4 May 1989 (aged 29)	37	Bulls
Pieter-Steph du Toit	Lock	(1992-08-20)20 August 1992 (aged 25)	33	Stormers
Jason Jenkins	Lock	(1995-12-02)2 December 1995 (aged 22)	1	Bulls
Franco Mostert	Lock	(1990-11-27)27 November 1990 (aged 27)	18	Lions
Marvin Orie	Lock	(1993-02-15)15 February 1993 (aged 25)	1	Lions
RG Snyman	Lock	(1995-01-29)29 January 1995 (aged 23)	0	Bulls
Nizaam Carr	Flanker	(1991-04-04)4 April 1991 (aged 27)	5	Stormers
Jean-Luc du Preez	Flanker	(1995-08-05)5 August 1995 (aged 22)	10	Sharks
Siya Kolisi	Flanker	(1991-06-16)16 June 1991 (aged 26)	28	Stormers
Oupa Mohojé	Flanker	(1990-08-03)3 August 1990 (aged 27)	19	Cheetahs
Sikhumbuzo Notshe	Flanker	(1993-05-28)28 May 1993 (aged 25)	1	Stormers
Kwagga Smith	Flanker	(1993-06-11)11 June 1993 (aged 24)	1	Lions
Dan du Preez	Number 8	(1995-08-05)5 August 1995 (aged 22)	4	Sharks
Duane Vermeulen	Number 8	(1986-07-03)3 July 1986 (aged 31)	39	Toulon
Faf de Klerk	Scrum-half	(1991-10-19)19 October 1991 (aged 26)	11	Sale Sharks
Embrose Papier	Scrum-half	(1997-04-25)25 April 1997 (aged 21)	1	Bulls
Ivan van Zyl	Scrum-half	(1995-06-30)30 June 1995 (aged 22)	1	Bulls
Cameron Wright	Scrum-half	(1994-04-20)20 April 1994 (aged 24)	0	Sharks
Robert du Preez	Fly-half	(1993-07-30)30 July 1993 (aged 24)	1	Sharks
Elton Jantjies	Fly-half	(1990-08-01)1 August 1990 (aged 27)	24	Lions
Handré Pollard	Fly-half	(1994-03-11)11 March 1994 (aged 24)	26	Bulls
Lukhanyo Am	Centre	(1993-11-28)28 November 1993 (aged 24)	1	Sharks
Damian de Allende	Centre	(1991-11-25)25 November 1991 (aged 26)	28	Stormers
André Esterhuizen	Centre	(1994-03-30)30 March 1994 (aged 24)	1	Sharks
Jesse Kriel	Centre	(1994-02-15)15 February 1994 (aged 24)	30	Bulls
François Steyn	Centre	(1987-05-14)14 May 1987 (aged 31)	56	Montpellier
Aphiwe Dyantyi	Wing	(1994-08-26)26 August 1994 (aged 23)	0	Lions
Travis Ismaiel	Wing	(1992-06-02)2 June 1992 (aged 26)	1	Bulls
Makazole Mapimpi	Wing	(1990-07-26)26 July 1990 (aged 27)	1	Sharks
S'busiso Nkosi	Wing	(1996-01-21)21 January 1996 (aged 22)	0	Sharks
Curwin Bosch	Fullback	(1997-06-25)25 June 1997 (aged 20)	2	Sharks
Warrick Gelant	Fullback	(1995-05-20)20 May 1995 (aged 23)	3	Bulls
Willie le Roux	Fullback	(1989-08-18)18 August 1989 (aged 28)	41	Wasps

Matches

English warm-up match (Barbarians)

