South Africa v England: Sir Kevin Sinfield says tourists can cope with altitude

England will be ideally prepared for the unique challenge of playing at altitude against world champions South Africa on Saturday, says coach Sir Kevin Sinfield.

The iconic Ellis Park in Johannesburg hosts England's Nations Championship opener against the Springboks, a venue nearly 6,000ft above sea level and a place where the visitors have not won since 1972.

But having flown out to South Africa 10 days in advance of the game, the players will have had the ideal amount of time to adapt to the conditions, according to Sinfield.

"The timescale we allowed here was supposed to be the optimal time for the average person to have adapted and adjusted to the altitude," he told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

"This is just another challenge for the lads. Our performance team and medical team have tried to give us the best possible preparation for the timelines we have, and it's part of the challenge of Test rugby in South Africa."

The lower air pressure at high altitude means fewer oxygen molecules enter the bloodstream.

However, after five days on the ground in South Africa, Sinfield says he has already seen his own body adjust to the environment.

"My blood oxygen level dropped as soon as we arrived, enough for my alarms to be going off on my watch and phone," he explained.

"But I am very close to where I was originally."

England's schedule this summer is a daunting one. After facing the Boks this weekend, they fly home to play Fiji in Liverpool before crossing the equator again for a clash with Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

But for Sinfield the focus is solely on the task in hand this weekend, and he says the whole squad are desperate to be involved against the Boks.

"I'd be very disappointed if any of our 36 lads didn't fancy it this weekend," he added.

"Our job as coaches is to make sure we reach our potential. We've got a wonderful squad, a wonderful group of players.

"We're in a really challenging country in terms of rugby environment and the quality they have and the depth they have. What a great challenge for us."

Sinfield was awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours last month for his services to rugby league, rugby union and the motor neurone disease (MND) community.

Inspired by his great friend and team-mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after a five-year battle with MND, Sinfield is estimated to have raised more than £11m to aid research and support families affected by the condition.

"I am massively overwhelmed, because I always go back to this is just about doing some running for a mate. And that's all it will ever be for me," he said.

In September Sinfield will undertake his latest major endurance challenge to raise money and awareness for MND in the hope of eventually finding a cure.

For '7 in 7: The Grand Finale' Sinfield run between Hull and Manchester, visiting all 12 English Super League grounds on the route.

Starting at the end of September and finishing at the Grand Final on 3 October, he will run almost 28 miles each day.

"I made a commitment a number of years ago, and there is a legacy that we need to uphold for Rob and others we have lost on this journey.

"I can't run forever, but I will continue to run as long as I can and continue to do it my own way."