South Africa
Grand Slam tour beckons for Boks
Friday, January 29
The Springboks will play all four of the ‘Home Unions’ in November as part of their end-of-year tour. SARU made the announcement on Friday following confirmation of the fixture programme by the International Rugby Board (IRB).
The Springboks start the tour against Ireland in Dublin on November 6, having accepted an invitation to provide the opposition for hosts Ireland when they officially open the new Aviva Stadium (the redeveloped Lansdowne Road).
The Springboks then play Wales, Scotland and England on the following Saturdays. The tour is planned to end with a fixture against the Barbarians at a venue to be confirmed.
Meanwhile the venue of the Springboks’ season-opening Test against France on June 12 remains undecided. SARU are hoping to meet the local organising committee of the FIFA 2010 World Cup to arrive at a final decision on the availability of the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town.
Springbok end-of-year tour fixtures: Saturday, November 6, Ireland v South Africa (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Saturday, November 13, Wales v South Africa (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
Saturday, November 20, Scotland v South Africa (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, November 27, England v South Africa (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, December 4, Barbarians v South Africa (TBC)
I want to see how good he is with out the likes of John Smit, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Schalc Burger, Juan Smith, Pier Spies, Fourie Dupreez, Jean De Villiers, Jacque Fourie, Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen.
A lot of these players will be retiring and if I was him I would choose at least 15 players under the age of 25 that we can take to the next world cup and built towards the future. But the question is which of the youngsters are good enough to fill their boots.
Will we find more Steyns, Pietersesn's, Habanas etc
Maybe a surprise surprise
They know the Boks must rest pre-2011 WC and yet they org a grand-slam tour. Idiots.
Boks should have squashed them!