27 May 2018 15:00 BST (UTC+01)

England	45–63	Barbarians
Try: Daly 16' c Francis (2) 20' c, 30' c Mercer 27' c Launchbury 55' c May 76' c Con: Ford (6/6) 18', 20', 28', 31', 55', 76' Pen: Ford (1/1) 48'	Report	Try: Ashton (3) 3' c, 6' c, 24' c Vito (2) 11' c, 79' c Russell 38' c Radradra 43' c Timani 59' c Laidlaw 71' c Con: Russell (7/7) 3', 7', 12', 26', 40', 44', 59' Laidlaw (1/1) 72' Fernández Lobbe (1/1) 80'

Twickenham, London Attendance: 51,636 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

FB 15 Elliot Daly RW 14 Jonny May OC 13 Henry Trinder  26' IC 12 Piers Francis LW 11 Mike Brown  49' FH 10 George Ford SH 9 Ben Youngs  61' N8 8 Zach Mercer  46' OF 7 Tom Curry BF 6 Chris Robshaw (c) RL 5 Joe Launchbury LL 4 Elliott Stooke  59' TP 3 Kyle Sinckler  61' HK 2 Jack Singleton  70' LP 1 Joe Marler  46' Replacements: HK 16 George McGuigan  70' PR 17 Ellis Genge  46' PR 18 Nick Schonert  61' LK 19 Josh Beaumont  59' FL 20 Mark Wilson  46' SH 21 Dan Robson  61' FH 22 Danny Cipriani  26' WG 23 Denny Solomona  49' Coach: Eddie Jones

FB 15 Chris Ashton RW 14 Josua Tuisova OC 13 Semi Radradra IC 12 Josh Matavesi  53' LW 11 Niyi Adeolokun FH 10 Finn Russell  68' SH 9 Rhodri Williams  60' N8 8 Victor Vito OF 7 Justin Tipuric BF 6 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c)  52' RL 5 Sitaleki Timani  60' LL 4 Ultan Dillane TP 3 John Afoa  65' HK 2 Benjamin Kayser  56' LP 1 Denis Buckley  47' Replacements: HK 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau  56' PR 17 Loni Uhila  47' PR 18 Ramiro Herrera  65' LK 19 Joe Tekori  60' N8 20 Nili Latu  52' SH 21 Greig Laidlaw  60' FH 22 Luke McAlister  68' WG 23 Malakai Fekitoa  53' Coach: Pat Lam

Man of the Match: Semi Radradra (Barbarians) Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Ben Whitehouse (Wales) Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Notes:

• This is the first time since 2014 the Barbarians has defeated England.

South African warm-up match (Wales)

2 June 2018 17:00 EDT (UTC-4)

South Africa	20–22	Wales
Try: Ismaiel 43' c Mapimpi 58' c Con: Jantjies (2/2) 44', 59' Pen: Jantjies (1/1) 18' R. du Preez (1/1) 73'	Report	Try: Amos 30' c Williams 33' c Elias 74' m Con: Anscombe (2/3) 31', 35' Pen: Anscombe (1/3) 47'

RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.[5] Attendance: 21,357 Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

FB 15 Curwin Bosch  31'  40'  49' RW 14 Travis Ismaiel OC 13 Jesse Kriel IC 12 André Esterhuizen LW 11 Makazole Mapimpi  76' FH 10 Elton Jantjies  71' SH 9 Ivan van Zyl N8 8 Dan du Preez  53' OF 7 Oupa Mohojé BF 6 Kwagga Smith 10' to 19' RL 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c) LL 4 Jason Jenkins  61' TP 3 Wilco Louw  44' HK 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle  52' LP 1 Ox Nché  44' Replacements: HK 16 Akker van der Merwe  52' PR 17 Steven Kitshoff  44' PR 18 Thomas du Toit  44' LK 19 Marvin Orie  61' FL 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe  10'  19'  53' SH 21 Embrose Papier  76' FH 22 Robert du Preez  61' WG 23 Warrick Gelant  31'  40'  49' Coach: Rassie Erasmus

