The Springboks opened their Nations Championship campaign with an emphatic 45-21 victory over England at Ellis Park, extending their winning streak over the English side to five consecutive Tests.

Despite losing experienced leaders Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth before the match, South Africa once again demonstrated the depth of their squad under head coach Rassie Erasmus.Pieter-Steph du Toit adapted seamlessly to a lock role while captaining the side, illustrating the team's ability to cope with key absentees.

Cheslin Kolbe delivered another outstanding all-round performance, scoring a try, recovering from two early missed kicks to successfully convert five tries, and excelling under the high ball.His display reinforced his growing importance to the team and suggested he can assume greater kicking responsibilities when required.

The Springboks' renowned Bomb Squad again played a decisive role, with replacements such as Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Zachary Porthen and Ben-Jason Dixon maintaining the physical intensity and increasing pressure on England, particularly in the scrums during the closing stages.However, the victory came with concerns over injuries.

Loosehead prop Ox Nché suffered an injury that could affect selection in upcoming matches, while the management will also monitor the recovery of Kolisi and Etzebeth ahead of future fixtures, although there is no immediate need to rush either player back.Another positive for Erasmus was the team's improved discipline compared with their previous outing against the Barbarians.Apart from Kurt-Lee Arendse's yellow card, South Africa kept penalties to a minimum and remained composed throughout the contest.Overall, the performance highlighted the Springboks' depth, resilience and physical dominance as they made an impressive start to the tournament.