England arrive in Johannesburg ten days before their Nations Championship opener, giving them ample time to adjust to Ellis Park’s thin air. The stadium sits almost 6,000ft above sea level, a altitude that has thwarted the tourists since 1972. Coach Sir Kevin Sinfield believes the schedule offers the optimal window for players to acclimatise and tackle the physical test for the team.

Sinfield monitored his own oxygen saturation on arrival, noting alarms on his watch as levels fell, but after five days he felt close to normal. Beyond the match, the knighthood‑honoured coach has raised over £11m for motor neurone disease research, inspired by late teammate Rob Burrow, and plans a September ‘7 in 7’ run across England’s Super League grounds in the UK.

England’s summer itinerary remains brutal: after the Johannesburg test they fly home for a Fiji clash in Liverpool, then jet to Argentina’s Santiago del Estero. Sinfield stresses the squad’s hunger, warning any player who shuns the weekend would disappoint. With depth and talent, the tourists aim to break the 52‑year hoodoo and prove they can thrive at altitude in this competition.