FB 15 Hallam Amos RW 14 Tom Prydie OC 13 George North IC 12 Owen Watkin 56' to 66' LW 11 Steff Evans  29' FH 10 Gareth Anscombe SH 9 Tomos Williams  78' N8 8 Ross Moriarty OF 7 Ellis Jenkins (c) BF 6 Seb Davies RL 5 Cory Hill LL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Dillon Lewis  52' HK 2 Elliot Dee  70' LP 1 Nicky Smith  48' Replacements: HK 16 Ryan Elias  70' PR 17 Wyn Jones  48' PR 18 Rhodri Jones  52' LK 19 Adam Beard FL 20 Aaron Wainwright SH 21 Aled Davies  78' FH 22 Rhys Patchell CE 23 Hadleigh Parkes  29' Coach: Warren Gatland

Man of the Match: Ellis Jenkins (Wales) Touch judges: Alexandre Ruiz (France) Frank Murphy (Ireland) Television match official: David Grashoff (England)

Notes:

• Tomos Williams (Wales) and Robert du Preez, Thomas du Toit, André Esterhuizen, Travis Ismaiel, Jason Jenkins, Makazole Mapimpi, Ox Nché, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Marvin Orie, Embrose Papier, Kwagga Smith, Akker van der Merwe and Ivan van Zyl (all South Africa) made their international debuts.
• This victory saw Wales record a record third consecutive win against the Springboks, and win for the first time at a neutral venue against South Africa.

First test

9 June 2018 17:05 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa	42–39	England
Try: De Klerk 19' m Nkosi (2) 29' c, 33' c Le Roux 38' c Dyantyi 64' c Con: Pollard (4/5) 30', 34', 39', 65' Pen: Pollard (3/5) 10', 51', 75'	Report	Try: Brown 3' c Daly 12' c Farrell 16' c Itoje 69' m May 77' c Con: Farrell (4/5) 4', 14', 17', 77' Pen: Daly (1/1) 1' Farrell (1/1) 40'

Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 55,260 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

FB 15 Willie le Roux  63' RW 14 S'busiso Nkosi OC 13 Lukhanyo Am IC 12 Damian de Allende  73' LW 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi FH 10 Handré Pollard SH 9 Faf de Klerk  72' N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 Jean-Luc du Preez  49' BF 6 Siya Kolisi (c)  70' RL 5 Franco Mostert LL 4 RG Snyman TP 3 Wilco Louw  47' HK 2 Bongi Mbonambi  57' LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira  47' Replacements: HK 16 Akker van der Merwe  57' PR 17 Steven Kitshoff  47' PR 18 Thomas du Toit  47' LK 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit  49' FL 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe  70' SH 21 Ivan van Zyl  72' FH 22 Elton Jantjies  73' WG 23 Warrick Gelant  63' Coach: Rassie Erasmus

FB 15 Elliot Daly RW 14 Jonny May OC 13 Henry Slade IC 12 Owen Farrell (c) LW 11 Mike Brown  75' FH 10 George Ford  75' SH 9 Ben Youngs  75' N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Tom Curry  65' BF 6 Chris Robshaw RL 5 Nick Isiekwe  35' LL 4 Maro Itoje TP 3 Kyle Sinckler  57' HK 2 Jamie George  63' LP 1 Mako Vunipola 62' to 72'  75' Replacements: HK 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie  63' PR 17 Joe Marler  75' PR 18 Harry Williams  57' FL 19 Brad Shields  35' N8 20 Nathan Hughes  65' SH 21 Ben Spencer  75' FH 22 Piers Francis  75' WG 23 Denny Solomona  75' Coach: Eddie Jones

Man of the Match: Faf de Klerk (South Africa) Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Notes:

• Aphiwe Dyantyi, S'busiso Nkosi and RG Snyman (all South Africa) and Brad Shields and Ben Spencer (both England) made their international debuts.
• Mako Vunipola (England) earned his 50th test cap.

Second test

16 June 2018 17:05 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa	23–12	England
Try: Vermeulen 23' c Penalty try 49' Con: Pollard (1/1) 24' Pen: Pollard (3/4) 28', 38', 66'	Report	Try: Brown 9' c May 12' m Con: Farrell (1/2) 10'

Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein Referee: Romain Poite (France)

FB 15 Willie le Roux RW 14 S'busiso Nkosi OC 13 Lukhanyo Am  59' IC 12 Damian de Allende LW 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi FH 10 Handré Pollard SH 9 Faf de Klerk  74' N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit BF 6 Siya Kolisi (c)  65' RL 5 Franco Mostert LL 4 RG Snyman  55' TP 3 Frans Malherbe  44' HK 2 Bongi Mbonambi  50' LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira  44' Replacements: HK 16 Akker van der Merwe  50' PR 17 Steven Kitshoff  44' PR 18 Thomas du Toit  44' FL 19 Jean-Luc du Preez  55' FL 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe  65' SH 21 Ivan van Zyl  74' CE 22 Jesse Kriel  59' WG 23 Warrick Gelant Coach: Rassie Erasmus

FB 15 Elliot Daly RW 14 Jonny May OC 13 Henry Slade IC 12 Owen Farrell (c) LW 11 Mike Brown  66' FH 10 George Ford  66' SH 9 Ben Youngs  72' N8 8 Billy Vunipola  40' OF 7 Tom Curry BF 6 Brad Shields  66' RL 5 Maro Itoje LL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 Kyle Sinckler  50' HK 2 Jamie George  61' LP 1 Mako Vunipola  57' Replacements: HK 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie  61' PR 17 Joe Marler  57' PR 18 Harry Williams  50' FL 19 Mark Wilson  66' N8 20 Nathan Hughes 68' to 78'  40' SH 21 Ben Spencer  72' FH 22 Danny Cipriani  66' WG 23 Denny Solomona  66' Coach: Eddie Jones

Man of the Match: Duane Vermeulen (South Africa) Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Notes:

• Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa) earned his 100th test cap.

Third test

23 June 2018 17:05 SAST (UTC+02)

South Africa	10–25	England
Try: Kriel 45' c Con: Jantjies (1/1) 46' Pen: Jantjies (1/2) 40'		Try: May 71' c Con: Farrell (1/1) 72' Pen: Farrell (6/6) 9', 36', 43', 49', 57', 75'

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 33,827 Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

FB 15 Warrick Gelant RW 14 S'busiso Nkosi  49' OC 13 Jesse Kriel IC 12 André Esterhuizen LW 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi FH 10 Elton Jantjies  57' SH 9 Faf de Klerk  75' N8 8 Duane Vermeulen OF 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit BF 6 Siya Kolisi (c)  65' RL 5 Franco Mostert LL 4 RG Snyman  57' TP 3 Frans Malherbe  43' HK 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle  43' LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira  43' Replacements: HK 16 Schalk Brits  43' PR 17 Steven Kitshoff  43' PR 18 Thomas du Toit  43' FL 19 Jean-Luc du Preez  57' FL 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe  65' SH 21 Embrose Papier  75' CE 22 Handré Pollard  57' FB 23 Willie le Roux  49' Coach: Rassie Erasmus

FB 15 Elliot Daly RW 14 Jonny May OC 13 Henry Slade  77' IC 12 Owen Farrell (c) LW 11 Mike Brown FH 10 Danny Cipriani SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Nathan Hughes  52' OF 7 Tom Curry BF 6 Chris Robshaw RL 5 Maro Itoje LL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 Kyle Sinckler  47' HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements: HK 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17 Alec Hepburn PR 18 Harry Williams  47' LK 19 Jonny Hill FL 20 Mark Wilson  52' FL 21 Sam Simmonds SH 22 Ben Spencer WG 23 Denny Solomona  77' Coach: Eddie Jones

Man of the Match: Jonny May (England) Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Notes:

• This was England's first victory over South Africa in South Africa since they won 27–22 in 2000.

See also

• 2018 mid-year rugby union internationals
• History of rugby union matches between England and South Africa